Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-10-31
THE CODE BILL.
1t Has Been Incorporated Into
the Statutes of Ohio.
Lino of Demarltntton Between cities
and villagcnis Placed mt 5000,
Population to be Determined
by Federal Census-Out-
limo of the BllI.


substance of the Nash municipal code
which was passed by the legislature
October %, and is now law:
The code provides that there will be
no ofrices distributed until the first
Monday in May, 1908, or month af-
ter the April election. AS soon as the
mayor of each municipality of the
state receives copy of the law coun-
ellis will meet and take up the ques-
tion of creating new wards, fixing the
number and compensation of the en-
ployes under the new government,
the terms of the same, the number of
members of the boards of public
safety and public service and their
compensation and the salaries of the
councilmen that are to be elected
next spring. When the voters come
to the polls on the first Monday of
next April they will be asked to
choose between the candidates for
mayor, a president of council, city
treasurer, a city solicitor and a city
auditor. Each of these is to serve for
term of two years save the auditor,
who will serve year longer. In ad-
dition there will be elected either
three or five members of the board of
public service.
1t was expected that police Judge
and clerk would also be elected, but
this will not be done on account of
the partisan difference over the cura-
tive amendment. There will also be
chosen new city council, the number
varying in size according to the popu-
lation. Half the council is to be
elected each year. In cities of 5000
there are to be seven members
four elected by wards and three at
large. In cities of $4,000 there are
two additional members by wards,
and in cities over $4,000 there is one
additional member by wards for each
additional $4,000 inhabitants; but
when the membership of council is
Is or more one member in every five
is to be chosen at large.
AT the outset complete new coun-
Gil will be elected, one-half, however,
being for the term of one year: In
1904 the one-year termers will be sue
ceeded by a set elected for two years.
After the mayor is elected he will
have power to appoint the following
officers:
\ bipartisan sinking fund commits
sion of four members to serve four
years. The sinking fund commission
acts also as a tax commission.
A bipartisan board of public safety,
of two or four members, for four
year terms, which board conducts
civil service examinations for the po-
lice and fire forces. The appointees
must be confirmed by two-thirds
vote of council, and in case of failure
of confirmation, the governor ap-
points.
g.. A board of health of five members,
of which board the mayor is presi-
dent ex-officio.
A bipartisan library board of six
members, but only where a municipal
library exists.
In Cincinnati and Toledo, n board
of university trustees of nine mem
bers.
The tax commission will appoint
bipartisan trustees, six in number,
in cities where private hospitals re-
ceive appropriations from taxes, or
where parks have come to the city by
bequest. Public hospitals and public
parks in most instances are under
the board of public service.
The mayor is the officer designated
to make upthe annual budget, and for
this purpose has the power to compel
reports from any department and the
attendance of the heads of the same
to meet in council upon the affairs of
the municipality.
The mayor is responsible to no one
but the governor, who has been given
power of removal in case of mis-
conduct in office or immortality. The
accused mayor must, however, be
given trial. The city auditor, now a
very important parsonage, becomes
merely the city's boolskeeper, but is
compensated by an extra year of Of
fetal life, because it was deemed nec-
essary that the accounts should al
ways be kept continually and no
break should come because of chang
ing administrations. The city treas
urer is made custodian of the educa-
tional funds, and may be compelled
by council to deposit all the moneys
under his charge in some bank paying
the highest rate of interest therefor.
The city solicitor is made also the
prosecuting attorney of the police
court, and if the council allows him
an assistant or assistants, he has the
power to designate one-of them to at
tend upon the police court in his
stead. The president of council is
in effect the deputy mayor. and, al
though the presiding officer of the
legislative body, has not n vote eX-
cept in case of tie. In the event of
the death, removal or resignation of
the mayor, he succeeds to that posi-
tion. The council has none but leg
islative powers, save the confirmation
of the members of the board of pub
lie safety. Even the tax levy is under
the supervision of the sinking fund
trustees. although the council may,
by three-fourths vote, override any
decision on the part of the trustees.
The mayor has the veto power, but
the council may override it by
two-thirds vote. The great bulk of
power is lodged with the board of
public service, which is exempt from
the power of council, to fix the num-
I A.