The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-10-24
THE new CODE
What 1t Provides For the
Cities.

adopted by the General Assembly At
Columbus, provides g dividing line Of
5000 Inhabitants between cities and
villages. All cities are TO have Boards
of Public Service and Safety, the latter
to consist OF not less than two and not
more than four members. The present
City Council will determine in each
instance the number of Board directors.
The Safety Board cannot be changed
in less than four years. The Service
Board number may be altered in two
years.
The Mayor is at the head Of the Po-
lice and Fire Departments. The Board
Of Safety mas the business end Of both
departments and makes all contracts.
The Chief OF Police and Fire Chief
must be members Of their departments
before being appointed. The merit
system will prevail In both departments
the Board of Safety acting as . merit
board to pass on all men admitted 70
the departments.
Under the new code. each city will
elect the following officers:
Mayor, for two years
| President of the council, who is also
vice mayor, for two years.
City Treasurer, for two years.
City auditor. for three years.
City solicitor, for two years
Either three or 1--WE members Of the
board of public service, for two year
each
Ina varying number of councilmer
for two years each, by wards and o
large.
The mayor will have the appointing
of the following:
Either two or four members Of th'
BOARD of public safety.
Four members of the sinking fun,
and tax commission.
Five members of the board of health
Six members of she library board.
Chief of police and chief of fire.
All members of the FIRE and polio
departments
Appointments and removals in tn
fire and police departments are mad
subject to stringent civil service rules
70 be administered by the board Q
public safety. acting as board Of mel
, it commissioners.
The tax limit In municipalities
placed 1T 10 mills on each dollar of tai
able property, exclusive of levies 70
, schools, libraries and several othe
purposes. A higher rate must be 81
proved by two-thirds of council an
two-thiris of the electors before 1t ca
lgo into effect.
The mayor has the veto power, br
' courcil can override this by a tw'
: thirds vote.
The compensation Of all the new of
cials to be elected and appointed unds
= the provisions Of the code.
q The present City Councils must r
Il district the cities into wards befol
. January l. Cities Of 5000 will have
Council of seven members, three
large and four by wards There n
q two additional members for cities
r 25, 900 and one additional for each Il. %
II extra
81 City officers submit annual estimat
to the Mayor and Auditor. The May
may change items, but not the tots
the Council may change both; and Il
!; Mayor may veto the Councils acts.
The City Auditor submits . stateme
!, Of balances TO the Mayor once . mont
!, Tue Sinking Fund Trustees act as II
Commission and pass upon the Council
estimates. Sinking Fund Commissi'
z have four men, are bipartisan and u
> paid.
~ The City Auditor is elected for thr
u years and Treasurer for two. The Ia
L ter may deposit money In any bank
his own risk.
Public Service Directors are elect
J. to . two-year term, and have char
+ Of all municipal property work and ID
'' ting OF contracts.
s. The Mayor may file charges sRsir
and remove city officers; the Govern
"a may file charges against and reno
Mayors.
>. The code goes into effect Novemb
" Is, 1902.
The first election occurs the 6l
. Monday In April, 1908. Those elect
~ take Office the first Monday in May.