Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-08-22
NASH'S CODE BILL.
For the Government of Ohio
municipalities.
IL Combines Features OF Both Fed
eraI and Hoard Plans - Pro-
vision Is Made for tho
Advancement of vIl-
lagos to Cities.


K. Nash has made public complete
synopsis of the municipal code bill
which he will recommend to the Sew
enty-fifth general assembly week
from to-day.
Under the code, as it now stands,
the mayor is to name the board of
public safety and the city solicitor,
but the police and firemen are to be
under civil service rules, and the
board, not the mayor, has power of
removal.
The mayor has the veto power, but
the bulk of the patronage is at the
disposal of the board of public serv-
ice, the members of which are cleo
tive, and so are responsible directly
to the people, but not to the mayor.
The code is neither the federal or
the board plan. Under the usual
form of board government, one mem
ber retires from Office each year, but
in the Nash code the members of
boards go out in n body and together
must face the music of public criti-
cism at the polls. The code partakes
of the features of the federal plan in
that the body having the most power
is the council and not any of the
boards.
The ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the council
is the result of the careful preserva-
ton of the boundaries between the
legislative and executive branches.
Even the village government is
neither wholly federal or board. At
the last minute single board of
three, to be known as the trustees
of public affairs, was provided for
some villages.
In stipulating what powers munich
palities may exercise, nothing novel
is attempted. All powers granted to
the cities and villages in the code
either are now in general statutes or
In special statutes for particular
cities.
The only novelty in the granting
of powers is in the assessment sec
tion. Following the latest decisions
of the courts assessments must be by
benefits and not by front feet. Fran
chises must go to the best and high
est bidder.
All municipal corporations are di-
vided into cities and villages; those
containing 10000 inhabitants or more
are cities; all others are villages.
Provision is made for the advance
ment of cities to villages, as well as
for the annexation of new territory
to either; and for the surrender of
corporate powers by villages and for
the incorporation of new municipali-
ties.
The code is to go into effect, il the
legislature so says, November Is, and
the system will go into operation
April /, 1908.
npc ANTI TrON OF vrrrIGvs
1. Legislative. The legislative
power of every village is vested in a
council composed of not less than six
members, who shall be elected at
large; provided, that for the first
5000 inhabitants of any village there
shall be elected two additional mem
bers, and for every $500 inhabitants
thereafter, there shall be elected one
additional member of council; and all
additional members of council shall
be chosen from wards.
2. Executive. Chief officers. The
chief officers of a village shall be
mayor, clerk, treasurer, marshal
street commissioner and solicitor
with the general powers and duties
now appertaining to each. All shall
be elected, except the solicitor and
|
appointed by the mayor.
8. Judicial. In villages the mayor
shall be the judge of the police
court. The solicitor shall prosecute
all violations of ordinance in the may,
or's court when requested by the
mayor; the marshal shall attend said
court when required, and serve al
writs issued to him therefrom anc
| ~ - 4 ehn J..
such as is now provided by law.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND REMOVAL
OF OFFICERS.
General provisions. The first mu
nicipal election under the act shall
take place on the first Monday il
April, and all subsequent election:
shall be held on the same date every
third year thereafter.
With respect to the removal of of
ficers, provision is made that counci
by two-thirds vote, and upon writ
ten charges, may impeach and remove
the mayor of either city or village
and the mayor may upon writer
charges and hearing remove any of
ficer in the corporation; provided
that such officer shall have an appea
to council, and it shall require two
thirds vote of council to reverse the
order of the mayor.
Provision is made for the abolish
ment of city and county boards o
election and the performance of thei
duties by new deputy supervisors o
election in each county, to be ap
pointed by the secretary of state il
the same manner as is now provided
with respect to such officers. Thes
officers shall manage all elections il
the county, both within and withou
the municipalities, and shall hav
charge of all registration.
Provision is also made for an an
nual board of equalization in eacl
city, which shall equalize the value
of all real and personal property
and the present special boards of tn
various cities are abolished.
Was Nurse to the Pope.
Anna Moroni, who was the pope
nurse and who is centenarian, ha
visited his holiness at the vatican