Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1907-09-26
BRIDGEToN N. j.. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 2e. 1907.
PROVISIONS OF
THE NEW CHARTER

AHo Lille UL Wills aC6 Io6QS as IOI.
lows: An act relating to regulating
and progiding for the government of
cities of ths second class which now
nave or may hereafter have a popula.
tion of less than twenty thousand. +"
Section l of the act provides that
All cities of the second class of this
State, which now have or may here
after have population of less than
twenty thousand. that may adopt the
provisions Of this act shall have the
officers and be vested with the powers
and charged with the duties herein
set forth ~
Section 116 and the last one Of the
act provides how the act may become
operative. 1t must be assented to bv
majority Of the legal voters, voting
at any general election. The question
Is submitted to the voters upun petit
tion of at least 30 per cent. of the
legal voters of such city as shown by
the returns Of the last general or
municipal election In such city. In
order to have the question submitted
in November the petition must be
signed by 440 voters.
When the petition is filed with the
City Recorder, that official shall cause
notice of the time and places where
such election shall be held. In the
case of the charter this fall, the ques-
tion will be passed upon by the voters
at the regular Novemberssselection at
the regular polling places. The
County Clerk is required to place
upon each official ballot, directly be-
meath the list of candidates, the
words, "For the adoption of this city
of the provisions of an act," etc.
If it be found tnat majority of the
vote cast is in favor Of the charter,
the next general election of officers
provided by this act will take place
under the charter provisions. That
means that the first City Council
under the new charter would be elect
ed in November, 1908, and the Council
would take their seat on January
first, 1909, at noon.
Section 2 provides for the new City
Council. There shall be elected seven
members of Council. each of whom
must have been resident and citizen
OF the city for at least three years
The three having respectively the
largest vote shall serve for three years
the two having respectively the fourth
and fifth largest vote shall serve for
two years. and the remaining two
shall serve for one year. and until
their successors are elected and duly
qualified. Each year thereafter, two
members of the Council shall be elect
ed to serve for terms Of thres years
each. and until their successors are
duly qualified. Every third year
three members must be elected
Should there be vacancy in Coun-
Gil caused by resignation or death,
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feleot successor to hold Office until
the following January.
The section provides that all of the
Councilman elected shall be chosen by
the voters Of the cities. This changes
the whole scheme from the present
system. UHaer the new charter Ooun-
cilmen will be elected without refer.
ence tc wards, and are voted for by
the voters of the entire city instead of
the voters of single ward. In other
words the new charter provides for
seven Uouncilmen at large.
Upon the organization of the first
Oity Council elected under this act,
the present Council is entirely abol-
ished. s
The section also provides for the
election of Constsbles, Justices of the
Peace and Chosen Freeholders, as at
tine present time.