The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-30
SINGLE HEAD
COMMISSION
IS FAVORED
Charter Revision COM
mittes Would Replace
Works Board.
TO CUT COUNCIL IN HALF
Extension of Mayors Term to
Four Years, Civil Service Ap.
pointments and Changes in
Assessment Board Among
Suggestions in New Plan.
TO CUT COUNCIL IN HALF

\ tentative plan for the revision of
the city charter was adopted last night
by the Charter Revision Commission,
and City Counsel James r. Nugent is
today preparing the suggestions adopt
cd last night. These suggestions reces-
state the entire redrawing of the
plans which were submitted at the
meeting last week.
When the revised draft is prepared,
the commission will go over it and dis
euss the various changes.
One of the most important changes
suggested last night was the abolition
of the Board of Works and the substi-
tuition of a single head commission with
the financing power of the board vested
i'll the Board OF Finance.
There was considerable discussion rel
ative to the scope and power of the
Board of Finance, and the restriction
Of the power Of the Board of Works, il
that body is retained, was suggested.
When the commission first met ii was
the consensus of opinion that the Board
Of Works should be abolished, but at
recent meetings the sentiment seemed
To have changed radically and the plan
of restricting its power and restoring
the inherent power of the Common
Council was considered. The sudden
change of front last night to the origi-
nal scheme was the result of several
conferences.
The commission also decided that
single-head commissions should super
sede. the present Fire, Police and
Health boards, and that the control of
the building and license departments
should be taken out of the control of
Common Council committees and vest
ed under a single-hcad commission.
Tho tentative plan also provides for
the civil-service system in appoint
ments and removals, eliminating politi-
cal appointments to municipal po-
sitions.
The power of the auditor, it is under
stood, will be increased, as will the
length of his term and that of the
comptroller will be made -four years.
The suggestion adopted al the last
meeting to make the mayors term four
years. with Increased salary. was al
lowed to stand, with the provision that
the election be arranged so as not to-
fall on a presidential year.
II is also proposed to make h term
of the president of the Common Coun-
i IOii N0tbl % Nv y AA'
mayor and comptroller will be concur
rent.
The commission is still divided as to
the power of the board of finance and
control. but the personnel of. the board
was settled on last night.
The board is to be a fve-man board,
composed of the treasurer, comptrol-
Ter and city auditor, together with
Two elective members. The argument
on this question was as to the feasibil-
ity of including the Mayor on the
ioard. 1t was stated that his being a
member would invalidate his veto
power on the action of the body of
which he would be a member. 1t was
finally decided to make the City Audi
ter as g member of the board anu
make the Mayor an eX-oficio member,
without q vote in the decisions of the
board.
AS to the powers of the board of
finance, the members still differ great
Is. particularly as to the power the
Common Council has over the actions
OF the board. In the tentative plan
now being prepared by the city counsel
the Common Council is vested with the
power to veto or reduce the amounts
for the various departments set by the
finance board, but has not the power
to Increase the amount of the appro-
p%riations.
1t is understood that when the tenta-
tive plan is again brought before the
commission an attempt will be made
to vest the street paving power and
ntber power now in the Board of
Works in the Common Council, as was
the case before the creation of the
Board of Works. Appointive heads
were suggested for the various divi-
sions of the present board, such as the
water department, engineering divi-
sion. A board of appeals to judge
pavement appeals was also one of the
recommendations.
= The suggestion TO reduce the Com
mon Council from a thirty-two-nan
body, Of two from each ward. to a body
OF sixteen, one representative from each
ward. was allowed to remain.
Tho duties of the assessment COM
mission was taken up and the posi-
bility is that this body will be abolished
and a sinAle-head commission appoint
ed, with the financial power vested in
the board of finance and control.
7 1t is expected that the revised tenta-
tive plan will he gotten into shape by
City Counsel Nugent in time for the
commission to go over it so that it can
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