The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-06-26
COUNCIL MINUTES

mayor and council and the advertise
ment of the title to an amendatory
bill to be provided for by this body,
has seen fit to call a meeting of a
committee Of citizens appointed by
himself, and under that call a meet
ing was held on June 2lst, 1909, al
the city hall, comprised of forty-two
voters FOR the purpose of discussing
proposed amendments to the city
charter, at which meeting the said
forty-two voters delegated to a com
mittee of six Of their number, to-wit:
Messrs. A. V. Wood, DR.. ia. Butts,
F e. Twitty. r. r. Hopkins, Max
Isaac and G. II. Leavy, the prepare
ton of a bill for introduction and pas
sage at the present session Of the
legislature. amending the charter of
the city Of Brunswick.
And whereas. this body known as
the mayor and council. was duly cleo
ted by the people for the purpose of
administering the government Of the
city, passing. enacting and procuring
such legislation as may be deemed
necessary for the prudent management
of city affairs, and has not up TO this
hour relinquished or surrendered any
of its rights in that respect.
And whereas. the present city char
ter as amended by act Of 1905, page
6S4, section 8, already gives the power
to the mayor and council to create
such boards and officers by ordinance
as IL may deem necessary, and may
should they deem It economical. wise
or necessary, create park and tree
commission; and section 50 Of the
city code, which is a charter proyis-
ion, authorizes the mayor and coun-
Gil to give to the board Of health
every necessary power. and. to vest
the appointment Of the board of health
in the state board Of health, or any
other than the mayor and council Is
to deprive the people of Brunswick
Of the power Of local self govern
ment 70 that extent; and, section 10
Of the city code which S also a char
ter provision gives 20 the mayor ard
council The power TO appoint all Off
GERS of the city that they may deem
necessary, prescribe their duties. fees.
salaries, etc, makes 1t entirely mn
necessary for any charter amendments
along that line, while the proposed
amendment authorizes the mayor at
his pleasure and as often as he
chooses. to employ at The public eX-
pense, examiners to examine the
books of the officers of the city, and
thus lodges a dangerous and possibly
a very expensive prerogative in HIM
which is denied to any single mem
Der OF council and can only be eyer
cised by a majority of that body in
public meeting,
And whereas, the remaining pro-
posed amendments that have been
published az emanating from the
meeting of forty two voters and their
sub committee of six are.
j. Deciding of Hllsborough squar
to the board OF siucation;
2. Asking orc legislative ody the
legislature, to deprive another legis-
lative body, the mayor and council
of the power to make it's own rule
by comforting the power of the APP
pointment of its committees solely IL
the mayor;
3. Nesting the veto power in the
mayor of as small city as Bruins
wick, which with its limited mum
Der of aldermen, gives practically die
tatorial power to the executive;
4. Curtailing the terms OF office of
treasurer and clerk during the period
for which they were elected;
5. The abolition of the ward sys-
tenn Of representation in council.
which system was only recently adopt
ed pursuant to popular vote. but one
election having been held under it;
All Of which proposed amendments, in
the opinion of this body, are unwise
and evidently could not have been
intended to serve the best interests
of the city,
And whereas, in the Judgment OF
this body, measurers of legislation OF
such Importance that it is necessary
TO secure them at the hands OF the
general assembly, especially those in
Yolving such radical changes, making
possible the abuse of power, should
not be enacted until the people have
been fully informed of their char
acter in ample time and have an op-
portunity to endorse or reject such
measmers at the polls, which has not
been done in the present instance.
Now therefore. be it, and it is here
by resolved by the mayor and coun-
Gil Of the city Of Brunswick. in conn
ell assembled,
First. That we earnestly protest
against the proposed amendments as
in our Judgment being uncalled for
and unwise, and not in the interest
OF or for the general welfare OF the
municipalities
Second That our immediate repre-
sentative in the general assembly,
Hon L. r. Akin, senator. and Hon.
Willard Reese, representative, be and
are hereby respectfully and earnestly
requested to oppose the passage or