Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-11-29
Charter Commission Report Approved
Unanimous Action Taken and It Will Now Go to the
General Assembly and Then Come Before the Peo-
pie at the June City Meeting-An Hour and a
Halfs Discussion After Changes are Announced

ter O'Clock Mayor Thayer called the
adjourned city meeting to order for
the further consideration of the pro-
posed city charter. He stated that the
commission had some changes to offer
and asked tho committee to make a
statement.
II. A. Tirreu, chairman of the com
mission. said that the commission had
received many suggestions from those
interested in the new instrument and
they had taken the matters under con
sideration and made q number of
changes, having put in what appealed
to them as wise suggestions, by which
1t is believed the instrument is
Changes Made.
He then read the several changes
made, as follows:
In Section 6, which concerns eligi-
bility for Office, the following is dis
carded: Who is not at least % years
of age. who does not continue to reside
in the. city during his term of Office,
and who has not for one year imme-
dlately preceding his election paid
taxes other than state taxes"
This addition is made to Section 8:
mo elector shall sign more than one
petition of nomination for each office.
In case of repetition of SIGNATURE in
valid signature shall be the one first
received by the city clerk
In Section il the sentence concern
ing the declaration of the candidate for
office that he is not the nominee of any
party reads after the change: TN said
acceptance he shall make affidavit to
the fact that he has not become can
didate as the nominee of any commit
tee or caucus acting for any political
party"
In Section IA the words ''by the
clerk" are inserted where it is said the
ballots shall be sent to the polls in each
voting district.
In Section 81, concerning the recall,
the per cent. of signatures necessary to
gain such is reduced to 10 per cent.
of the registered electors of the city"
An addition to Section 81 is made
as follows: The mayor shall give bond
for $4,000 and each director for $4,000.
The portion which deals with the ap-
proval of bonds is changed to read
"All such bonds must be approved by
the judge Of the city court, and the city
treasurer shall have custody thereof
To Section 56, which concerns the
eight hour day, is added: Except when
extra time may be necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public
health or safety"
In Section 81, concerning the inftia-
tive. the number of signers for the pc
tition was reduced from 10 to per
cent OF the votes cast for mayor at the
last election. In the same section such
matters as whore the board Of direc-
tors are to call a special city meeting,
instead Of a special election.
In Section 81 a large part of it is
dropped, the following being substitute
ed after the fifth line: If during said
ten days a remembrance thereto signed
by fifty electors of this city shall be
filed with the city clerk said ordinance
or measure shall not take effect until
approved by a majority vote in a city
meeting called by the mayor for that
purpose. A city meeting so called
shall have authority to amend, reject
or approve without amendment said
ordinance or measure.
In Section SO ''or special city meet
ing is inserted, it being one of the
ways instead of a municipal election
whereto the directors can refer any
proposed ordinance or measure.
In Section 66. which concerns chart
ties, this addition is made: The town
of Norwich shall annually pay TO the
city of Norwich whatever part of the
appropriation for outside poor of the
town Of Norwich shall have been raised
for said purpose by tax on property
within the city limits.
Section IA, concerning eminent do
main, is dropped, Mr.. Tirrell stating
that it was found that the provision
concerning eminent domain in the
present amended city charter gives the
city more power than this provision,
and all parts of the old charter not in
cluded in this new draft will go to
make up the new charter of the city.
There were several typographical err
rors which were corrected
At the close, on request. he read the
amendment to the city charter regard
ing eminent domain. which gives Nor
witch the right to have a judge of the
superior court hear such a matter.
He said that action should be taken
tonisnt in order to have the instru-
ment printed. if the action is favorable
three weeks before the session Of the
legislature, as required by law
General Aiken's Resolution and Ad-
dress.
General Aiken presented the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the report of the
charter commission be accepted; that
the recommendation therein be adopt
ed: that the said commission be and
is hereby instructed to give the notice
required by section II of the general
statutes, and to take all necessary
steps to obtain from the general as
sembly of the state of Connecticut the
new charter for the city of Norwich
submitted by the commission in its re-
port.
After it was seconded he addressed
the meeting regarding the new charter
as follows:
The move for new charter is not
confined to Norwich, but IS part of q
general protest against present condi-
tions in municipal affairs the country
over. The close partnership between
politics and certain vested interests is
one cause of this movement, the desire
for the largest measure Of home rule
consistent with the proper sovereignty
of the state is another, while a third
lies in the determination of the plain
people to take and hold the direction
of their affairs by processes direct and
simple.
Our present charter is both compli-
Gated and abscure-so much so that nc
one can understand it but after long
study and then not clearly.
This affects administration in many
ways. AS our time worn charter with
its countless amendments is complex
SO are the resulting practices wllicl
have grown up gradually under it. The
committee having in charge the prepa-
ration Of a new charter have called ON
attention to the needless and foolist
! completely of our system of munfcipa
accounting. Really we have no syS-
TEN, and we need one badly
Lack Of harmonious action between
our departments under cur present
medley leads to weakness and confu-
sion.
The trainers of this new charter de
not expect that its adoption is to be
! Immediately followed by the Inelicnium
It is merely On improved tool witt
which to do our work. and that me-
chanic Or manufacture who fails tC
! keep up with the march of improve