The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1910-02-19
COMMISSION
GOVERN n MENT
Letters from Mandan and Bis
marck. Commissioners Get
Same Pay as Aldermen.
Extracts of Law.


Extracts of Law.
This week the PRESS gives two letters
REGARDING the commission form of
government which will be of special
interest to readers at this time. 1t will
also interest many to know something
of the provisions of the law governing
the commission system. The first step
is that already provided, namely, to
vote for or against the system at the
regular city election on April 4. If
the vote is favorable. the next step will
be the election of president and four
commissioners.
The officers as provided for under the
new system are as follows:
The officers of cities Incorporated
under this act shall be president of the
board of city commissioners and four
city commissioners. who together. shall
be known as the board of city COM
missioners of the city of Dickinson:
treasurer. auditor, attorney. a police
magistrate, one or more justices of the
peace. one nr more assessors. phy-
sician. street commissioner. chief of
fire department, city engineer, chief
of police. board of public works. one
Or more policemen. and such other Off
GERS or boards as the board of city COM
missioners may deem necessary; pro-
vided that the board of city commits
sioners by a majority vote may dispense
with the office of street commissioner,
engineer and board of public works and
provide that the duties thereof be
performed by other officers or boards by
the board of city commissioners or
committee thereof.
Elections under the commission sys-
tenn are held biannually on the first
Tuesday in April. The president and
board of city commissioners are all
elected at large and not by wards.
The term of Office shall be for four years
except that at the time of the organiza-
tion and election of the first board of
commissioners the two commissioners
receiving the least number of votes of
those elected shall hold office but for
two years.
The board shall at their first meeting
after their qualification or as soon
thereafter as possible, appoint the fol-
lowing officers, to-wit: A treasurer,
auditor, attorney. one or more assessors.
physician, street commissioner, chief
of the fire department, board of public
works. one or more policemen, and
such other officers or boards as the
board of city commissioners may deem
necessary provided, that the board of
city commissioners, by a majority vote.
may dispense with the officers which
in its judgment are unnecessary.
All salaries to be paid to city officers
under the commission system shall be
fixed by the board at its first regular
meeting in February. B.t any salary
of any officer shall not be increased or
diminished dming his term of Office
and all salaries heretofore fixed or
established by law shall be and remain
the salaries of such officers until the
board of city commissioners shall other
wise determine.
Under the present charter in Dickin-
son the aldermen are empowered to fix
the amount of their own salaries which
shall not exceed $500 per day. How
ever, the aldermen sit as board of
equalization once a year and while act
ing on such board they draw So. 90 per
day.
As matter of fact by ordinsnce. the
aldermen of the city get Sc per year,
salary exclusive of the equalization
board allowance, and the mayor $40.
This would mean that in the event of
the adoption of commission system,
the commissioners would be entitled to
the same salary and no more. In other
words, the commissioners would have
the same power as the aldermen under
the ward system of increasing salaries.
The general powers conferred upon
the board of commissioners and enumer-
ated in the provisions of the act provid-
ing for the commission system are
virtually those now conferred upon the
mayor and city councillors.
1t is further provided that the board
of commissioners has power to enforce
any power conferred upon it by appro-
pirate ordinances arranging for the
necessary details for the enforcement
of the power conferred.
1t is further provided that the differ
ent departments Of the city government
shall be delegated to the different men,
bers of the board for its supervision and
thus each commissioner to whom is dele
gated some particular department is thus
the head of that department and respon-
sible for its MANAGEMENT
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