Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-26
NEED OF NEW CHARlER
 IOR NORWICH
(confinued from Page Five.)


 (Coptinued from Page Five.) politics. The commissioners give a bond of s5,600 each. The superintend- elat and aL employees are appointed by the commissioners The commissIon- CTS hold regular weekly meetings and receipts are paid daily by the cashier to the city treasurer and all the bills contracted are paid monthly by the city treasurer's check on orders sign eG by all or a majority of the com missioners.
 Water Department
 Year ends March 31. Policy govern ed by five commissioners who hold monthly meetings and serve without salary, except the president, who is paid S360 a year. Four of the commits siO4lers are elected by the people. two each year for two-year terms. and one elected by the court of common eoun- cil yearly, so that the board is always of the same political complexion as the council, and the superintendent cashier and some of the minor ern- ployes are changed each time the ad- ininistraeion changes. This depart ment pays all bills out of receipts and pays the balance on hand to the city treasurer quarterly.
 Health Department.
 Years ends March 31. The health officer is appointed by the court of coran1on council on nomination of the mayor for a term of four years. and collects no money of the city. The appointment and duties of this official are fixed by state law.
 Public Works Department.
 Year ends May L The policy is di- rected by the committee on public works consisting of one alderman and two councilmen The street commits sioner and superintendent of cen1e- teries are appointed yearly by the council for the year beginning July l, and the incumhents are changed ev- cry time the council changes. All of the employees are liable to be removed by charge of administrat ton. The city election is held on the first Mon day in June and few days after ward the council organizes and elects the street commissioner. who does not assume the duties of the office until July 1. All work done between May 1 and July 1 in each year is paid for out of. the yearly appropriations which are made in annual city meeting held about June 10 so that there is every commissioner to handicap the lncom- ing commissioner by expending large portion of the appropriation. This is repeatedly done and is one of the worst features of our present system, and there is no reason or excuse for it's continuance. This department collects money for outside work so-called, such as trimming trees, street railway work, 
 Park Departnent.
 Year ends May l. There are seven commissioners. appointed by the may or without salary.
 Finance Department.
 Year ends May 15, more than two weeks before the annual election and several weeks before the annually elected executive heads take charge of departments. The financial year should begin with the terms of the new officers. The finance committee consists Of the mayor, an alderman and councilman and has general charge of all financial matters of the city except sinking funds which are controlled by a. sinking fund commit tee consisting of two members, who serve without saIar-
 Uniform City Charters.
 Owing to the almost constant agita- tion going on in the cities of the state calling for improvement in their nlu- nicipal conditions, Governor Woodruff reconimeneled and the legislatlre of 1905 passed an act authorizing the ap- pointment of a commission consisting of one representative from each city in the state and five other persons "to re- port to the next general assembly a draft of such laws as should, in the judgment of said commission, be en- acted with reference to the government of all the cities of the state. or any -1ksArS OA CIciSSGS LESISOls SO .IIldI d1l laws in the nature of charter provi- sions relating to cities of this state may be uniform so far as may be prac- tical and advantageou Norwich was on this commission by Hon. Gardner Greene and Mir. Thayer. who was then the mayor. Several meetings Of the commission were held, but no agreement could be reached as to a satisfactory uniform policy of rnundci- pal government for Connecticut cities, and a report was made to the 1907 leg stature to that effect.