The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-12
Commissioners Duties Spe-
 cified in Resolutions
POWERS ARE DEFINED
Heads of Three Municipal Depart ments Must Make Yearly Inves-
 tigations Concerning Ex- penditures Necessary

hority of each member. It was shaped ID yesterday by City Attorney Ro- maine Boyd, and Is as follows:
 A resolution to distribute the exc .utive, judicial and administrative powers, authority and duties unto and lmong the several departments, and to lefine certain legislative and other powers and duties to be exercised or performed by the board of commis- ,ioners.
 Be it resolved by the Board of Com nissioners of the city of Birmingham;
 Section l. That the executive, jul licia1 and administrative powers. au- thority and duties of the city of Bir- ningham are distributed into and the several departments, and certain legislative and other powers and duties to be exercised or perform ed by the Board of Commissioners are defined. all as hereinafter set forth.
 The Council
 Sec. 2. The board has and shall ex- and duties conferred upon the city oi it's officers. It shall make all orders for the doing of work, or the making pr construction of any improvement building or bridge. It shall levy all taxes, apportion and appropriate all funds, and audit and allow all bills. ac- pay rolls and claims and order payment thereof.
 It shall make all assessments for he cost of street improvements, side walks, sewers and other work, i'm orovements or repairs which may be specially assessed.a It shall make or authorize the making of all contracts, upon the city unless made ,ither by ordinance, resolution or order if the board, or approved by the board, ,r expressly authorized by the board 0 be made. All commissioners of de- ,artments and all heads of sub-de- ,artments and all other officers of the ,ity, except the officers of the sub departments of health. are only agents If the board and all their acts shall be ubject to review and to approval or evocation by the board.
 Every commissioners or officer shall rom time to time, as required by law IT ordinance, or when so, requested by t necessary for the good of the public ervice, report to the board in writing expecting the business of his depart nent or office or matters connected herewith. The board may, by ordi- nance or resolution, assign to a com missioner. officer or employe. duties in espect to the business of any other department office or employment, and uch service shall be rendered without .dditional compensation.
 Heads of Departments
 Sec. B.. It shall be the duty of each ead of a department to assume gen. ral charge and supervision of all mat CTS pertaining to his general depart nent or to any of the sub-departments ssigned to his general department and f all other matters which may arise rom or which from their nature are learly referable to his department or to
 sub department of his department and 0 all further matters which may at any ime be referred to aim or to his de- artment by order of the municipal coun il; subject only to the provisions of he statutes which may confer special overs and duties upon any other officer r board in matters pertaining to any f the aforesaid departments or sub apartments. It shall be the duty of each head os
 department immediately upon taking ffice at the beginning of the municipal expenditure necessary for the ensuing ear in each of the subdivisions of his apartment reporting the same forthwith 0 the board, together with his recom- nendations for the requisite appropria- ions. It shall be the duty of the head f a department promptly to. investi- ate and report to the municipal coun- Il upon any matter which may by the municipal council be referred to him.
 The head of a department shall ex- mine and approve all bills or claims ontracted by, or presented to any of he officers, departments or subdivisions f departments classified as within his eneral department.
  9th of each month, the three Heads of he departments shall meet and examine ills which shall be presented to them V the city auditor as the monthly pay oil; such bills shall be carefully audited V the three heads of the departments citing jointly
 Each head of a department shall. an- ually on or before the last Tuesday in une, submit to the municipal council
 report covering the work done in his apartment, with his recommendations s to the possibility of an increased ef- ciency or lessened expenditure in his apartment.
 The commissioner of each department , authorized to make such rules and not inconsistent with law or he ordinances or resolutions adopted by he board, as such commissioner may eem necessary or proper to secure eff tent service in his department
 In the sickness or absence from the ity of the president of the board, or of nv of the commissioners, his powers nd duties may be exercised and per- ormed by such other commissioners as he board may elect.
 President Exum's Duties
 Sec. f. The department of accounts, nances and public affairs:
 The commissioner of the department. f accounts. finances and public affairs hall have charge and supervision over Il accounts and records of the city. He hall inspect or cause to be inspected all ecords or accounts required to be kept n all of the offices or departments of he city, and shall cause proper accounts nd records to be kept and proper re- orts to be made. He shall audit or ause to be audited at regular intervals he accounts of every officer or employc yho receives or distributes money.
 He shall have charge of the purchas ase, are and distribution of all supplies and ther articles not otherwise provided or.