Norwich bulletin., 1911-06-02
SYNOPSIS OF THE
PROPOSED CITY CHARTER.
Some Of the Chief Features of the I'm
portant Matter Upon Which Citizens
Will Vote Monday.


The following is a synopsis of the
proposed city charter upon which the
citizens will vote on Monday:
Elective Officers.
TIE elective officers of the city shall
be a mayor, director of public utili-
ties, director of finance, a director of
public works and a director of public
safety.
Nomination by Primary Election.
These officers will be nominated and
elected as follows:
Any 20 citizens may nominate can
didates for the various offices; all
primary election and the two highest
for each position are the only candi-
dates at the final election.
If any official should prove unsatis-
Factory, the people may remove him
by the Following procedure: After an
officer has served for six months Pc
tition signed by 20 per cent of the
voters who took part in the last cleo
ton, Stating the grounds for removal,
would call for a new election to deter
mine whether the official should be
retained in office or a successor elect
ed.
Duties of Officials.
In addition to the present duties of
the mayor he shall be the chief execu-
tive officer of the city and have gem
eral oversight over the various depart :?
| ments. The various duties of the
mayor are outlined at length in the
proposed charter.
The director of public utilities is re-
| sponsible for the efficient conduct of
the water department and the gas and
electric department.
The director of finance is the head
of q department of accounts and
finances and shall assist in establish
ing an intelligent and practicable sys-
tenn of accounting in all departments.
The director of public works shall
be at the head of the department OF
streets, highways, parks. cemeteries
and have other like. duties.
The director of public safety will he
the head of the police and fire depart
ments, health department and city
charities, and in the first instance will
receive and consider all reports, com
plants and suggestions from any Of
the officers engaged in the. administra-
ton of these departments.
Board of Directors.
This group of five men constitutes
board of directors who have all the
legislative and administrative powers
of the city. Each director is supreme
in his department. with the following
exceptions: If the mayor as chief ex-
ecutive shall disagree with the director
of any department as to appointments
or details of administration he shall
bring the matter before the full board
of directors for final action.
If any two directors disagree in the
administration of their departments
upon matters that concern both de-
partments then the full board of di-
rectors viii consider and family pass
upon the matter.
Compiling Estimates.
The estimates for taxation are com
piled by the mayor from reports pre-
r1ay Iay-f ho ,Sf oI5
1nent. and after revision by the full
board will be the basis for the city tax
for the ensuing year, unless modified
| by popular vote.
Salaries and Appointments.
| The proposed salary for the mayor
| is $500 and for each director $500
The board of directors will appoint
| the city treasurer. city clerk. corpora
/ ton counsel engineers. collector and
| such other general officers as do not
| fall under any special department and
also Will create such other special
| commissions and committees as shall
/ be necessary.
| No officer shall make use of his Of
| fetal position to gain any private profit
| by reason of any dealings with the
! city by himself or others.
Fun provision is made for publicity
! of all legislative meetings of the direc-
! tors and all transactions of the. va
| rious departments.
| Eight Hour Day.
/ An eight hour day is provided for
i all mechanics, worknen and laborers
| engaged upon any municipal work.
| BY the use of the initiative and the
referendum the power is given to the
/ people to propose and adopt new ordi-
| nances and to reject ordinances pro-
posed by the directors
/ Civil Service Commission.
Provision is made for a civil service
| commission who shall apply the merit
system to such departments may be
| ordered by the directors or the peo-
pie,
The business year for each DEPART :
| nent shall conform to the municipal
/ year, which shall run from June 1st to
| Dec. 3Ist.
| Election in November
| 1t is proposed that the first election
| under the charter shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in
| November, 1911, and the charter sc
i into effect Jan. list. 1912.
i The present form of government ex-
listing in the city. of Norwich will con-
| tinue unaltered except as provided in