The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-06
MAYOR WILSON PROPOSES
 CHARTER CHANGES SUBJECT
 TO REFERENDUM OF VOTERS
Wants Special Election In September for Approval or Rejection of Pet Schemes as Set Forth In Message Submitted to
 Common Council Last Night. Communication Goes
 to Miscellaneous Committee to be Reported at Adjourned Council Meeting August 19

charter should be so amended as to give the mayor power to remove, for cause, any and all officers appointed by him. Such persons so removed to have the right of appeal to the su- perlor court; the suggestion being that, inasmuch as the mayor is the responsible head of the city, he should be in a position to bring about the best results without hindrance.
 ''(6). At the present time, the mayor is, ex-offcio, a member of the various boards but has no vote, ex- cept in case of tie. According to the conStruction of the charter, recog- nized by some, this makes it possible Sfor two members of a board of four to. block the mayor in pursuing his policy. If the mayor were ex-officiO a member of each board. with the power to vote upon all questions, the interests Of the city would not be jeopardized by desire to serve party instead of principle.
 "G). AS a means of obviating the present necessity for carrying over from one fiscal year to the next, contracts of the city for the first month Or two of the new fiscal year, it has been suggested that the board of apportionment and taxation be em- powered to issue and discount notes of not more than 50 or 90 days dura- ton. This is the method employed by business houses in conducting their affairs and this suggestion has been offered to enable the city to work more on a commercial basis.
 "(0. It has been suggested that the city should lay more permanent or semi permanent pavement. as means of improving our street condi- tions. and to keep pace with the heavy traffic and trying uses to which our roadways are now subjected. This would mean an expenditure of a larg- CT sum of money for a year or two than the 15-miH rate would allow. As a means of obtaining the funds, however. it has been proposed that the board of apportionment and tax ation be given authority to issue, from time to time,N serial notes in such amounts as they may deem advisa ble for this work; these notes to cover a period of time not longer than the guaranteed life of the pavement.
 '.It has been suggested, and I de- sire to submit these propositions also to the voters for. their approval or disapprova1, that authority be sought from the legislature of 1913, for the city to issue bonds for the following amounts, namely:
 "For rapid development of our sewer system and the installation of two pumping stations, $1, 200. .000.00; this to be spread over a period of four (4) years; the sum of $300,000 to. be ex- pended each year. This project will embody the installation of two de- structor~ plants for the disposal of gar bage, without nuisance, a<ashesss and rubbish, from which the power to op- crate the pumping stations would be obtained.
 .'For new East Washington ave- nue bridge. $13O,00O.
 For new almshouse, $175,000 For new Stratford avenue bridge, $40O,0
 .eThis would comprehend a structure 100 feet wide and amply provide for vehicular and other traffic at this point for a number of years to come.
 "For the extension of Seaside Park and the developing of Fayerweather Island, $25O, 900.
 ssThe State street bridge proposition, after careful consideration and inves- tigations by the city engineer, is not deemed feasible.
 While I do not recommend or con- demn any of these bonding projects, yet I am frank to state that am op- posed to increasing. our tax rate be- yond 15 mills for any of these meas ures.
 Moreover, I believe that when, the audit committee has completed it's work of systematiZing the Gity's ac- counts, the adoption of all of these suggestions as to bonding can be financed in a proper way on the said 15-mil1 basis, without jeopardizing the city's interests in other particulars. I would further say that any of these projects that are passed upon favor ably by our citizens will be sought in fhe legislature, and such as are dis approved will be left absolutely alone.
 .'I therefore submit for your con alteration the following resolutions: : "Resolved:. That a special town meeting of the town and city of Bridgepo be held on the 24th day of September, 1912, between the hours of 6 p. m. and p. m.
 Resolved: That at said meeting there be. presented to the voters of the city the following propositions:
 Shall the legislature of the state of Connecticut be asked to amend the charter of the city of Bridgeport sol that:
 s"The provisions of the charter. ,di- viding the city into two taxable dis property owners of said city shall be taxed at the same rate.
 tNThe personal tax shall be collected by the regular collector of taxes. : "The board of contract and supply shall be established by charter.
 s.The board of education shall be a bipartisan board of eight members, two of whom shall be women; all to be appointed by the mayor ''The mayor shall have power to re- move. for cause, any and all officers appointed by him, subject to the re- course of appeal to the superior court. l
 sThe mayor shall be .ex-officio a 1 member of each board of the city 1 with all the powers of a member 1 thereof. hA9 . !t1EEN
 .'The board of apportionrnent shall l have the power on behalf of the city l to. secure temporary loans on short | time notes of not more than sixty (60) | or. ninety (90) days duration.
 'The board of apportionment and taxation <shall have power to issue, l from time to time, serial notes for | pavement.
 ,"ShaH the legislature be asked ! to | issue serial bonds for the following specific purposes and amounts, name lY:
 l"For sewer system and pumping ! stations, and destructor plants, $1,200,- poo. >,
 ..For new East Washington avenue bridge, $13O, GOO
 For new almshouse, $175,000
 For new Stratford avenue bridge, s40O, ,O0O.
 "For extension of Seaside Park and development of Fayerweather Island, S250, 900. .As we have but one meeting of your honorable body during the month of August, I would suggest that this meeting be adjourned until Monday time the committee to which this mat rryiJ