The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-04-04
Charter Revision.

Tuesday evening and received draft
of proposed new charter from City
Attorney Pulver, who had been asked
by the commissioners to prepare the
same and who accepted the task with
the understanding that his services
would be entirely without expense to
the city save the stenographer's bill for
making the copies needed for use. Ac-
companying the charter was a letter
from Mr.. Pulver explaining briefly that
the proposed cherter was largely based
on the provisions in the commission
government charters of the cities Of
Pontiac and Port Huron. The commits
sioners after hearing the letter read
and distributing a copy of the draft to
each commissioner adjourned for two
weeks, when the work of reading the
charter section by section for action
will be taken up. A brief summary of
the main provisions follows:
Mayor and Two Commissioners
The new charter provides for the
management of the citys affairs by a
mayor and two commissioners, whose
salaries have not been fixed, a space
having been left blank by the city at
torney. The commissioners are elect
ed for term cf three years, one be-
ing chosen each year. The other
elective officers are justice of the
peace and constable. The justice
serves four years and the constable
two. Their salaries are regulated by
the commission, AS are those OF the
appointive ofiicers,-a city treasurer,
clerk, health officer, chief of police
and chief of the fire department.
EaIi appointive officer serves two
years. A city assessor is also .ap-
pointed hut serves only one year. He
takes Office on the second Monday in
February.
The mayor and commissioners as
sumo Office on tle second Monday in
April, and the sppointive officers,
other than assessor, take office on the
second Monday in May.
Mayors Duties
The charter provides that tie may
or shall act as commissioner of pub
lie safety and finance, having charge
of the police, fire and health depart
ments and all matters regarding the
finances of the city. He is also presi-
dent OF the board of health. The otl-
er commissioners with the mayor,
comprise the board of health, the
health officer acting as secretary.
Another commissioner, is that of
public improvements, who has charge
of streets, alleys, public buildings
and grounds, and all property owned
by the city. He also has supervision
of all public improvements such as
drains, bridges, pavements, etc.
The third commissioner has con-
tro! of all public utilities,-water-
works plant and city lighting plant,
if one is created, has charge of the
lighting of public streets and a gen.
eral supervision of all public utilities
gas, telephone, telegraph, street
railway and other service.
Nomination by Primary
The charter provides for the nomi-
nation of the city officers by primary
election. The two candidates receiv-
ing the highest number of votes for
each Office are declared nominated
and their names placed on the subse-
quent election ballot
Change in Fiscal Year
The beginning of the fiscal year is
changed in the new charter, begin
ming June 1, instead of October 1, as
at present. The taxes are collected
in July and funds can be borrowed in
of the tax collections,
after June /, so tlat
work on public improvements can be
begun in June instead of in October
or in the following year.
Initiative, Referendum, Recall
The initiative, referendum and re-
call are provided for. Upon the for
NAL demand of 20 per cent of the
voters, the commissioners are COM
PEELED to submit ordinances to vote
of the people, and similar percent
age of the voters may demand the
recall of such an official, will be held
at a special election, providing no
regular election is to be held within
40 days.
The charter further provides for
an annual audit of the city's books by