The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-01-19
Charter Commission At Meeting Sat
urday Decide To Place Suggestions
Of Council Before People
ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS
Alderman Would Serve Four Year
Terms While Other Officials Would
Act For Only Two-Have Salary

Suggestions made to the charter
commission by the committee Of the
council relative to amending the ole
charter were approved by the com.
mission at it's meeting Saturday
night, and as consequence the vot.
ers of the city will be given an op.
portunity to show there choice at the
February election.
While all the members Of the COM
mission were not in favor of the
amendments as suggested by the
council, they were of the opinion that
the citizens of Bemidji should be CIV
en- the privilege of either accepting
them or turning them down.
Four Year Terms i
The plan of changing the charter
recently turned down by the voters,
which would have given Bemidji a
commission form of government, SO
as to meet with the suggestions of
the council was dropped. =
When the voters go to the polls
next month they will be given an
opportunity to vote on several
amendments. One of these will be
to hold elections every two years in
stead Of annually as is now the case.
This would he a saving of between
two and three hundred dollars every
two years, as the cost of an election
usually totals between these figures.
Under the new plan the alderman,
beginning in 1915, would serve for
four year terms, while the mayor,
alderman at large, assessor, treasurer
and city clerk would hold office for
two year terms.
Other Amendments
Other Amendments which will be
put UP to the voters will be.
Whether to have a park commits
sion. . s
The Initiative Referendum and Re-
call. s-.. RI
A salary of $50 a month for the
mayor. a."
A salary of not more than 800 a
year for the alderman This amend
ment would allow each alderman
three dollars a meeting, for those at
tended.
The amendments as they will be
put up to the voters follow,
Sec. 1. Chap. TO- -..
The following officers shall receive
salaries to wit, Clerk, Treasurer, AS
SCISSOR, Attorney and Health Officer, said
salaries to be fixed in January OF each
and after the first Monday in March,
1914. there shall be paid to the Mayor
salary Of $4,000 per month, payable
monthly and each alderman shall re-
each meeting attended not exceeding
$4,000, however in any one year.
Amending Sec. 8. Chap. 2. The terms
of office for the Mayor. Clerk, Treas.
shall be two years. The term Of office
for alderman shall be four years, COM
mencing on the first Monday in March,
1915. Provided, however, that at the reg
ular city election in 1915 the candidate
having the highest number Of votes
shall be elected for a term Of four years
and tie candidate having the least num-
Der OF votes for term of two years
alderman shall be for four years.
Amending Chapter S. There shall be
established and maintained in said city
system of public parks and there
n wi rf DE-, s1s 49, sx.-..z
consisting, of five members who shall
serve without compensation and who
snail be appointed by the mayor and
hold their office for a term Of five years
been appointed and qualified. Provided
however, that in making the first an.
pointments under his section, such com.
he term Of office of one shall expire
on the first Monday of the first March
Following his appointment, one on the
second Tuesday of the second March
after, his appointment, one on the 3rt
one on the 5th March after his appoint
OF the full term of office. Appoint
ment. and thereafter on the expiration
ments shall be made for the full tern
of five years, provided, however, tina
shall be made only for the unexpiret
term. ~ .4e.-F- So.
Sec 55-Board of Park Commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioner.
may employ a superintendent of Park.
and may employ and dismiss such EN-
ployes as may be necessary for tn,
maintenance of said parks, and fix tn,
compensation of such employees, sub
ject, however, to the rules and regula
lions of the City Council governing cit,
employees.
Sec. Observation-Disclosures of Parks.
The superintendent of parks shall. un
der the direction of the Board of Parl
Commissioners have general supervis
ion of all work and improvements on al
public parks. park way and boulevard
in said city and shall see that all or
relating to such public parks, parkway
anG boulevardS are properly enforced
Sec 81. The Board of Park Commits
sioners shall have power to recommend
to the City Council the requirement b,
gift purchase or condemnation real es
tate for public parks and may from
time to time make such recommends
tons affecting the public parks of tn