Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-19
Special Committee Reports Favs
Orably upon New Scheme
of Direction.
WOULD ENGAGE EXEPRT
Town Might BE Administered
as Model and Advertised
as Best Governed NUM-
cipality in World.

St Adams March 15--At special
meeting of the city council held last
evening the committee appointed by last
years council to examine into the city
manager plan for tho purpose OF deciding
whether or not such a plan seemed prac-
teal for St Adams presented report fav-
orable to the adoption OF the plan.
The council voted to accept the rcpor.
but it was not adopted. Each committee
Of the council will make an estimate of
the amount OF money required for the
work Of it's respective department during
the coming year and report to the finance
committee, which will report on the aI-
preparation at All adjourned meeting or
the council to be held March %. At that
time 1. Will be able to Judge better wheth-
or the city has money enough t. war
rant its engaging a manager.
The committee, which was engaged il
looking into the plan, has made pains
taking investigation S. F. Royce, chair
man, personally went to New York city,
where he conferred with the bureau Of
municipal research which Is recognized
as the highest authority on all questions
of public service and municipal manage
ment. The bureau is conducted not for
| profit but for the reform and improve
ment of public service.
This bureau has offered to send to 81
Adams an expert to take charge of CITY
affairs. In effect the plan would be for
| the manager to be paid for a year about
what salary the city felt 1t could afford
to pay. The bureau, which has the eci,-
cation of such managers in charge, would
! in u-ith no elf no
idea of making Of St Adams a model
city. In short it proposes to use st. Al
bans as demonstration Of the plan. de-
string TO find some small city where it
could make such demonstration. which it
could advertise all over the United States
as the best governed city in the world.
WOULD REPLACE OFFICIALS.
The work of the manager would take
the place of the work done by the city
council committees including super!nten-
dent of streets, the water department,
sewers, sidewalks, and, in fact. every line
Of activity except the management of the
schools
The manager would he responsible to
the city council for the proper and salts
factory performance Of his duties. also to
the people because at any time they
might complain to the council The man
ager would report regularly to the coun-
ell what he had done tell what he thought
should be done and why it should be
done, and the cost. The council would
decide and instruct accordingly. What
ever business the people had they would
transact with the city manager.
The bureau, which would keep in touch
with the plan, would at proper Intervals
send travelling experts from its bureau
to inspect the work here.
The idea at present as presented in the
| report of the committee, Is to have tho
plan undertaken with the cooperation OF
the city council which has the right to
delegate its authority. If it Is found
practical the matter could he taken to
the Legislature next January. and neces-
sary amendments TO the city charter
could be made.
The committee which has been examn-
ing the plan IS composed Of S f. Royce,
chairman. Fuller c. Smith, \. H. George.
n Y. L'Ecuyer, W. T Merritt, William
II. Finn, i. J. Morton and w. II. Vorce.
All were present at the meeting with the
exception of Mr. LEcuyer. Mayor j. T.,
Maun was present, as We're all the mem
bers of the city council