Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-07-13
A Synopsis of the Law Providing for
It-Duties of the Council and
Manager Defined.
QUESTIONS FOR THE VOTERS
Can be Abandoned After Trial of
Six Years if Voters so
Elect.

AS petitions are being circulated
asking the mayor to call specia
election in Webster City for the pur'
pose of submitting to the people the
proposition of adopting the city
manager plan, the law under which
such plan must be operated is OF
much interest at this time. In order
that our readers might have the
benefit of the law boiled down, the
F'reeman-Tribune asked Attorney o.
J. Henderson to prepare a synop-
sis of the statute for publication,
which he consented to do. The law
in full would require at least a doz-
en- columns of space and would be
much more difficult to understand
than the following synopsis, which
gives the important features Of the
statute pertaining to towns of this
class, prepared by Mr.. Henderson,:
METHOD OF ORGANIZING UNDER
NEW SYSTEM.
The proposed system is inaugur-
ated by petition signed by the vot-
ers of the city equal in number to
at least 25 per cent of the votes cast
for mayor at the last preceding
election. Upon the filing of this Pc
tition the mayor must call a spec
ial election, at which the question
of adopting the new system must be
submitted to the voters Of the city
If a majority vote against the plan,
it cannot be re-submitted within
two years thereafter. If it carries,
the mayor must transmit a certifi-
cate of its adoption to the Governor,
the Secretary of State, and the
County Auditor. In that case, the
mayor is also required to call anoth-
er special election Immediately for
the purpose of electing the three
councilmen who will constitute the
new COuuCli
All candidates at this election are
nominated by petition, substan-
TALLY in the manner in which candi-
dates are required to file petitions
for the general primary elections.
The three candidates receiving the
highest number of votes will consti-
tute the new council.
All general laws now in force re-
specting cities Of the class continue
in operation, except as otherwise
provided in this new statute; and
all ordinances now in force, and
the territorial limits of the city,
and all rights and liabilities now ex-
listing FOR or against the city, will
remain intact Notwithstanding the
adoption of the new system.
THE COUNCIL.
On the first Monday after their
election, the three councilmen must
organize, and elect one of their own
number as chairman, who will be
designated as the mayor of the city.
But as such mayor he is given no ad-
ditional power or authority other
than as a member Of the council.
Upon the organization of the new
council, the present council ceases to
exist, and all officers and employees
Of the city at once become subject
to the action of the new council and
the Manager hereinafter referred to.
The three members Of the council
must serve without compensation.
They may exercise all the executive,
legislative, and judicial powers now
conferred upon the present council,
except as these powers are given to
the manager under this statute. Reg
ular meetings of the council are re-
quired to be held on the first Mon
day of each month, and the members
will hold Office until the regu-
lar biennial election in March, 1917,
when their successors will be elect
ed.
At their first meeting, or as soon
as thereafter as practicable, the
council must appoint a Clerk, a Po-
lice Judge, a Solicitor, and an As
SCISSOR. At their April meeting they
must appoint three persons to act
as board Of review.
THE MANAGER.
The most prominent feature of
the new statute Is the creation of
the so-called getty Manager" The
statute provides that at the first
meeting after their election, the
council shall appoint a competent
person manager. who shall be the
administrative head of the city, but
who shall be under the direction and
supervision of the council, and shall