Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-03-29
BOARD OF CITY
DEVELOPMENT A
SUCCESS THERE
CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, WHICH
OPERATES UNDER COMMISSION
MANAGER CHARTER, LIKES 1T.
DURING TWO YEARS OF OPERATION
MANY IDEAS HAVE BEEN MADE
INTO ACTUAL SUCCESSES.

Since the city Of Brownsville has formed
a City Board of Development under it,
new commission form of government. the
following article by ". ID. Ilornaday. staff
correspondent for the San Antonio Ex-
press. on the Board OF Development of the
city OF Amarillo, Texas, which has a
charter similar to that of Brownsville, j.
Of particular interest at this time:
1t was on the well founded theory that
all the people of a community should be
required 10 bear their pro rata OF the cost
Of promoting the city's progress and
general welfare. the same as they must do
in the maintenance of all the other
branches of municipal government, that
the Board of City Development was created
here. II j. a department of the city gov
eminent Of Amarillo and il performs the
functions that are ordinarily delegated to
commercial bodies that are maintained by
private interests.
1t l. nearly two years since the City
Commission passed an ordinance creating
this new branch Of the municipal gov
eminent. During that period the new plan
has been thoroughly tested and il i
claimed that it has proved far superior
in its working operations and actual ae-
compliShments TO the old methods of pri-
vately conducted campaigns for the city's
upbuilding.
The Board of City Development Of ANA
rillo j. supported by an annual public
fund that Is raised by means Of a small
tax rate that applies to every property
owner alike. II l. not forced 10 favor any
particular business man or interest a l.
the ease with many of the privately main
tanned commercial organizations that are
dependent entirely for their support upon
the subscription of local citizens. II is
claimed here that the Board Of City De
%velopment Is as independent from the bust
ness interests of the town as any other
branch Of the municipal government. Il
cndeavors 10 serve every man. woman and
child IN Amarillo alike. II Is also stated
that politics absolutely has no place in the
department.
This breezy metropolis of the Panhandle
not only has the unique distinction OF
having a Board Of City Development. but
It was the fifth city in the country to adopt
the city manager form of government. As
Sisting the city manager i a board of
commissioners
The ordinance provides that there shall
he appointed by the city commission not
10 exceed fifteen directors Of the Board
Of CITY Development. These directors
"~hall be citizens of Amarillo. of good and
reputable landing. such appointments 10
be free from partisan or political IN
ilurnrc~ ~ con. idcrations.' Each direc-
tor = appointed for 4 term of two years
and the terms Of one half of the member
ship expire every year.
One OF the important ~tipulations of the
ordinance j. that any director who misses
three regular consecutive MEETINGS shall
hc automatically removed from office. m
less. M the next regular meeting of ~,
board after such absence. he shall submit
'n person or in writing legal EXCUSES thai
are acceptable ~ the other directors.
Another provision says "The Board "
City Development of the CITY ~ Amarillo
shall have general supervision over all
matters pertaining 10 the work of The usual
Chambers of Commerce or Commercial
clubs. such a. the legitimate fostering
exploitation. encouragement and drvrlan-
mcnt of the agricultural. Stock irdu.tri.t
manufacturing. iohhing. distributing aud
wholesale and retail commercial resource.
anu securing 81 desirable immigration. w.