The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-02-16
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT
SYSTEM FOR CITIES
Bill Introduced in Legislature
Providing for New
Plan

An act providing for the "commis-
sion manager" form of government
for cities and towns and providing for
the election of officers therein, defin-
ing their duties and powers and pro-
viding their compensation, has been
introduced in the lower house of the
Montana legislature by Representa-
tive Tom kehoe of Yellowstone coun-
ty. The measure is known as the
"commission-manager PLAN"
The bill provides that upon petit
ton being filed with the city or town
council signed by not less than 25 per
cent of the qualified electors of such
municipality, said city or town coun-
Gil shall order a special election to be
held within 80 days from the time the
petition is filed. The mayor there
upon shall issue a proclamation set
ting forth the purpose of the election
and it shall be published in each daily
newspaper in the municipality for 10
consecutive days. The election and
canvassing of the vote shall be con-
Quoted in the manner az provided by
law in respect to other municipal cleo
tions.
If such proposition shall not be
adopted at the special election, the
provides that it shall not be
voted upon again for a period of two
years. If, however, the majority of
the votes cast shall be in favor of the
proposition, the city or town council
must hold a meeting within two weeks
thereafter, and, at this meeting, order
special election to be held for the
purpose of electing the number of
commissioners to which the munich
pality shall be entitled, and shall
specify the time of holding such cleo
ton which must be within 80 days of
the making of such an order, and the
mayor is required to issue a procla-
nation setting forth the purposes for
the election.
All laws governing municipalities
of like population, it is incorporated
in the bill, and not inconsistent with
the provisions of this act, shall apply
to and govern municipalities organ
lied under this act. All bylaws, or
dinances, and resolutions lawfully
passed and in force in any municipal
ity under it's organization not in con
flict with this act, shall remain in
force until altered or repealed by the
commissioners under the provisions of
this act. All property rights vested
in the municipality, it is provided in
the Kehoe act, shall continue the
same, and no suit or prosecution of
any kind shall be affected by such
change, unless otherwise provided for
in the bill.
The bill provides hat the munich
pality shall have all powers that now
or hereafter may be granted to the
municipality by the constitution of
Montana, and all such powers whether
expressed or implied, shall be exer-
cised and enforced in the manner pre-
scribed for in the act, or when not
prescribed therein, in such n as
shall be prescribed by the ordinance
and regulations of the commission.
The bill provides that the commits
sion shall consist of three commits
sioners for all municipalities having
a population of less than $4,000 and
five commissioners for all cities hav-
ing a population of $4,000 or over.
The commission shall constitute the
governing body with powers to pass
ordinances, adopt regulations and ap-
point a chief administrative officer,
who shall be known as the city man.
ager.
Commissioners are required to be
residents of their municipality and
must own real estate of the value of
$1,000. They are prohibited from &C.
cepting other employment except in
the state militia, as school trustees or
notaries public and r prohibited
from interest in the profits of any