Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-12-08
A Responsibility
OF a Councilman

State Inspector Heck grows ver-
bose in his report on the City Council
and takes 81 closely typewriter
pages to place his report.
His report covers, as has been in
dicated before, the time from July
7, 1915 to Jan. 2, 1917. 1t is i'm
possible to give it more than pas
sing glance. He says that it is ab-
solutely necessary to have the re-
ports of council proceedings correct.
It's action in correcting it's Journal is
not subject to review by the courts.
That law he says is laid down in the
case of McClain VS.. Kisson.
He says, that only in Unforeseen
shall appropriations be
made for contingent appropria-
tions". He finds that the rule was
not rigidly adhered to. In no case
shall ordinary expenses of the city
be paid from contingent appropria-
tions". 1t is noted that certain sup
Elemental appropriations made do
not measure up to the legal defini-
ton. If the regular appropriation
falls short a supplemental appropria
tion may be made, unless it was re-
fused in the regular ordinance. He
advises great care by the body in
passing appropriation ordinances.
Every six months a council should re-
ceive a "budget" made up by the
heads Of departments. 1t should show
the expense of the department, in
each case for the last six months
and ask for definite sum to run the
the next six months. In
that way, he says, only, may we have
an economical administration. 1t
should also be dominated, inspected
and passed on by a finance committee.
The committee should know the exact
financial condition of the city, ap-
preparations sought and the ability
to pay the same. The finance COM
mittee should take definite stand
against incuring bills against an
which is exhausted.
The sum total of all bills in a depart
ment must come within the appropri
alton made for the six months. The
finance committee should insist on
that.
He is pleased, he says, to note that
in the time covered by this report,
council has made no transfers be-
tween regular appropriations nor
from the contingent ap-
to any of the regular
appropriations"
He finds a transfer of a total Of
S15,600, in the time reported on,
from the General fund to the Health,
Service and Safety funds.
Charges for legal advertisements,
except in a few cases, were not ex-
cessive. The exceptions are, when a
publication was made more times
han warranted by Statute. He
finds that bills for legal advertising
oy the city dailies in 1912 and 1918
we're not paid at the time but in
1917 a compromise sum was paid
and the incident closed. All such
publications, he says, should be care
fully verified. 1t is necessary for the
council to designate the papers in
which such publications shall be
made.
He finds that the. Newark city
council followed the depositary law.
They received 2 1-8 and 2 1-10 per
cent from the Licking County Bank
and Trust Co. and from the First
National Bank, respectively. They
lave contract extending to March,
1919. He says, the council has not
asked sufficient bond from the de-
positaries to make sure. 1t is a
he says, as the council by
ordinance of 1906, are required to
approve the depositary bond. The
and risk is entirely with
he council.
The council ordinances have not
,een codified for six years and are
low encumbered. 1t should be at
ended to and all obsolete matter
wept from the ordinance book.
Appointment of certain officers by
he mayor must be confirmed by the
:ouncil. Such confirmation extends
My to the members of the city board
# health. He hopes the council will
lot cucumber it's records by going
urther.
1t is the duty of the council to
ransfer the funds, devoted to the
ireman and policeman pension fund, |
irectly and absolutely to the trustees
# the fund. 1t is the duty of council
o make levy to sustain it or trans