Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-08-22
Revised Charter TO Call for Few
More Officers for Important
City Work.
POSITIONS ARE APP0|NT|VE
Commissioners Will BE Required to
Have Lived in Alma for
Five Years.

powers OF the city, the boundaries OF
the city and wards and the elective
officers of the city.
This week The Record will tell
something of the appointed officials
the oath of Office, qualification of of
ficers and official bonds, which are
dealt with in chapters four and five.
In the coming articles no attempt
will be made TO adhere to the exact
wording of the charter, but simply to
give the important parts of it as they
will affect the city under the com.
mission form OF government, that the
voters and other residents of Alma
who are interested in the movement
may know what the charter contains
and how it may be expected to work
out.
Chapter four takes up the appoint
i've officials. 1t directs the city com
mission at its second regular meeting
in May of each year to appoint the
following officers-a city manager, {
city clerk, a city treasurer, a city
marshal, two sonstables, a city ply.
sician, purchasing agent, a city at
toney, a building inspector and a
sealer of weights and measures. They
will be appointed by ordinance for
a term not to exceed a year and may
be removed at any time for cause, as
is provided in another chapter.
The =. .Iau
appoint board Of review consisting
of three members and a board OF
special assessors consisting of three
members, who shall hold office for
three years, except when the charter
first goes into effect, when the terms
shall be three, two and one years for
the members Of these boards. There.
after one member is to be appointed
each year.
Following the canvass of the votes
at any city election by the city clerk
he shall notify each Of the persons
elected and they are required to qual.
ify before a certain date, mentioned
later, or the office is deemed vacant
Nacanies shall be filled by appoint
ment as later provided in the charter
and for such time as is provided by
the charter
All persons appointed to office
shall be notified by the clerk within
five days thereafter, and they are re.
quired to qualify within ten days fol
lowing mailing of notice. On failure
to qualify the place may be filled al
once or later as desired All appoint.
i've officers shall hold office until sue.
cessors are appointed and have quail.
flied.
The city manager, subject to the
approval of the commission shall an.
point the chief Of police, the chief OF
the fire department, and to employ
such other persons as it may be de.
termlned, are necessary to properl,
conduct the business and public af
fairs of the city. Such appointees
except as provided for in the charte,
may be removed at will by the citl
manager.
All employees needed on the public
works of the city, not let by contract
shall be hired by the city manager
and may be discharged at will. Onl,
bona fide residents of the city, ex.
cept in the case of skilled laborers
not obtainable within the city, shall
be employed, whether the work i.
done by the city or by contract, pro.
vided that they can be obtains at tn;
going wage.
This final portion Of chapter fou,
is big change from the present
methods, and insures local people EN-.
ployment on city works whereve,
possible.
Chapter five takes up the oath OF
office, the qualification Of officers anc
the official bonds.
1t provides >lt the justice of the
peace shall take the constitutional
oath of Office with the county clerk
in the same manner as justices in the
townships. 1t provides that all other
officers of the city shall take the oath
of Office with the city clerk, within
ten days after mailing Of notice OF
election, except in the case of super.
visors, who shall qualify and take the
oath before or on the second Monday
in April, following their election.
1t is provided that no person shall
be elected or appointed to office in
Alma unless he is citizen Of the
United States and a resident of the
city, except in the case Of the city
manager who may or may not be r
resident Of the city. 1t is provided
that the city manager shall be mar
of good business and executive ability
and If practical, civil or mechani
cal engineer. Things being equal the
city commission is required to give
preference to a man from Alma fol
the office.
II provides that the members OF
the commission shall have been resi-
Continued on page seven)