Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-28
RECOMMEND $4,000
FOR CITY DIRECTORS
Special Committee on Charter
Revision Decides on Salaries
of Department Heads.
WANT PURCHASING AGENT
Members for Creation of This
Office-Municipal Planning
Commission Voted.
PURCHASING AGENT

salary OIL the Directors OF Public We'll
f2re. Public Safety. Public Utilities
Public Works. Public Finance and Pub
lie Law, in the recommendations of the
subcommittee on ordinance. which
were adopted last night by the whole
committee Of seven. The recommends :
tons now go to the City Council for
adoption.
ana city Accountant were united. and a
salary of $4,000 fixed as compensation
fhe position of Purchasing Agent was
es,ablished, and a salary Tor the agent
ii%ed at $4,000 per year. a City Plan
nlhS Commission was created, which
commission shall serve without com
penSat!on.
IL is further provided that the Mayor
shall. on or before December l5, make
his estimate OF the yearly expenses for
the conduct Of the city's affairs from
OF Finance. This estimate must then
be submitted to the Council.
The manufacturing force of the Gas
Department is separated from the dis
tributing force by one recommendation.
The clerical forces of the City Gas and
water departments are united. By
,his scheme alone the ordinance saves
TO the city an exact estimate of s26,l 60
with saving of that amount in
these two departments. ii is estimated
by the members OF the Subcommittee
Fuller, l.. Lee i'etcrs-that the new
system will annually save the city
from 100000 10 $4,000, speaking con-
The members Of the subcommittee
stated that the salaries Of $4,000 for
each OF the six directors was decided
upon after much deliberation. They
said that $4,000 was liked 50 as to
leave room for compensation of merit
and ambition, and that the City Coun-
ell could be trusted to increase the
salaries 10 measure up with the size OF
the Mayors appointees. The ordinance
provides that in event present city
employees are appointed to director
ships they shall receive the new sal
aries in lieu of the present ones. but
that they shall continue to perform the
duties OF the department that devolves
on them from the present positions.
1t was the free expression Of nearly
every man present that the golden
opportunity" of Mayor Ainslie had pre-
sented itself. The ordinances left the
Advisory Board unhampercd SO far as
exercise OF It's duties are concerned.
The Council reserved toitself'the right
to redesignate office rooms, and provid- :
as public property, and that copies
shall be provided private citizens who
may ask for them. SO far as this
was opposed by Councilmen Powers and
Adams.
councilman Workman was absent
and Councilman Adams excused him
that the subcommittee OF three could
outvote Councilmen Rose and Powers
although little opposition was shown
10 any. OF the provisions in the sub
committees report.
The first ordinance adopted provide ed
that the Council shall nN the compen- :
sa'ion OF officers and employees. cX-
cept those under the directors of the
departments. The heads OF the de-
partmcnts OF Public Works, Utilities,
safety and Welfare. with the approval
OF the Advisory Board. will classify and
nix the number and salary OF the en-
ployces of the departments. Salaries
ana rates must be reported to the
Comptroller.
BOND OF sIoO,oO0 FOR
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
The Director OF Finance is to he
elected by the Council on Or before
January i. He must qualify under Il
100000 bond. His duties are such as
are provided by the charter adopted
charge of preparation of all tax pills
CT the city. After the preparation OF
the Ellis, the Comptroller will deliver
them TO the Collector. and charge him
with tho amount. He may require daily
reports from the employees in his
charge. over whom he has complete
control. He may be removed by the
Mayor for cause. He is afforded i
hearing before the Council or a COM
mittee thereof.
The Comptroller appoints the deputy
accounts. the City Tax Collector, the
chief clerk OF the division OF gas and
water consumer accounts and collcc-
tioEs: etc. lie is the complete boss OF
provided in the payment and the COZ
lection of bills. a delinquent tax col
lector will be paid a per cent COM
mission.
lhe estimate OF the Mayors budget
shaI. be compiled from detailed infor-
nation provided by the Comptroller It.
must be an intemiZed estimate. The
Mayor must prepare his recommc nda-
ton Tor increased (nrrelSpn
rates at the same time he presents his
budget estimate. He must state rca-
sons, along with statement from the
Cenptroller, as to the prospective rev
enues of the city. The Council. upon
receipt of the Mayors estimate, mus;
refer it to the Finance Committee.
summon the Mayor to defend his recon-
mendationS.
The second ordinance adopted pro-
vides for the establishment OF bu
reau of information and complaints un-
der the supervision and control OF the
Mayor. Tile head of this bureau will
he appointed at the pleasure OF the
Mayor, with u salary liked by tin.
Mayor. with the approval of the .Ad-
vsory BOARD. 1t will be provided with
nrivate branch telephone.
The Council In joint session must
elect the auditor and accountant. who
must qualify under a $4,000 bond. lie
will make continuous audits and en-
anime all books of the departments and
comptroller. These duties extend to ali
the departments Of the city government
in minute detail. He shall make month
ly reports TO the city Council He
will audit the sinking and similar
funds. and At all times have free ac
cess to the department books.
The ordinance creating the office OF
purchasing agent also provides II store
room and warehouse for the city's sup
plies. This officer must give $4,000
bond. The agent receives $4,000 a year
but his .storekecper and clerks will be
paid salaries fixed by hSn subject 10
the approval OF the Advisory Board.
With the approval of the Advisory
Board. he will purchase the supplies
for tho departments. He must sell un
employed personal property and secure
contractual services for the Advisory
Board. among his other duties He /.
prohibited from purchasing for any de
partlnent unless there Is to the credit
OF the department sufficient funds "a
pay the bills, He must file monthly
report with the Comptroller. through,
whom all disbursements must be made
| The object OF the Planning Commits
sion Is anticpatory OF the develop.
ment Of the city along rational lines
Its duties are advisory only to the tdi-
rector OF public works. s
The subcommittee will continue Its
4. AZ & 4