Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-08-08
COMMISSIONERS
REVISE CHARTER
Revision of Charter Has Taken
Months of Work by Well
Known Men.
VOTE COMES IN NOVEMBER
Citizens of Alma Will Have Oppor-
tnnity to Accept or Reject work
of Commission.

Alma's charter commission elected
at the annual spring election, at the
same time that Alma voted by an
overwhelming vote to change the
form of city government, and put 1t
on a sound business basis, has
finished its work and Saturday morn
ing at ten o'clock filed with Carl r.
Gallagher, city clerk, the revised
charter, which is to be submitted
later to the voters of the city for
their approval.
The work of the charter commits
sion has been an extensive one, as 1t
has gone thoroughly INTO numerous
charters seeking to obtain their good
points, so that they might be incor-
porated in the new charter for Alma.
1t has also had problem IN wedding
out the portions of the present city
charter that were to be retained and
made a portion Of the new charter
under which the commission form of
government will be carried on IN
Alma. The result of this labor rep
resents one hundred and thirty-three
pages, legal size, of typewriter mat
ter.
The charter consists of thirty-nine
chapters, dealing with the various
phases Of city government and the
way that it is to be conducted. The
first chapter gives the general
powers of the city The second chap
ter gives the boundaries of the city
and wards. The third chapter deals
with the elective officers, and the
fourth chapter with the appoNtive
officials. The fifth chapter deals with
the oath of office, the qualifications Of
the officers and the official bonds.
Chapter six takes up the salaries of
the officers and employees. Chapter
seven deals with the vacancies In
office and the removal of appointive
officials. Chapter eight sets forth the
Methods of Procedure of the city
commission.
Electors, registration, primary
elections and elections are taken up
in the following three chapters, and
then the initiative, referendum and
recall are taken up. Chapter thirteen
deals with the powers and duties Of
the officers of the city and is followed
by a chapter on the powers of the
city corporation.
Finance and taxation are dealt
with at considerable length and
come under chapter fifteen. Chap
ter sixteen gives the assessment and
collection of taxes, and chapter seven
teen takes up special assessment for
general and local Improvement.
Chapter eighteen deals with the ap-
preparation of private property.
The nineteenth chapter of the re-
vised charter takes up the matter of
cemeteries.
Chapter twenty deals with ordi-
nances and will keep in force any
ordinances of the city, not inconsist-
ent with the charter if adopted by
the voters. 1t also provides for the
introducing and passing such ordin-
ances by the commission. Chapter
twenty-one takes up the enforcement
of the ordinances Of the city.
The balance of the thirty-nine
chapters of the revised charter are
taken up by such matters as policing,
health, pounds, markets, public build
ings, grounds and parks, sewers,
drains and water courses, street regu-
lations, construction of sidewalks,
waterworks, lighting, fire department,
granting of franchises, establishment
of public library, recording of plats,
and amendment and revision of the
city charter, and the schedule under
which the charter is to be submitted
and put in force if approved by the
voters.
This last chapter provides that the
charter shall be submitted for the
approval or rejection of the voters at
the general election to be held
November 5, 1918.
If it meets with the approval of the
voters. then on the first day of Feb
uary, 1919, it shall become in force
for the purpose of registration of
electors, the first primary elections
and first municipal election, for the
introduction into Office of the super
visors elect, and the making of the
first assessment Of property for pur-
poses Of taxation and the first as
sessment rolls. It shall become in
full force on the second Monday in
May, 1919, if adopted
Many of the essential propositions
contained in the present charter OF
the city Of Alma are retained in the
new charter, which the voters are to
pass upon. Other portions have beer
altered greatly, to make them more
workable, while others have beer
changed so that some things possible
in the past will not be possible under
the new charter, if adopted.
The charter provides for a mayor
to be elected for a term of two year:
and for four commissioners to b'
elected at large for a term Of -four
years, except that two of the com
missioners to be first elected shall bt
(Continued on Pave Eight