The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-02
COUNCIL CONSIDERS
PURCHASING AGENT
Also Plan for Framing Up the City's
Annual Budget Under New Form.
MANY PAPERS .UP TONIGHT
May Pass Some and Table Others ON
Account OF Limited Time Before
New Charter Becomes Effective.

1
| Common council will meet tonight In
regular session, at which time 1t Ia
! expected that action may be taken on
! the ordinances recommended by the
special committee on charter changes.
Two of the ordinances which may
cause discussion are those in references
| to tho manner in which the annual bud
| get Is to be prepared and the estab-
| lshment of a storehouse and the APP
| pointmcnt of a purchasing agent
! The ideas embodied in these two
| ordinances are similar TO those which
have been discussed for years. with
out action. 1t has always been the
sense of the council to establish the
position OF purchasing agent, but no
| one UP to this time has taken tho trou-
! bic to push the idea along Now that
! It is before the body, there VIII natu
rally be some discussion.
| rhe scheme for form ulating budget
! plan is an old one. too But like the
bother ordinance, no one has taken X
| up seriously up to this time.
There lis every reason to believe the
ordinances will be acted upon tonight.
| Al least some of them. For the amend
| ed charter becomes effective on Janu-
/ airy i. and the. mayor is to name his
appontees, on December 10. so that
| there Is no TIME TOT any iIiE-
| The two ordinances referred 10 here
are given, so the public may be in
formed as to wha. the council has be-
| fore Il tonight;
Re 1T ordained by the council of the
| city OF Richmond
| /. That the MAYOR. MS soon as may
be after the approval Of this ordinance.
| shall appoint a suitable person as pur-
chasing agent for the city OF Rich
| nnond whose appointment. shall be con-
! armed by the council as provided BY
| section 2s NJ tho charter Of the city
! OF Richmond lie shall qualify in the
| mode prescribed by law and give bond
with surety satisfactory to the city
attorney in the penalty of ten thousand
dollars conditioned for the faithful
! discharge OF his duties as such pur-
chasing agent. whose term OF office
shall be for period of two years,
| provided that the person first to be
appointed under this ordinance shall
| hold his office from the date of his
qualification 10 the first day OF July.
| 1899, and shall receive as compensation
| for his services salary OF three thou
nd dollars ts3.ooe> per annuu, pay
able as other salaries are paid.
| ?. II shall be the duty Of the said
J purchasing agent. a & soon as practi-
cable after the appointment. tn recon-
mend 70 either branch OF the council
| OF the city OF Richmond. suitable
! place or places where there may he
| established by action OF the council a
store room or warehouse in which may
| be stored and kept for the use OF the
several departments of the city gov
eminent. such supplies as may be need
! ed in any Of the departments Or the
| city Of Richmond
! & The said purchasing agent shall
| appoint n clerk and storekeeper. and
/ 4 al
/ and prescribe their duties. whose COM
/ pc nsation shall he fixed hv him sub
| tect to the approval os the advisory
board, -tefaH
4. The purchasing agent shall cause
70 be kept a record o. the proceedings
/ and accounts Of tho department and all
such records. proceedings and accounts
shall be subject to the inspection OF
1.-THE mayor comptroller. any member OF
| the city council, or any officer. com
n.fttec or committees thereof.
| :. The powers and duties Of the pur-
chasing agent shall DO as follows:
| ,a> He shall purchase according to
specifications furnished by the various
aepa IT rnents ard approved by the ad-
I @tsory t->gsFa, sll-Seu Sp'ie 81 a1arais
! and equipment fer all departments. Of
fees courts ard institutions; divided.
| that where two or more departments
ase materials and supplies, Of the same
| character. standard specifications shall
be made 10 apply tn allssuch materials
| and supplies. and the requirements al
each. Of such departments shall be
purchased iii accordance Herewith
provided, further. however. that said
purchasing agent may, in. his disere-
| ton, make such additional rules and
regulations as he may deem necessary
! Sell Old Property.
fhl Sell all personal property Of the
| city no longer necessary, or which shall
Ihave become unsuitable for public use
or which NAV have been condemned as
useless by any of tho various depart
ments, offices. courts or institutions
fel Have charge OF such store rooms
land warehouses as may be established
by the council and all supplies and
/ materials stored therein and furnish
tho ss-me on the reauisition OF the var
ions departments, offices. courts or in
tsttutions;
cd Shall inspect or cause TO be in.
| spected all supplies delivered to de.
! termine conformity to specifications
Eauality and quantity of deliveries. and
| no voucher shall be passed by the city
icomptroller unless the accompanying
invoice shall he approved by the said
purchasing agent;
| te) Shall secure for departments, Of
fees. courts and Institutions such con-
tfractural services as may be deter.
mined by the advisory board
g. The purchasing agent shall no,
| purchase nor furnish any supplies. ma.
| teriaIS or equipment for any depart
rnent, office, court or institution, unless
there is to the credit OF such depart
ment an available appropriation bal
| ance in excess OF all unpaid obligations
sufficient to pay therefor. Upon GER
tfffcation that funds are available IL
1.-The proper approximations. such goods