The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-16
LOCAL LEGISLATION
The New Elected City Council Enters
on It's First Years
Work

The new city council at its first bus
mess meeting Tuesday night got right
down to work, and the business be-
fore it was dispatched in order pre-
sented just as tho there had been no
interruption in its personnel during
the past few weeks.
Mayor Chace and City Attorney
Hooker were on hand to confer with
the members and offer their sugges-
tions on matters that came before
the body.
The only surprise sprung during
the evening was that caused when a
resolution was offered to declare the
election of Mr.. d. Mel Ferguson as
recorder null and void Mr.. Fer
fuson's election to this position was
one of the retiring councils last acts
before adjourning at its final meeting
last week. The resolution:
Whereas, The city council of the
city of Ocala, Florida, at a meeting
of that body held on the 9Th day of
January, 1918, being the day on which
the term of Office of such members of
the council expired, and contrary to
all precedent and rules of parliamen-
tary proceedings, in the absence of
three members of that body, and
without notice to such absent men,
bers that such action was contemplat-
ed, attempted to elect city recorder
to fill the unexpired term of Major L.
T. Izlar, deceased; and,
Whereas, Only four members of
council composed of nine members
voted for the candidate declared
elected; and,
Whereas, It was a meeting for
only the purpose of approving the
minutes of any preceding meeting
and installing the new council, and at
which meeting the old council could
legally transact no new business;
and,
Whereas, 1t was manifestly un-
fair, illegal and without precedent to
attempt such election, therefore be it
Resolved, That the action of said
city council of the city of Ocala,
Florida, on the 9Th day of January,
1918, and so far as the same relates
to the election of city recorder, be,
and the same is hereby declared null
and void and of no effect, and that we
now proceed with the election of a re-
corder to fill the unexpired term of
Major L. 7. Izlar, deceased. Be it
further
Resolved, That the minutes of the
council of the 9Th day of January,
1918, in so far as the same relates to
the election of recorder, be not ap-
proved"
The resolution was referred to the
city attorney with instructions to
report at next meeting.
1t was decided that the city street
and sanitary departments could be
more economically operated by the
use of auto trucks than with horses
and carts. A motion prevailed that
all the live stock except one team be
disposed of and two trucks be order
ed at once for use in these depart
ments. The one team retained is for
use on the oil and water sprinkline
wagons and the street sweeper. 1t
was shown that the feed bills alone
for stock exceeded $500 month, and
the council believes that the change
will be great saving to the city. A
special committee composed of Coun-
cilmen Osborne, Thomas and McIver
was appointed to arrange for dispos.
ing of the stock and purchasing the |
new trucks, and was given power to |
act. It is thought that the trucks
can be delivered in ten days, so by
the first part of next month the
faithful old mule is to be relegated
to the farm, where he is thought to