Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-04
BOROUGH FORM
OF MUNICIPAL
RULE ENDORSED
Rock Island ROtarians Favor Man.
agerial System for Quad Cities
at Noon Meeting.
GEORGE ROSS OUTLINES PLAN
Common Council Selected From
Residents Of Each Community
Affected First Chosen.

A managerial form Of municipal
government as outlined by George
Ross of East Moline to apply to the
Illinois quad cities composed of
Rock Island. Moline, East Moline
and Silvis, was unanimously en-
dorsed by approximately rs Rotar-
ians at their regular meeting IN
the Rock Island club at noon to-
day.
AS explained by Mr.. Ross the
plan embraces the election of a
commission of four from each city
or borough, as each would be des-
ignated under the new form. These
men would compose a common
council which in turn is empower
ed TO appoint city manager, who
would be the administrative head
Of the municipal government, and
who would be responsible for the
efficient administration of all de-
partments. The plan provides that
he may be replaced at any time by
the council.
One mayor for the municipal unit
embracing the quad cities is the
proposal. his term of office being
for a period of two years. He shall
preside at the meetings of the COM
mission and shall be recognized as
the official head of the city. In
the absence or vacancy of the Of
flee of city manager. it is provided
that the mayor shall act in that ca
pacity, unless otherwise provided
Tor by the council.
All corporate powers of the city
would be vested in The city council,
which also would fix the salary of
the city manager. The plan pro-
Vides that by a two-thirds vote of
the city council the city manager
may be removed from office.
Four Departments.
Under the city manager there
would be four departments similar
to those now in existence under its
present form of commission form of
government. These four depart
ments would be known as the de-
partment of accounts and finance.
department of public health and
safety, department of streets and
public improvements and depart
ment of public property. each of
which would be under the immedi-
ate administrative control of an Of
fcer to be known as it's director.
and VINO is given the power to ap-
point subordinateS in his depart
ment.
The city council is also given the
power TO directly name a city treas
urer, clerk of it's meetings and
such other officers as are prescribed
by law, also an auditor to main-
tain a continuous audit of all de-
Dartments and report same to the
manager.
Fix Salary by Law.
Salary of the mayor is fixed by
statute regarding the municipal ex-
Gcutive OF other communities &C
cording to size, while the remu-
neratiOn of each commissioner shall
be SO for each meeting of the coun-
ell attended by him from roll call
to adjournment and SO per day for
time spent in city committee work,
with the restriction that the total
salary of each commissioner shall
not exceed $500 per year.
In his address to the Rotary
club. Mr. Ross stated that an
amendment to the state law pro
viding for the Incorporation of
cities and villages in Illinois,
which provides in detail for the
managerial form of municipal
government, as he explained it,
was being agitated in the state
legislature for passage. The new
form, after an exhaustive exam
nation by a committee appointed
by the Tri-City Federation of
Labor, was endorsed without dis
senting voice. So strong was the
sentiment of organized labor here
in favor of the proposed plan that
a delegate was selected to attend
the session of the legislature to