Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-03-15
CHAMBER STEP IN THIS DIRECTION AT AN
'NUAI, MEETING LAST
Under Provisions Councen Manager Would
Handle VIII Have Voters City Decide Que
Operative September 1920

: OF the Guys llnancla! cOHH!tloH, aiI
| its future financial needs.
, Prepare and submit to the counci
: tentative budget for the next !iscaJ
: year.
} He shall perform such other duties
| a. may be prescribed by the coun-
Gil not in conflict with the foregoing
and shall be bonded as the council
: may deem necessary.
Appointment of city officers and
emplcyees-Such city officers and en-
, ployees as the council shall deter
mine are necessary for the proper
administration of the city shall be
appointed, and may be removed ny
The city manager, except those in tie
financial, legal, and judicial depart
ments, and the clerical and other at
tendants of the council; but the city
manager shall report each apoint-
ment and removal to the council at
Llle HEM ilccL!HS lilClcpl lOilON 4'lss
any such appointment or removal.
AS stated above, the plan of Gov
ernmcnt as recommended in thi re-
oort. has long since passed the eX-
perimental stage, and has met every
test ard is in successful operation in
l3O cities and towns in tho United
States. Nine Virginia cities have
adopted this new system, and others
are getting ready for the change.
Results From Change
It might be interesting to know, in Il
general way, some Of the tangible re-
suits you can expect to derive from
the adoption of this improved system
cf city government.
Responsibility is absolutely fixed,
and if proper results are not obtained
you know who to look to. Any citizen
having complaint, or desiring TO
take up any matter with the City,
can call on the City Manager and get
a definite decision.
Your city finan.es will be put on a
solid foundation and kept there.
Your annual budget will be intelli-
gently prepared and pu5lically cxhi-
bited before, its adoption.
The development of the work of the
different departments of your city
government, will be planned with re-
gard to their ultimate development,
50 that the work accomplished each
year will be definite part Of Il well
conceived completed plan.
You will have details and facts in
regard to your city affairs kept be-
fore YOU in concise and business
like form. in such way that every
interested citizen can know and un-
Gcrstand the working of his govern
mcnt and intel;%ently Judge the re-
suits obtained.
Unless your city is above the av-
crage at present, you can reasonably
expect much larger returns for the
outlay you provide in taxes, etc. The
success Of the Commissions Manager
plan is based on the principal that
for every dollar expended /. hundred
cents worth of service must be rcnd-
cred
There will be q complete coordina-
ton of all denalJments, so that they
will work together more cffectually
and economically.
All city purchasing vii! be done
through the Office of the city mana
ger, and will be done on = competi-
; tive basis. and supplies will be pur-
chased in large quantities, and
, charged to an open stock account.
Don't @ct the idea. however, that
the taking over OF your affairs by 3
Commission-Maaa plan is going
to cause an uphcaval in your g!ty af'
fairs. There will be q quiet gradua
enlargement Of affairs in which no
body will be hurt cxcenc these thai
arc getting something for nothing
: or those who cant adjust themSc!Ve:
to the new conditions.
Hcw 10 Proceed
The next phase of the matter
will deal with for your consideration
: is how to proceed. if you desire ;
t change in City Government from tn
), present system 10 the system sug
: gcstcd in this repcrt.
The power Of M; king the chang
+ rests in the hands Of the qualified vo
h tors of the City OF Alexandria, am
I. an election will have to De held t
n show the desire Of the people.
e The advantages of the plan are 5