Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-17
THE CITY MANAGER LAW


request for an explanation Of the City
Manager law; the same as was voted
on and defeated at the last city cleo
tl0n:
The News will endeavor 10 ac-
commodate the inquiring voter, but
we would like to have Il understood
that this paper intends to start no
campaign this year for the introduc-
ton Of this reform. We are still
in favor of the change; II. possible,
more convinced than we were last year
that Baxter Springs needs the commits
sion-manager. form Of government.
However II the question Is TO be voted
on again this year the movement will
be started by others.
Te begin, In explaining the City
Manager law, we will say that 1t is
not by any means, 30 mysterious as
many people believe. In fact, the city
manager law provides for the running
Of the affairs Of the city on the same
business lines as q bank or any other
business corporation is operated.
The main feature Of the city man
ager law are quickly seen. The COM
missioners are elected as under COM
mission rule. But they do not take
up the work Of the five department.
ments. They elect general manager.
Since the commissioners are not
departmental heads, they are required
to meet only once q week, tho they
may meet oftener. Consequently they
receive only nominal salaries. These
positions can be taken by the busiest
men in the city, since they have only
to outline the policy Of the admins
tration and see that the manager car
ries It out.
The commissioners, however, "pass
all ordinances needful for the welfare
of the city," and they "provide for
such offices as may be necessary"
and determine salaries for the
same" The law says of the commits
sion: at shall appoint a manager,
as hereinafter provided, and shall be
responsible for his efficient admins
tration of the city's business"
The article relating to the manager
declares that "the administration Of
the city's business shall be in the
hands of a manager. He shall be ap-
pointed by the commission and shall
hold office at the pleasure Of the
board" He can be fired at any time
"The manager shall be chosen sole
ly upon the basis Of administrative
ability. The manager shall re-
ceive a salary to be fixed by the COM
mission the manager shall bt
responsible for the administration Of
all the affairs of the city. He shall
see that all the ordinances are en-
forced. He shall appoint and remove
all heads of departments and all sub
ordinate officers and employees of the
city. All appointments shall be made
on merit and fitness alone. He
shall be responsible for the discipline
of all appointive officers, and may
without notice cause the affairs Ot
any department or the conduct Of
any officer or employe to be examined
He shall prepare and submit the an
uual budget" to the commissioner
and "may make recommendations tC
the commissioners on all matters con-
cerning the welfare Of the city, and
shall have seat, but no vote, in all
of the public meetings of the govern
ing body"
No commissioner may interfere
with any department, except by or
der of the entire commission. "All
department heads shall make regular
reports to the manager" Finances
shall be kept in such shape as to per
nit of a full. staement every month
For two weeks before the manager
submits his annual budget to the COM
mission public hearings shall be held
by him. "The budget shall them be
printed in the city papers and fur
ther hearing given by the commits
sion" Once the budget is adopted no
expenditures shall be made outside Of
It. No payments shall be made on
any fund beyond the cash in that
fund. Expenditures shall be legal
only on the basis Of appropriations in
the budget and on the authority OF
warrants issued by the director Of f.
nances, countesigned by the man.
ager."
The law is simple and provides for
businesslike administration Of city
ofRaiY.a