The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-02-13
CITY MANAGER Plan
BEING CONSIDERED
BY Medina BUS. men
Educational Addresses Being
Planned For Near Future
Prof. Hatton, an Authority,
Promises to Come.
REQUIRES 8 ELECTIONS
TO PUT INTO EFFECT


In planning for city manager gov
ernment of a municipality it is/nec-
essary to chose a charter commission
to frame a charter for subsection to
the voters Of the municipality, 70
then vote on the new charter, and
where the new charter and system
are adopted to hold an election later
to choose new city officials to serve
under the new charter.
In the, case of Medina it would be
necessary to elect charter commits
sion, after a preliminary campaign,
then for these men to perfect char
ter. This proposed new charter
would then need to run the gauntlet
Of the City Council-which it would
be almost certain to do-providing
for it's presentation for approval to
the electorate. This approval by a
vote of the people, it would then be
necessary to chose new officials under
the terms Of this new charter to sit
as a ruling government Of the city,
and those of an executive character
to have the direction of city affairs.
There is considerable Of detail in
q change from the old system Of gov
ernment-as now in vogue in Medina
Ito a new, as proposed in city
manager plan. This work cannot all
be done in day, and it would be
very unwise if it could. Making the
change by steps, with some time in
tervenng, the people of city can
learn what the change is to mean to
them, and those who wish have time
sufficient to study the proposition
from it's several angles.
The final election could not be had
in the case of Medina until Novem-
ber, 1921; for the law stipulates that
officials in municipalities shall be
chosen in odd years. There would be
two preliminary elections-one TO
choose the charter commissioners and
d second called for decision on the
acceptance or rejection of the charter
itself. There must be some time in
tervening,. the people Of city can
preparation and consideration, thus
consuming considerable time.
Medina business men and citizens
have given this proposition consider
able thought. Already several short
addresses have been made at gath
erings in this city with view to dis
seminating information on this topic
Others are being planned for as soon
rs men conversant with the PROPOSE
ton, and thoroughly informed as to
what has been the outcome where il
has been tried, can be secured to de-
liver them. Quite proportion Of the
total citizenship is interested, anc
men who are not satisfied with gov.
ernmental conditions in the past, ano
who feel that we have weak condi.
ton of affairs now and bad muddle
financially, are thinking more anc
more each month.
It isn't that the better citizens fee
that there is now, or ever has been
gross mismanagement of city affairs
but there is general feling thai
something has been wrong, may nov
be wrong, from good business stane
point, with the city affairs of Medina
The present financial muddle is no
the result Of failure on the part O.
one man, or one Council, to do it's full
and wisely executed duty. The pres
ent unsatisfactory financial condition
has been one that has crept in, or on
to the affairs of Medina; but it GER
tainly has such hold on the city''
financial affairs that it practical!
paralyzes matters.
10 Will the new system of city man
agement remedy this evil-or evils, i
they are many? This question is be
ing asked by some of the best people
of Medina. And certain of the bes
business men Of the city-men VIII
have had affairs of their own callin.
for their time so that they did no
have time they could deN ote to cit,
affairs-are wondering If the city
financial affairs are not too deepl
involved for extrication under the oil
way of doing things.
Prof. Hatton, of w. r. u, is wei
pleased with the results obtained b.
q score of cities in the State tina
have adopted the new city manage
ment plan. But at no time has h
intimated that lax methods will pre-
duce good results under the new LAY
any more than under the old. Wha
is claimed for the new plan is ths
under it man takes on a respons
bility, that he does this out in tn
open, and that if he fails to do hi
duty there is no one else to who's
shoulders he can shift the blame an
hence the city and it's affairs receive
mans best efforts, which are quit
certain to produce good results. Wit
three Councilnen on the street con
mittee, when nothing is done and tn
committee called to account later,
has been possible for each one Of ii
three to blame the other two; VIII;
has been everybody's business hi
drifted into nobody's business. Ar
the public has footed the bills-or II
bills are still to be footed.
Medina is planning to take on ne
business propositions-is planning
expand. The larger the city und'
a bad system Of business manag
rnent the worse for all. If we are
grow as the pushing business me