The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-03-18
CITY ATTORNEY
EXPLAINS THE LAW
GIVES BRIEF SUMMARY OF STAT
UTES PROVIDING FOR COM
MISSION FORM
HOW PROPOSED CHANGE MAY Be MADE
Powers, Duties, Salaries, and Terms
of Office Of Board of City
missioners.

/ Believing that there are a good many
voters. both men and women, in this
city who will appreciate definite
and authoritative statement as to the
difference between the present or al
dermanic form of city government and
the commission form which it is pro
posed shall be adopted the Register
requested City Attorney Walter NJ
Cheever, to prepare brief, impartial
be possible in such statement all the
points on which information for the
voters may be desired Mr.. Cheever
has furnished the Register with such
synopsis of the duties and compen-
sation of the officials under each form
of municipal government and also Of
the manner of their election, and his
brief" is given herewith.
If any prospective voter feels lack
Of information as to what the Com
mission form" really means, or how it
differs from the present form of city
government, this shorl statement by
/ the city attorney should make the
matter clear enough to enable the voter
to intelligently determine whether to
vote affirmatively or otherwise on the
question. 1t seems to cover practically
all points of difference that can he
shown except as such may hereafter
develop in the application Of the new
form to the city's affairs, in case the
voters shall by their votes adopt the
new form. Mr. Cheever's explanation
follows:
In view of tEt special election To
question of changing the form Of gov
eminent from the present aldermanic
gorm TO that Of a board of commission
ers. and the fact that there apparently
exists some confusion and misunder-
standing with reference to the provi-
sions of law concerning the two forms.
il has been suggested that, as city At
torney, | summarize the statutory pro
visions.
Under the present form we have a
mayor and eight aldermen. Under the
commission form there would be a
mayor and four commissioners, or a
mayor and two commissioners, the
number to be decided by the voters.
Or, in the event of employing a city
manager, then the number Of commits
sioners would be nine.
"(How elected) Under aldermanic
form, mayor by entire city. Aldermen
two by each of the four wards. A
plurality elects. Under the commits
sion form commissioners would be
elected at large or by the entire city
a majority vote being necessary. If
at the first election no candidate re-
ceives a majority, second election Is
held the week following, with the two
persons receiving the highest number
of votes at the first election the only
candidates.
"(Term of office.) Under aldermanio
form, two years; under commission
form, five years, except where city
manager is employed, when there must
be nine members whose term OF office
is three years, and they annually elect
one Of their number as mayor for a
one-year term, all subject to recall by
special election held after filing petit
tion therefor stating grounds for re
moval
"(Annual salaries.) The present
mayor receives 100000, each OF the
eight aldermen, $500, total, $4,000
With board of five commissioners
without city manager in cities the size
of Brookings the salary of mayor will
be 100000 and each of four commits
; sioners, $4,000, total, s2,200.00. Will
board Of three commissioners with
out city manager, the salary of mayor
in cities the size of Brookings would
be $500. 90; two commissioners, $500 OF
J each; total, 100000. With board o
: nine commissioners with city manager
: salaries of commissioners not to ex
! ceed $4,000 each; total, s1,80000.
J "(Powers) Substantially the same
: under both forms.
, "Duties.) Very similar under boil
forms, except that under aldermani'
: form, committees Of council have spe
, cial charge of various departments an
: enterprises, whereas, under commits
: sion form with five commissioners
mayor has special charge Of public
! buildings, city parks and lightin'
: streets and alleys; one commissions
: is selected by the board and designated
: as police and fire commissioner; one
] commissioner of streets and publi
, property; one, waterwOrks and sewer
age commissioner; and the fifth. com
missioner of finance and revenue
With three commissioners, mayor ha
! special charge OF public buildings. pc
! lice, fire and health departments ant