Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-05
What The Amendment Does

There is for reasonable difference of opinion
as to the results that will if the proposed amend
mentto the city charter adopted next Tuesday, but
there is for reasonable doubt to what this
amendment does: for that a matter of record in the
amendment ITSELF
The supporters of the amendment are strangely
reluctant discuss the provisions of this amendment
and prefer to talk about the benefits of the City Manager
plan, and what it has accomplished in Dayton and else
where.
If the proposed amendment is adopted in Pueblo
it will do the following things:
1t will establish City Council of ten members,
representing ten districts and these district council
will be from on, the only city officials elected
in Pueblo.
This council shall be the Judge of the election of
its own members. The plain meaning of this provision
is that if there is contest the election of any
member Of the council it will be left to the remaining
members OF the council to decide the contest by majority
vote. The council shall determine its own rules, shall
punish its members for dsorderly conduct, may compel
the attendance of members and by a two-thirds vote
may change the boundaries of the districts. In
Of vacancy the Council shall fill the vacancy, and a
vacancy 'sha be taken to exist if member of the
council is absent for five consecutive sessions. The
members of the council shall serve without compen-
saton
Inc Council snail elect n President OF the Council,
for term of two years, who shall be for that term n
member of the Council with the right TO speak and
vote as any other member, and who will also be the
official head of the city.
The Council shall appoint City Manager by
majority vote who shall be the administrative head of
the city and shall be responsible for the conduct of all
its departments. lie shall appoint all the officers and
employees of the city, except otherwise provides and
shall have authority to remove suspend denote dis
epnc any of his appontees, subject public bearing
and right of appeal 10 the Council.
The Council also shall appoint Civil Service
mission of three members City Controller and Judge
nf the Municipal court.
The City Manager shall appoint a City Clerk,
City Attorney. City Engineer, Chief of Police, Fire
Chief Health Officer, and City Treasurer.
The Civil Service commissioners TO be appointed
for a sx-year term and will serve without compensation
from the city The Civil Service commissioners shall
make rules standardze and classify all positions and
employments shall conduct civil service examinations,
shall establish eligible lists full candidates. shall
certify all payrolls and salary acecounts in the classi
fed service. and shall have power TO investigate facts
with respect to the execution of the Civil Service rules
and general Civil Service conditionsall without pay.
The City Council shall appoint City Planning
commission of three members without pay and
it may appoint Director of Industrial research
The City Council first elected shall Immediately
provide for Civil Service Pension fund, of which the
City supply least two-thirds, the remainder TO
be derived from Contributions from the active
employees aud appointed officers of the city.
The ten members of the city council will for
two years. or until December 81 1928 They are sub
iect the recall. Their successors must be from the
several districts, nominated by petition of not less than
p signcrs. and elected by the entire city.
The President of the Council will be chosen for two
h,,
subject the recall or removal by the city council
lie will be Mayor in all but
The City Manager will hold his office subject TO
removal at any time by a majority of the City Council
which will appoint him and fix his salary.
Such the principal facts concerning the proposed
the City Charter. The conclusions TO be
drawn from those facts matters that be decided
only when the facts known.