The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-02-25
Discuss Town Manager
Form of Government
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Continued from page one)
into line the politician who has little
or no executive or business expert
ence, and who places the importance
of politics and forming a political
machine ahead Of town efficiency or
management. He said this type of
citizen is anxious to make good i'm
| preston so as to make votes but will
seldom do work of 4 constructive ma
turc which would be Of benefit to the
town permanently Or to the next man
in Office. He said the politicians of
today get their t1ainino under this
form of small town affairs and then
graduate into state and national poll
tics. So long as the small town con
tinues the breeding place of politi-
clans there is small chance for the
state or nation to became 4 better
business-manage1 government.
! The whole country is aroused to
the needs OF greater business man
agcment in town, state and national
affairs. The time has gone by to
LET George Do IT., declared Mr..
Stubs. What business would change
its management every year as we do
in town and village governments
Nho would invest in concern that
changed its officers and management
every year? Why not apply business
methods to town affairs and work for
a business permanently?
"1ou should not adopt the town
management plan until you elect a
board of sclectmen or village trustees
who are favorable to such plan and
will work with the town manager"
said Mr.. Stubs. "If you adopt such
form of government don't expect
it to show material financial gain for
two OF three years"
Under the town manager plan YOU
ret better men for selectmen and
trustees. Men who have had large
business affairs will take office under .
the town manager plan who will not !
seek Office when they have all the |
petty details of town management to I
care for This state is suffering today |
because its roads were not built BY /
engineers There has not been a per ,
manent policy in the construction
work"
Nj. Wright, the town manager OF
Springfield, read paper on the vari
on forms of government including the
Des Moincs plan, the commission
form of government and the town
management plan. 1t was very in
structive paper and gave all phases Of
the various plans. He said that $50
cities and 80 towns of tne country
had adopted the city or town man
agement plan and that not one of
them had gone back to the old plan
after once trying the new. He said
that the laws of Vermont permit 4
town and village to adopt the town
plan by passing vote
to that effect in an,-lal meeting.
Following the speeches there was
Il very instructive discussion of town
in which many OF those
present took part. Mr.. Stubs hand
led all questions with a promptneSs
and tinge Of humor that showed he
knew thoroughly just what he was
talking about. He is an enthusiast
Of the town management plan and
told many incidents Of the great adj
this plan had been to Spring
field even in the first year of its use.
In Springfield during the past year
the only departments Of the town and
village which kept within its appro
oriations were those under the town
All other departments over
Draw their accounts from SIS to
$4,000. The town manager with the
enactment of Sec. TIA of the State
avs became the head Of the poor
department and the highway depart
nentS In the highway department
lnder the town management plan of
permanent improvements Of highways |
las been started. One street has been
with a permanent road
'oundation which will last for years
where during past year about the
,1mc amount of none" has been
,pent each year cartin" on gravel to
'epail' the road but with no attempt
( permanent improvements
Mr. Stubs recommended thai