The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-09


 be held Monday to decide upon the adoption or rejection of the counciF- manager form of government Inter est has seemed to gain ground the past few days, but William Hart, of Judson place, an official for years of the Bridgeport Hydraulic company, does not believe it will pass and will vote against it. He believes that the change is too radicva1 and that too many new ideas would be put over at once should the measure pass.
 Walter E. Goddard, 1.433 Elm street, stratford, head of the strat- that he thinks we have very able form of government under present conditions and cannot see any inn provements in the proposed new char ter.'
 Arthur V. Sammis, Judson place, cashier in the Bridgeport Savings bank, is interested in the movement. and is in favor of it, but not at all certain that it will pass. He shares the belief of many that the town has outgrown the present town meeting idea.
 Some believe that the solid front against the measure by those now Tn office will influence some of the on the fence'' voters in favor of the char ter. Others believe that the present town meeting idea would be O. K, if the hall was large enough to accom- modate a larger percentage of the voters, and each eligible person was given a dog tag to wear meeting nights to keep ringers on the outside drive, Paradise Lawn, submitted a letter on the subject that is repro duced below:
 To the Editor of the Times: The voters of Stratford are 7bout to have the opportunity of adopting or rejecting a form of government which will give them more active part1c:- patton in the operation of the hus1- Ioo twill h,S n n counciimen, each directly responsible to the voters in his district. The counci1 selects a town manager to Ci- rect the affairs of the town Thus the execution of the towns business radiates from one responsible head through theicouncil to the people. In case these do not function as desired they, may, one and all, be ,emoved by the recall.
 If the voters of each district will exercise. care in selecting the best man possible to serve as their councilman without regard to his political affilia-- tiou oI. any other consideration, eN- cept that he places the pest interests of the town as a whole ahead of any other consideration, then this propos- ed change 5 government will func- ton far superior to the present form Deficits will cease to appear in reve- | nues to cover budgets. Illegally caI- | ed meetings will not occur to amuse | town-meeting orators and readers of | joke columns in the press.
 | Under the proposed change there | will be a town planning commission | which will be of large and far | reaching benefit to the town in many | this limited space It is a fact that at present the town is progressing without plan or view to it's future de- | yelopment-How much longer can we drift? Vote for the new charter and take an active part in the choice of youl | councilmen. Be a. driver not a pas | Senger.
 GORDON z. SMITH | 333 Allynda1e Drive Stratford, Conn The last installment of the charter commencing with Section 51 follows
 Sec. 51. Upon the adoption of g budget, the council shall. by ordt- nance, levy such tax as may be nec- | eSsary to meet the appropriations | made Iess the estimated amount ot revenue from other sources) and all ! sums required by law to be raised or | account of the town debt, together with such addition. not exceeding five | per centum, as may be necessary tc meet commissions, fees and abate- ments in the amount of taxes, collect | ed from the estimates.
 Sec. 52- No ordinance providing for the issue of bonds shall be passed without public notice at least two weeks before final action by the coun- cil. and either the approval of two- | thirds of all the members of the council or submission to the electors l of the town at a regular or special election and the approval of a ma- | jority of those voting thereon. Every issue of bonds shall be payable with in a term of years not to exceed the 1 estimated period of utility of the inn I provement for which they are Issued and in no ease to exceed thirty years and shall be payable in equal annual serial insta1lments, including princi- pal and interest. Every ordinance sfor the issue of bonds shall provide | for a tax levy for each year to meet the annual. serial instailments of prin- cipals and interest, and such amounts | shall be included in the tax levy for each year until said bonds shall have | been paid in full,
 Sec. 53. No continuing contract l which involves the payment of money out of the appropriations of more | than two years, shall be made for a period mora 7a1an-tan-Xez<s;-a and