The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-16
MARTIN FOR MANAGER

Club drew I'D and endorsed petition
to the council, asking the members
TO elect Mr.. John Martin city man
ager. The petition was presented to
the council Tuesday night, and was,
on motion of Mr.. Goldman, filed for
information. This means that it will
be a subject of consideration in the
future
The council, according to law, can't
put Mr. Martin in between elections,
without displacing Mr.. Mckenzie, and
can't displace Mckenzie without max
ing charges We don't think it is posi-
BILE to make any charges against
Mac" who is one of the most careful
and faithful engineers the city plant
has ever had. When the election of city
officers takes place in few weeks,
we think the council should bow to
the evident wish of the people and
give Mr. Martin the Office. At the
same time, we think they should re-
tain Mr.. Mckenzie as superintendent
of the plant, at the same salary he is
now receiving as manager, for we
doubt they can find better man any
where.
The petition follows:
Whereas, Ocala has been granted
a charter which provides for a city
manager; and. whereas the city gov
eminent has never operated under
said charter; and. whereas, other
towns the size of Ocala and many
cities are adopting this form of gov
eminent and finding it satisfactory;
therefore, the Woman's Club to petit
ton the city council to appoint a city
manager and give the plan a fair
trial"
The foregoing was unanimously
adopted by the Woman's Club at its
regular meeting March 9Th, 1921.
In this connection the Woman's
Club wishes to state that the above
resolution does not in any way ques-
ton the ability or intentions of our.
city council. 1t recognizes the splen-
did service they have given to Ocala,
but also recognizes the fact. that the
members are active business men who
cannot be expected to sacrifice an un-
due amount of time for the city's
business.
1t is fact that in times past most
expensive mistakes have been made
that are costing the city great deal
of money, and there is no one the tax
payers can hold responsible, but, if
the right sort of man were made city
manager, whose business was the
city's business, then the people would
have right to expect and demand re-
suits, and he could save the city many
times the amount of his salary.
We especially urge the considera-
ton of this matter now, as with the
building of our new streets, involving
the expenditure of much money!
prospective should have a man of
experience and efficiency whose whole
time should be devoted to the city's
business and whom the people could
hold responsible for careful and eco
nomical and wise expenditure of their
money.
This resolution was presented to
the city council accompanied by a pc
tition which read as follows:
believing, as set forth in the reso-
lutions adopted by the Woman's Club,
that the city should function under
its charter providing for a city man.
lager, and inasmuch as Mr.. John M.
Martin as street supervisor has proven
himself both interested and efficient
and has made many much needed per-
manent improvements during the
short time he has been in charge, and
believing that he will give the city
affairs an able, conscientious and eco
nomical management. we the under
signed hereby petition the city coun-
Gil to appoint Mr.. John M. Martin city
manager"
This petition was signed by the
women present at the club meeting
and others who are large taxpayers.