The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-29

tain cases Does the caarler com
mission wish to make complete
change in the charter as to what
work can be assessed against pro-
perty benefited?
Il cannot see any need of ment
tioning the assessing of benefits If
the charter commission means TO
leave the charter as it is in regard
to special assessment for local i'm
provements. think the charter
commission means to put into the
amendment provisions that would
allow the city council, through its
appropriate departments, to go into
open market and buy services, com
might need without entering into a
contract for the whole, or aggre :,
gate, commodity or service desired!
THE reasons given impei me to
recommend against submitting this
amendment to the vote of the peo,
pie.
"As to the provision for the ap-
pointment Of police woman: While
have no objection to the form of
this amendment submitted, / do not
think the charter commission would
wish to have a special election
called to vote only on this one
amendment, or to submit 1t at the
general November election.
"As to the provision for making
special assessments for water mains.
accomplish this by amending Secf
ton IA, ISL, PIT and 218 of the city
charter. A different change in Sec
ton 144 and repeal of sections ZIG,
PIT and 21S would accomplish the
purpose. The plan submitted by
the charter commission might lead
to confusion.
"An amendment to Sections PIT
and 218 is submitted setting forth
that the assessment for water mains
and pipes shall be made. as pro-
vided for in part two of Chapter IA
of the city charter. There are other
things to be considered in laying
water mains and collecting for the
same aside from the making of the
assessment. The chapter provides
firmations, appeals, etc. Does the
charter commission mean that all
of these provisions of the said part
2 shall apply to water mains also?
The charter commission surely
meant it, but it did not say SO in
the amendmert. submitted.
Section 81 is sought to be amend
ed by inserting the words, Except
as hereintofore provided" There is
no provision given in the city char
ter to exempt one from giving bond
upon his entering into a contract
with the city under the chapter in
question. / do not understand the
intent of the amendment. Surely
the charter commission did not
mean to make any exemption from
x;.,;r Nnh mt 20
contract with the city under this
chapter.
For these reasons / cannot rec
ommend that this amendment be-
submitted to vote by the people in
its present form.
There are cases where certain
provisions of the charter have been
left out in certain sections soug.ll
to be amended; which omitted por!
lions 1 consider important and the
omissions were not necessary in
submitting the amendments that
the charter commission has sub
mitted. The following are illustra-
lions in point. to-wit:
"'The council, at any time when
in its Judgment the interests of the
city so demand, may place in
Charge of one such officer the func-
such officers. The council shall, BY
ordinance, prescribe the duties of
the chief officials Section 46. 81
"'An contracts shall be executed
by the bidder within FIVE days after
the contract is ready for his sigma
ture, and IL not executed by him 10
said time, he shall be deemed to-
have abandoned the same Section
95.