The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-12-27
Can Now Adopt
Manager Plan
Continued from Pace One

|
fol that town where he will make
a special study of the town man
agement plan and the way it was
adopted and his articles will begin
appearing in the Caledonian-
Record on Thursday. This will give
Editor Stone time to present a
good analysis of the town manage
ment plan before the village meet
ing on Tuesday so that the voters
will have first-hand and entirely
reliable and accurate information
upon which to act.
The CaledoDian-Record has been
informed that numerous citizens
are in favor of change but that
| they prefer the city form of gov
eminent to that of a town mana
ger. The city form of govern
ment necessitates a special charter
from from the Legislature and
other features which would delay
matters and which would undoubt
eddy make it impossible to get a
better form of government for
many months to come. Under the
town manager plan as advocated
by Mr.. Caldbeck the village could
act at once. The town could join
in the plan at the annual meeting
in March.
Under the city form of govern
ment it would be Impractical to
take in the outlying sections like
East St. Johnsbury and St. Johns
bury Center and they would be
thrown upon a system of govern
ment of their own. This would
seem an injustice at this time. 1t
is hoped by the advocates OF some
immediate action for an improve
ment in town and village manage
ment that those who favor the city
form of government will lay aside
their plan until there had been a
fair trial of the town manager
plan.
Prof. Flint's letter follows;
Mortified, Vermont,
December %, 1922.
Mr.. Herbert A. Smith,
st. Johnsbury, Vt.
Dear Mr.. Smith:
am interested to know that
YOU are considering the town
manager form of government
for St. Johnsbury.
| can see no reason why the
village and town cannot unite
in this matter, the selectmen
and trustees hiring the man
ager as they have done in
Springfield. | would suggest
that YOU get in touch with Ed
ward Stubs, one of the Sell
ectmen of Springfield, or R.
NJ. Holcomb, town and village
treasurer, either one of whom
can give you the story of how
the town manager form of gov
eminent has worked out in
Springfield.
| believe that you will do
better to operate under the
enabling statute as Springfield
has done than to ask for
Special Act from the Legisla-
ture. The best thought in Am
erica today favor this proceed
ure. If the General Laws fail
to cover some fundamental
principle the statute should be
amended thereby rendering
service to any other town
which may wish to operate un-
der this form of government.
The Vermont law provides
that the construction and
maintenance of public build
ings shall be under the over
sight of the town manager and
he is the purchasing agent for
the town. He has, however,
no jurisdiction over the
schools. This is in accord with
the best thought on the mat
ter, most authorities agreeing
that the schools should be I'M
der the control of a separate
board elected directly by the
people.
l regret that it will be i'm
possible for me to write the ar
ticle which you desire, as my
time is so taken up that | can
not take on additional work.
If we can be of further ser
vice to you, it will be a pleas
ure to render it.
Very truly yours,