Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-05-17

A. B. hall, explaining the benefits that
would come to the city and the citizens
through the adoption Of the revised |
charter which is to be voted on at the
city election, June 5.
About 100 members of MERCER coun- 7
Gil attended the meeting and gave the
speakers the closest attention Miss Lo-
retta BeIlefeur, president of the coun-
ell, introduced Mr.. Lee, with few |
words about the changes that have /
come about in a short time by which |
matters of government now become |
matters Of interest and concern to wo- /
men who have the ballot.
Why Revision Needed.
Mr.. Lee spoke briefly along the lines
of why revised charter was needed in
asmuch as the old charter last revised
in 1871, had outlived its usefulness and
was inadequate for a city that has an
annual budget of about two million dol
lars. Every mayor has seen the need of
a different charter than the old one,
and Il we are taking advantage Of
the lome-rule act that allows the citi-
zer & to make their own charter and sub
ri it to their own voters. It is a pos
sibility that if this charter Is not adopt
ed the legislature will hand US a char
ter which we will have to accept.
The new revised charter is certainly
better than what we have now. con-
cluded Mr.. Lee. It has the unanimous
approval of all nine members Of the
commission and every one of them hopes
that it will be adopted by the voters.
Mr.. Jensen Speaks.
Mr.. Jensen followed Mr.. Lee. explain
ing first that there would be special
place on the voting machines to vote on
tile charter and urging everyone present
to push the Eyes" button for the char
ter.
There are two main differences be-
tween the present and the revised char
ter. The first concerns the common
council. now consisting of the alderman
and councilmen and mayor, who make
up the committees. There will be
wholly different management in the new
charter. for twenty-five citizens of Nor
witch will be asked to serve on the COM
mittees. These will be without salary
and will be appointed by the mayor and
they will hold no other city office. Then
there will be one man, the comptroller
who will be in charge Of the finances Of
the city.
The second most radical change re-
| lates to the city meeting. which at pres
ent votes on the budget, plus the ex-
| tras which determine the annual appro-
small fraction of our citizens passes on
| the expenditures and the amount of tax
alton. The new charter creates a board
| of finance, which. with the aid of the
| departments. complies the budget figures
| for approval by the eleven aldermen
| The aldermen may decrease but cannot
/ increase anv amount asked for The
| adopted budget viii be published in the
newspapers. = will no longer be pos
sfble - any group Of citizens IN a city
| meeting TO pu, through an appropriation
| for $4,000 sewer merely by mastering
enough of their friends to attend a city
meeting. However, it is provided thai
in parting with or acquiring real estate
| or increasing the city debt these mat.
| ters will come before the )old-fashionei
city meeting and if some ordinance :.
| acceptable to the aldermen but not t.
the citizens a city meeting can be held
| on that.
VIII Save Citizens Money.
Taking up the way the city has t.
borrow money in June which it can
pay back until November. in order t,
meet current expenses, Mr.. Jensen ex
planned that 1t is proposed to make tn
city tax come due in the spring and tn
town tax in the fall This will provid
both city and town with the money whel
|
annually to the city and town. II I
understood that the town is very vvfIIin
TO cooperate in this way to save the cit
liens money
Comptroller Is Financial Manager.
, The comptroller is to be the fnancia
manager for the city. It is farce now
SAID Mr.. Jensen, the way the bills Il
certain city departments are given N
: q. c1n
bills paying out thousands Of dollars. II
fortunate that the city has not been roI
/ bed and cheated for there has been on
portunity enough under the present sys
1 tenn. The comptroller orders the nav
: ment of all bills and has got to max
Y good personally if he allows overdraft
g by any department.
i The comptroller idea was suggeste
t twenty years ago by Mayor Thayer, sal
: Mr.. Jensen, but the citizens were nc
d ready for it then. The city now owe
d $150,o00 in bonds which it never ougt
e to owe for which those responsible year
n ago could have been put behind til
bars, said Mr.. Jensen, if anybody Ia
!. been wide awake.
: Under the revised charter the ri
e clerk will have to give all his time to tt
e work, but the city treasurer will be q
|. little different footing than now. H
|. won't have to put in so much time Z
h will receive money and pay or order {
d the comptroller and city clerk. All bill
n before payment will have to have the a,
# proval of the comptroller. board of fiji
g ance, aldermen, and the signature of IL
/. city clerk.
y Five citizens. appointed by the rnayt
a Rand subject to removal by him. will col
y stitute the board of public safety and vi
/ how chr -
le partments. They will have a great de
3. to say about hiring and dismissir
d. members Of the departments II
V. change is not great but is all for II
good. The street department VIII be u
n der similar department of publ
d works, which will Flgage director
q public works corresponding to the pre-
T. ent street commissioner.
A. The park board is already establish
+ along lines similar to the boards in t
&c proposed charter. The water depar
ment is not touched by the propos
charter, but if the charter passes. Leg
lation will be secured to put it on t
d same basis as all the other depal
On nents.
+ The gas and electric commission
a subject to the state and not to the CT
es and is not touched by the new chart
de Mr.. Jensen emphasized particular
m. tina change that will be made to ha
on uniform year for all departments
ar the city. Now all is confusion One
Is partment's year ends May Is, another
~. March and another in April Having
N. | uniform year for all will be the CT
81, for this and there is not one word
on be said against 1t.
The city is to be divided into six v
sr- ing districts from which resident aid
ty, men will be elected by the voters of Il