Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-05-30
GIVES COMPLETE RESUME
OF REVISED CITY CHARTER

y. '. |
Of the chamber this week The
letter is IS follows:
We again call your attention to the
new city charter. We hope you will give
this matter your consideration and we
bespeak for 1t your favorable support
The present charter was adopted In 1871
and Is so mutilated with amendments as
to make 1t very difficult Of operation. We
have been assured time and time again.
that the political phase Of the proposed |
charter, from the viewpoint of either
democrat or republican, was not even /
mentioned during the commissions delib- |
erations. The charter revision commits |
sion stood five republicans and four DEM |
ocrats. They were actuated but by one
motive, to give the city Of Norwich an
up-to-date instrument, suitable for Nor
wich, and after careful study of the
best city charters available. Under the
new charter the city will be divided into
six districts, each district to be repre-
scented by one or more residents of that
district, as follows: The Central with
three representatives, the west with two
representatives, the north with two rep
resentatives, the Greeneville with two
representatives, the east with one repre-
sentative, the south with one representa-
tive-a total OF IL aldermen. The num-
Der Of aldermen is based as nearly as
populartion, approximately one represent
ative for 70 persons. The mayor and al
dermen are elected for two years Pro-
vision Is made for special elections and
special city meetings. city controller
| will be appointed for two years. He shall
be nominated by the mayor and accepted
| by the board of finance, with the written
| approval Of the majority of the board of
| finance excepting the mayor and control
| Ter. The controller shall be subject to
the direction Of the lizard Of finance. The
\ duties OF the controller will DE to month
| ly audit the bills Of each department
| certify all debts, and generally look after
| the finances Of the city. The city clerk
| will devote his entire time TO his duties
J Re shall be clerk for the board of alder
men, board Of finance, and act as secre-
tary to the mayor. He will have an office
/ and regular hours at city hall There
will be eight departments as follows:
Finance, public works, cemeteries, police,
| FIRE, park, water, gas and electric. The
| creation Of finance board Is a partcu-
I larly strong recommendation for the new
| charter. 1t shall consist Of the mayor,
the controller and one alderman, elected
by the board of aldermen, and four citi-
/ zens. none Of whom shall hold any other
public Office, and shall not receive any
salary. Not more than four members Of
this board of seven shall belong to any
one political party. The four appoint
ments Of citizens to the board by the
mayor will be subject to the approval OF
the board Of aldermen. This board shall
hold regular meetings and look after ev-
cry phase Of the city finances. Thus the
financial affairs Of the city viii be care
fully scrutinized and controlled The
board Of public safety is new. This board
will have control Of the police and FIRE De.
partments. It will consist of five resi-
dent electors, serve without pay, and hoit
no other city office. The mayor will ap
point the members of this board and no
: more than three members shall belong Il
one political party. This board viii cleo
+; its own president and shall have complete
:. control Of the police and fire departments
!. Surely the creation of this board is com
!, mendable. The board Of public works 1
: another comm endable creation. Thi
Y board Is created the same as that Of pub
$ lie safety. According to the charter, thi
:, board shall appoint as a director Of publ
: works or superinte ndent Of streets
= person possessing practical knowledge G
engineering. He shah have charge {
! making surveys. maps plans. drawing
and estimates relating to his department
y He will also have charge Of the CEN,
t teries, subject to the approval OF IN
:. boards Of aldermen and public safet,
|, This should make for a practical businei
IT administration Of this important city d.
!, partment The park commissioners, II
water board and the gas and electr
i; commissioners continue as they are {
n present II will be noted that the 60
IS and electric commissioners and the boar
of finance will be appointed by the mayo
Is subject to the approval Of the board
t. aldermen. The water commissioners vi
be elected by popular ballot with or
T. member from the board ofa1dermen as
l. present The boards Of public safety ar
Y. public works are appointed by the mayo
n, similar to the present method OF appoin
r ments to the park board. II has be-
l. stated that the mayor has too much poI
s. er under the new charter. AS matt
q. Of fact, the only boards created under q
r. new charter whose members are not CO.
n trmed by the board OF aldermen are q
boards Of public safety and public work
The members of both these boards a
appointed by the mayor exactly the san
n as are the members OF the park boa
under the present charter. Under q
d new charter the mayor will not pres.
D at the meetings Of the board OF aide
men, thus divorcing the chief executi
. fro mthis legislative body. He will pc
y sess the power of veto, and the alderm
D. can override the mayors veto by tw
" thirds majority vote. The board OF q
le dermen will elect one Of their own mel
y bers for president and vice president a
n, thees officers shall preside at all me-
Is ings In the absence of both those Of
GERS the board shall elect a tempora
chairman. The mayor has power to C
a special meeting of the board of add
f men. The presiding officer Of the add
n men, Of special commissions OF Il
or board, Of the several boards Of comm
a sioners, Shall have power to compel
In tendance and testimony Of witnesses
re- hearings, issue subpoenas, and the rig
~ to apply to the common pleas or super
~ courts for an order compelling witness
=, to attend and testify. Whenever Dor
n, for public Improvement or the sale Of /.
~ estate owned by the city is presented
M action, the matter is referred for act
to a special city meeting, providing
first meets the approval Of the aldern
and the finance board. This gives
voters Of Norwich an opportunity
voice their sentiments upon such imp
W. tant matters. It might be stated h
~ that the board Of aldermen cannot
On crease an appropriation submitted by
iis finance board. but can decrease an
'oo propriation The board Of aldermen II
70 take action, upon complaint Of at lie
a. 10 per cent. Of the electors. by hold
ev. hearings and empowering removals
icy any municipal officer believed to be
my worthy Of his position. This is a b,
al resume OF the important changes and
Il ditions as proposed by the new char
ne The proposed charter may have we
on nesses which may develop as time 6
a1e on. It would not be human instrum
per If It didn't, but the fact remains that
ave proposed charter is progressive, it is v
un- thy Of adoption, and 1t should meet
Jan approval OF all fair minded citizens '