Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-27

all of us are working for the best in
terests of Norwich said Charles D.
Noyes, chairman of the charter revision
committee, at the public hearing heid
Thursday evening by the commission in
the common council chamber at the
court house.
The hearing was the second of the
week and was held for the purpose Of
giving the citizens of the city an OPP
portunity to offer suggestions or make
criticisms of the new plan of city gov
eminent incorporated in the proposed
charter.
The attendance was larger than that
Of Tuesday evening when the first hear
ing was held, and included "a number OF
women. Few suggestions were maoe.
but a flood of questions poured in and
were as readily answered by Martin e.
Jensen, chairman of the sub committee
in charge of the drafting Of the new
instrument.
Mr. Moves opened the meeting at s
o'clock and after briefly explaining the
purpose of the hearing turned the chair
over to Mr.. Jensen.
Mr. Jensen announced that the meet
| ing was open for questions or sugges-
tons.
Cornelius ]. Downes suggested that
the text of the new charter be read go
| that those present would know what
I changes are contemplated. He asked II
the charter had been read at the meet
| ing Tuesday evening. q
| Mr.. Jensen said it had not. 1t would
take about ten nights to read the charter
! section by section, he continued He
! called attention to the fact that the
/ changes had been set firth III detail in
| the local papers Wednesday.
| Mr.. Downes-Those covered all the
| changes?
Mr.. Jensen-Yes.
J.. J. Corkery-I think it would be ad-
| visable to repeat the changes
Mr.. Jensen. in complying with the sug-
gestion, started with the most radical
i change. that covering the proposed new
method of handling the city's finances
by putting the power of making esti-
| mates and fixing the tax rate in the
| hands of the board of finance. their ac-
ton to be subject to the approval Of the
board of aldermen
It is practically the same as it has
been under the present system TIL,
finance committee of the common coun
ell prepared the budget and it has beer
substantiated by the voters. All the
warfare in the past has been over The
I so-cal1ed extras"
Beard of Finance.
Under the new system petitions woult
be received by the board of finance ant
public hearings would be given on tn
budget before it goes into effect. w
are going to replace the city meeting
!; that votes on the budget by committe
of more or less experts in the handling
of finances.
William w Beckwith-w What consti
tutes the board of finance?
Mr.. Jensen-It consists of seven mem
I bers. The mayor would be chairman
the aldermen would elect one of thei
y number to the board, the comptrolle
would be member and four citizen
2 not holding any. public office would b
appointed to the board by the mayo
o with the approval of the aldermen.
Mr.. Beckwith--Who creates the comp
a troller?
2 Mr. Jensen-The charter provides fc
\ that office 1t is not an elective offlc
but appontive, subject to the approx;
of the board of finance.
Q.-What salary would be paid?
d A.-That question has not been decit
ed. As said the other night. it woul
. probably be between $4,000 and $3.50
Q.-W11at provision is made, for sa
4 aries in the charter?
Alt was decided to leave this ma
ter with the finance committee.
il Q.-The mayor has the power to nan
anyone for the appointive officers?
: looks like one man power. There
n no appeal from that, is there?
&c A.-Yes. Twenty of you could sta
It removal proceedings through petition
e the superior court
: John ]. Corkery-Is this charter
L keeping with some charter in vogue
) some other city?
ID Mr.. Jensen-Yes.
Is James C. Maepherson-The appointe
1t are not salaried officers
Fe Mr.. Jensen-No. The only paid office
y are those receiving salaries now.
l. Horace P. Boardman-I think you a
G. taking lot of power from the peor
and placing it in the hands of one ma
p That's what I think. What redress ha
you from that one man power?
Mr.. Jensen-I just explained til,
Twenty citizens could start removal Or
- ceedings against any officer.
1Mr. Jensen remarked that he believ
1t will not be many years before
"a ! shall have to take such a charter as t
state legislature places on us.
10 Mr.. acknowledgement you got
10 hold over from June LIST to the first
January, The first Monday in Dece,
Der is supposed to be election day.
the first Monday In December a dem
cratic mayor is, elected. What is
prevent the present incumbent fr,
making the new appointments under I
new charter?
Mr.. Jensen-Tt can't be done. 7
new charter won't go into effect ur
January l. 1929. Appointments could I
be made until January 1st under
new mayor
Duties of Comptroller
"a II. C. Murphy-Win you explain /
= duties of the comptroller?
"A Mr.. Jensen-He has full charge Of
cfty's accounting. Every bin, staten,
CIR claim against the city passes under
eye 1t safeguards the city against O.
es- expenditure and prevents mistakes Il
1e- might occur under the present system
hI- James L. Case-What Is the term Of
W. mayor under the new charter?
ST. Mr.. Jensen-An officers are elected
err two years, except one member of
rue public salty board and the public we
in board.
Mr.. Case,There could be an ent
tty change every two years?
a Mr.. Jensen-Yes.
ich Edward 1T has been sta
ate that the water department won't
but changed. Who'll appoint the fifth m,
the Der, the member that now comes f,
in the common council?
Mr.. Jersen-The board of alder
eri- would app,cint one of their members
nal as they do now.
Dite Duties of Aldermen
In answer to a question as to wlrat
' aldermen are for Mr.! Jensen said the fl
ton of the board of aldermen is to