Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-20
MOVE TO DO AWAY, WITH COMMISSION
FORM OF G0VERNM IN GARDINER
REFERENDUM TO FOLLOW DISCUSSIONS

AFTER sailing along on the more or
less stormy sea OF Public Opinion for
Il period of eleven years. with at least
one equinoctial storm of protest for
the past few years, it is now proposed
to abandon Commission Government.
draft for new charter has been
prepared by l.. c. Ballard. Maine
Manager of the American Ice Com
rany, and will be submitted to the in
coming legislature and the citizens
OF Gardiner, for their approval or re-
lection. Sponsors OF the proposed new
charter are J.. G. Ballard. George
Gray, Harry B. Lawrence, Fred p.
Haskell, Frederick s. Smith, Charles
F.. Hale.
This matter should have the calm,
dispa ssionate consideration OF all in
terested in the welfare Of our CITY
Public meetings are to he held to
discuss and debate the matter. Com
mission government still has its be-
! levers in and supporters Then again
there are some Who would be willing
; TO return to the old fashioned method
of ward politics." and still others
| who maintain that a happy medium
between the two may be found in the
Proposed new charter. possibly just
as it is drafted but probably with
more or less minor changes. What
ever may be ones individual opinion
he should attend the meetings as they
are called with an open mind, ready
t., approve that which ne thinks will
he for the best interests OF Gardiner
and dsapprove that which no consid
ers might work it i'll.
The draft invests the city council
with all the powers granted by the
charter and by the laws of the state
except that the management, care
and conduct of the public schools
shall be within the control Of the
School Committee. The members OF
the Council are TO he the municipal
officers and are constituted as over.
seers of the poor
The council is to consist of q mayol
and one member from each I'd. the
members, other than the mayor, shall
he elected one from each ward. The
mayor shall be president ex-officie
and shall hold office for one wear
The salary OF the mayor is fixed BY
the council and members are to re-
teiVe compensation for each meeting
attended. Vacancies are to be filled
oy special elections. Meetings are Il
re held on the first Monday of each
month, with such special meetings a.
may be called by the MAYOR or ,
majority of the cOuncilmen Thu
council may determine it's own rule.
OF procedure. An meetings shall b,
open to the public. All appropria
ton resolves are to be confined tr
the subject OF appropriations. Two
readings Of all ordinances or appro
prlahons. on separate days. are re.
CURED. unless such he dispensed will
e.! four-fifths vote Of the council.
The mayor is, like the councilmen
t. be elect ed for one wear. His dut;es
are to preside al the meetings. II,
shaH nave no veto and no vote ex.
'ept in case OF a tic. He shall be tn.
recognized official head Of the cit,
for ceremonial and military purposes
The school committee is to be ma de
w OF one member from each ward
e'ected by the people. with the mayo
as member ex-officio. Members are
erected Tor one year and NAV he O
"f9"r seq: Vaca nc'es may he r,llct
~ cry coInCil. by a voter en- me
HSrd 'w'tHf sch Ne.sn..N crisis
2 Ii nominations TO- c,ecli.e Office.
s"a.I be by petition; tnat OF mayor
being signed by at least 100 qualified
voters and others by at least 30 from
the ward represented by the candi
Gate. Official ballots will contain
the name of candidates for mayor
councilman. school committeeman
warden and ward clerk. The cit,
clerk shall cause specimen ballots tc
&c posted in public places at least ter
GAYS pllor 10 csch oir"tion and suct
ballots shall he without marty mari
or 6esi1na ton
The following officers and boa I'd!
shall be appointed by ballot OF a
majority vote OF the voting members
OF the city council: city clerk. cit,
solicitor. treasurer. fax collector. au-