Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-25
PROPOSED NEW CHARTER MAKES
 RADICAL CHANGE IN CITY FINANCES

language, the other things to follow.
 Six City Voting Districts.
 Another question brought up was that regarding any contemplated change in the voting districts
 MT. Jensen said there would be six districts in the city The West Side, Greeneville and Preston districts would be the same but the Central district would be divided into three districts, the Cen tral, Laurel Hill and the Falls
 Each district would vote on its own aldermen. In this way 1t can't come about that one district could dominate the city. The Central district would have three aldermen, the Greeneville district two. West, two. north (Falls), 2 south (Laurel HilD, 1 and East district, l.. making total of II.
 Is that arrangement made on the basis of population? asked MT. Corkery.
 Approximately. said MT. Jensen.
 There has been a good deal of discus sion over the Central district, said MT. Moves It Is a hard district to separate.
 Is the matter of holding public city meetings mentioned in the charter? ask ed Mir. Raymond.
 You mean city meetings for appropri- ations. etc? queried Mr. Jensen.
 
 called by petition of the voters.
 In answering MT. Raymond's question, MT. Jensen explained somewhat in detail the workings of the new city government. The mayor does not sit with the board of aldermen, he said. They. are purely a legislative body. They elect their own chairman. The mayor would have the power of veto If the veto is exercised two-thirds vote of the board of alder men could pass the measure over the mayors. veto.
 Board of Finances
 The most important committee of the new form of government is the board of finance The mayor would be the chairman of this committee, the alder men would elect one of their number to the committee, the city treasurer would be a member and four citizens who do not hold public office would be asked to serve, their appointments to be made 'oy the mayor subject to the approval of the board of aldermen. This committee woulG have full charge of the city's finances. The street department committee would be composed of five citizens under a director of public works The water department and the park departmen, would remain as they are. We can't
 
 They exist under special state statue The police and fire department would be under one board called the board of pub | lie safety.
 Invite Best Citizens to Help. | We want to invite some of our best citizens to take hold and help our board | of aldermen. Citizen appointments would be made by the mayor. All aldermen and appointees would serve without pay. | You can't get much work for no pay said MT. Holbrook.
 l Can't you get good men to serve or | these committees just the same as ", get men to serve on the board of ga, and electric commissioners and the parl | board? asked MT. Moves. ,. Can't we ge men to accept appointments, men wht wouldn't go out for public office for fea of being knocked down? This plan hai been worked out in other cities. l It Is the thought of wiser men thai the one who is talking to you now, tha the people to conduct the finances O the city are the people who have som reason to believe they are experts in th matter, said MT. Jensen.
 It Is proposed to follow New Have
 in the. matter. In October the board e
 finance would prepare the estimates c tAe receipts and disbursements of tn city for enusing Fiscal year and wouI
 fix the tax rate, necessary to raise tn money. The board of finance would talk
 into consideration all petitions for ar propriations such as we call "extras
 now. the estimates, disbursement and tax rate would then be publishe , for the information of the tax payers. . What has heretofore always gone be fore city meeting will now rest wit the board of aldermen and the financ
 committee. This Is the most radios change.
 The City Comptroller. About the comptroller. I have see the time when we didn't know whathe we were within or beyond our city an
 populations. I say put someone i charge who knows how to handle th city's aecounts-a comptroller. He woul , be appointed with the approval of tn ; 1 finance board and would have sol charge of the city's accounting. Wit
 a proper comptroller in charge the c-t treasurer would be a mere treasure , He would receive the city's money 1 .. his custody and would pay out mon.. only on order of the comptroller l This is step towards a proper mar agement of the citys affairs and vo will find 1t will save the city money.
 John J. Gleason asked what salar : would be paid the comptroller. } That is a question that has not bee ! decFed, said NIH. aensen. W1kh
 comptroller In charge the city treasurer : duties would be lighter and, his salar
 would be smaller. For city the si7 @ of Norwich I should say the salary fc
 a comptroller might be placed at $500 = not over S3,50o
 1 In regard to the relation of the cit 9 zens to the finance board MT. Jense : said that the citizens would have u
 privilege to appear before the board
 finance In the interests of appropriation v regular or special. They could nal n suggestions or requests.
 Removal From Office l. In regard to the removal from off
 of any city official, elective or appointiv
 MT. Jensen said any city official WI should happen to become offensive u who neglected his duty could be reno T ed from office by the mayor Remov e of any officer of the city governme $ could be accomplished on petition of !" citizens to the superior court, if eau y was shown.
 M J. Coscoran suggested that pub n hearings be held by the finance boa
 on the budget in order to give the ci n izens a chance to air their views s Robert McNeely suggested that in t IT event of the death. resignation or I Ii moval of the mayor that the alderm S. be given power through the charter IT. fill the office by one of their nunbe e. possibly the presiding officer of t
 board. for the unexpired term of t
 mayor, and thus do away with the ( , pense of a special city election. :, Mir Jensen said Mir McNeely's ST