The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-01-26
CITY MANAGER PLAN
ENDORSED BY VOTERS
Continued from Page u

Continued from Page /
they chung on to the hope that the
majority might be so small that re-
count could be demanded and swing
victory to the other side.
Dismay turned into utter discomi-
ture when the returns from the first,
second and third wards came in and
put to flight any ideas that recount
would change the general result of the
election.
Goes Into Effect in April.
The city manager form of govern
ment will now be established in Ke-
nosha at the next regular election to
be held on the first Tuesday in April.
At that time the voters will be called
to elect council composed of five
members to be elected from the city
at large without compensation. AS
soon as the new plan has been estab-
lished these councilmen are to serve
for terms of two years each; at the
next election the three commissioners
receiving the highest vote will serve
for two years while the other two will
be elected for term of one year. Two
new ones will then be elected at the
end of the first year and three at the
end of the second year.
These commissioners are to elect
their own chairman, who will preside
at the meetings of the council and
who will act largely in the capacity of
mayor of the city. They are also to
select the city manager who is to take
charge of the affairs of the city under
their direction.
/ Upon the third Tuesdaysin April the
newly elected commissioners are to
take their seats and to displace the
old aldermanic form of government.
One Of the questions raised by the
election was as to what could be done
regarding councilmen who were elect
ed for term of two years and whose
term of Office does not expire until
1923; according to the law it appears
that these men are automatically out
of office.
Be Short IRterregnum.
Since the commission cannot choose
city manager until after they have
been sworn into office, there is a prob
ability that there will be short time
when the management of the city will
be entirely in the hands of the newly
elected commission. The law does not
stipulate that the. city manager must
be either a resident of Kenosha or of
Wisconsin and it is left entirely with
the commission to choose man suit
able to meet the demands of the posi-
ton.
The entire plan is outlined in the
statute under which the city govern
ment is to be reorganized as previous
ly published.
Started Years Ago.
Charles H. Goodman, former alder
man from the old second ward was the
father" of the city manager plan of
government in Kenosha. From the
time when he served in the council
years ago, he urged the adoption of
the new plan and in quiet way he has
kept rup his work despite the fact that
for many years he had little encour-
agement. The movement which brought
the matter to a vote was started about
a year and half ago when the Inde-
pendent Voters League took an active
part in inaugurating the movement
and bringing it before the people.
/ Ardent opposition to the city man
ager plan by certain elements in the
city caused the women voters to join
their forces with the supporters of the
city manager form of government and
with this aid the victory was won at
the polls. Various civic organizations
of the city, such as the Kiwanis, and
Rotary club also lent their active sup
port to the movement and some of the
credit for the change also belongs to
them.