Milford chronicle., 1933-02-03
Milford. Friday, February 3, 1888

ONE YEAR has passed since thu
City of Milford went under a new
charter which gave full power Il
City Council to create such laws as
new conditions made necessary. The
charter was drawn by Ruby II. Vale
an outstanding legal authority and
a resident of Milford, with assist
ance of citizens of the City, and il
was approved by the people almost
unanimously. The elections were
held and the City Council organized
taking over the Light and Water
Department and placing it under
management of City Manager
which has proved very satisfactory
Just here the general management
by City Council stopped. Partly for
lack of experience and failure to re-
aliZe just what the duties devOlv-
ing upon them demanded. The Mayor
has only executive duties as head
or government. and therefore has no
power to act only as far as legal
administration goes. II seems there
has not been any practical effort
made by City Council to carry into
effect the creation of a legal form
of government, through organizing
departments, or creation of ordi-
nances by City Council. There has
not been any leader as to organiza-
tion of the city for departments of
highways, health, law and order
other than the mythical methods as
carried out by the police and alder
man in past years.
The Charter provides for legal
authority and advisorship to make
laws which has only I'm part been
done by City Council.
The citizens of Milford are ready
and willing to observe all laws; but
there are no laws TO. observe that
are legal, with only few exceptions.
The people have the right to know
what the laws require of them, and
the charter provides that they shall
be informed before any law can be-
come effective, through publication
in local newspaper. Without any
effort to perform this duty the City
Council of Milford, has met with the
Mayor in stated sessions, and now
are seeking to have the City Charter
amended, that ordinances may be |
created and put into effect, without |
publicity, other than by posters in
each ward publicly placed. This
looks very much like petty politics, |
or subterfuge for the benefit of in
terested individuals. The legislature |
enacted the Charter for Milford two
years ago, after the people had held |
several public meetings, and discus
sion before the legislative commit |
tee. 1t is a wise piece of legisla-
tion for the City of Milford. and any
modification made now, is for the
purpose of opening an opportunity
for petty politics, and destroying the
effectiveness of future government |
of the City of Milford. While the
camoufiage by those asking for the
change in the City Charter of Mil
ford, will be economy" by saving
the cost Of printing the ordinances I
in the local newspaper; yet that is
the very point that is vital to their
purpose, and by making the changes
to be asked from the present legis-
lature, the City Council would be
simply automatic in the hands of
the few men interested in this move
ment.
Observe the law as created by the
legislature for the City of Milford, !
giving it authority to create ordi- /
nances for the government of all the /
people. /
The Mayor is not authorized to [
even assist in making laws, and is {
an executive head only. He can rec
but can not create.
II the members of City Council in {
realize their duty and have (
failed to perform it. then they are s
of the honor conferred l
upon them. I
For the first year, the people have a
been patient and willing to condone; c
but now the time has come when /
and even criticism must I
follow, so that when another and I
other subsequent city elections ar O
rive, the people may replace those f
who have failed them with other b
men or women, who have the ability l.
o not only manage financially but +
ieep all departments of civic gov e
irnment on high standards. "
The City Managership is a long s.
tep in the right direction. but the is
,ity Council has not measured up n
Q expectations in its duties. II is t.