The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-03-22

HlLSSlOn may De 0elQ individually
and collectively responsible for these
funds, and that they cannot be
legally used for any purpose other
than for their own functions. This
opinion is supported by several Su-
preme Court rulings which are di-
rectly in point, the most outstand-
ing of which and best known is the
Sturgis case, in which the Court
held. that, unless specifically pro-
vided for by charter, the city could
not appropriate to its own use funds
earned by these plants.
CLARIFIES LEGALITY
The amendment as drawn will
clarity the question of legality. II
provides that the Commission, Il
funds are available, shall provide
light and water to the City and
in addition, shall provide the
Schools of the City of Wyandottt
five per cent of the annual net
earnings of the light plant, which
is an amount approximating the
cost Of school lighting. That it may
spend, out of its surplus, any
amount for any public need, but
only after the proposition of such
expenditure is submitted to the cleo
torate of the City of Wyandotte
and passed by them. In other
words, the amendment would le-
galize the spending of what vii
shortly be surplus, or funds moi
needed for the safe operation, main.
tenance, and extension Of oul
plants. and which, under the pres
ent charter. are presumably frozen
OTHER CHANGES
The other changes sought in the
amendment are as follows:
First: The addition of the word
heating" to the Commissions
present functions, in order that
they may sell surplus steam or
manufactured neat.
Second: The establishment of
quorum requiring the attend
ance Of at least three members
Of the five member Commission
to pass upon all matters coming
before it. The present charter
establishes three members as :
quorum and requires only ma
jority vote of these three men,
bers.
Third: Granting the Commits
sion the right to hire all person.
+ mel and to establish all wages and
salaries. The present charter,
while giving the Commission this
authority in the case of all other
employees (sixty-three in num-
her), provides that the Council
must pass on the salaries of the
Superintendent and Secretary.
Fourth: The change of the title
of Superintendent to General
Manager.
Fifth: To enable the Commits
sion to spend $1,000 without per-
mission of the Council and v h
out bids. but thru the Purchasing
Department of the City; and from
$1,000 dollars to $1,000 without
the Councils permission, but to
the Lowest responsible bidder, also
thru the City Purchasing Depart
ment. The present charter re-
strictS these expenditures to
$1,000 without the consent of the
Council; and up to $1,000 by bids
and with the consent of the
Council.
FIRST ASKED IN JANUARY
The Municipal Service Commits.
sion first requested these change,
to legalize the transfer of service!
or the cost thereof and the othel
matters of policy on January 10
1945 and after elaboration in TIVE
joint meetings on January Is anC
January 25, between the Commits
sion, the Council and the Schoo
Board, the now proposed amend
ment was prepared and on Tues
day, January 80, l945. was ordered
by the Council to be placed on tn,
ballot for the April 2 election.
I believe, and again point out
that the proper consideration
that of legalizing expenditures, ant
that the voters should weigh thi
very carefully. The cost to the Cit,
for lights and water for the pur
poses before mentioned is approx
imately S98,O0O This amount repre-
sents nearly two and one-half mill
Of general taxation, which, if thi
amendment fails, and the City
mandamused or ordered by Cour
TO pay for these services, woult
mean either bookkeeping Subter
fuge or making certain charges +
the Commission in an amount Z
offset the cost of lights and water
or that the Council would be re
quired to spread this cost in gen
eral taxes, which would add SIS
to our present tax rate of Sl2.5
cents per thousand assessed valua
ton, or SIS per thousand aSSesse
valuation.
I believe that in legalizing tn