The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-03-12
Our City Government

Ypsiant Monday rejected the proposed new city char
ter Principal objection according to olts OF conmeht
along the business and in the vicinity Of the voting
Stations was the elimination of ward lines in favor of city
wide election of council members There was also teehg
among some city officials that adoption of new charter
might interpreted reflection against the present
administration Together these with scattered opJecuons
of a minor nature, ran up decisive negative vote
This is the third time that Ypsilanti has attempted
charter change without success The first proposal was
voted down 1915 by the very close margin OF o9S TO OIL
The second charter election was in April 1922 Inc OPP
position was much stronger in that election registering
1915 votes against $40 in favor of the change The 1916
second elections with negative of 1885 against 1884
The margin of defeat sol votes 1t is significant TO
This was clearly the deciding factor Objection in this
ward was based the argument that elimination OF ward
lines in city elections as proposed in the charter,
would mean barrier against representation from that
ward on the council AS matter OF fact this demonsra
ton of unity in the first ward could be construed to show
that the voters defeated their purposes By strategic
distribution of candidates in other wards under the pro-
posed new charter all members Of the council might
be elected from that ward Inc old charter limits eacn
ward to two aldermen.
Most startling however is the expressed lack of con-
dence the friendship of other wards for the people of
the first Even though that ward well represented on
the Board of Education for which members are chosen
from the G at large Just as nnsyen doubt that similar
consideration would become unwren rule in city cleo
tons Such doubt is regreable 1t would be even more
regrettable il there were proven cause for it.
Council Faces Important Obligation
Whatever for defeat of the proposed new char
ter may have been one outstanding fact remains The
city voted last April for revision of the city charter 1t
is now responsibility of city officials to that that de-
mand is recognized with early constructive action There
is need for fewer committees less passing of responsibility
There in the department charged with def
ine RESPONSIBILITIES and relatively free to act upon their
own initiative Major decisions referred to the Board
of Public Works for approval This is kind OF commits
sion-manager arrangement The fire chief has definite
RESPONSIBILITIES under fire commission The police de-
partment operated the same basis and the hospital
comes under a similar heading
All are subject to various degrees OF approval by the
CITY council Herein is red tape that should be cut There
should be a centralized purchasing authority. There
should be house where city supplies are checked in
and systematically charged out There should be adequate
provision for storage of heavy supplies and equipment
There should be closer working relation between depart
ments.
Most immediate needs for simpificaton and increased
efficiency of city be arranged either by
revision of controlling sections of the charter by adop
ton of ordinances Steps this direction have been dis
cussed. They should be made factua without further
delay.
The charter commission members should not consider
their work finished They have served the city most COM
mendab They knew when they set aside the ward plan
for city elections that they were inviting group opposition
but they considered the change advisable and acted
ordngy For that they deserve only praise Eventually
they will be proven right Just the majority vote
mo- to that pan but it does not discred the fine citizen
ship represented the commission They should be asked
to sit with members of the city council in working out
plan that will approach nearly possible the business
like administration toward which they striving in the
proposed councl-manager form of government.
The election is By the rules of democratic
form of the will of the majority accepted by
the minority The next best step is to remodel the present
charter the time being work the
ests of all the people to best advantage.