STATEMENT OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION
August 8, 1935
To the Electors of Saginaw:
In accordance with your instructions of September 11, 1934, when you voted both for charter revision and for a different type of government, we have drafted a revised charter for the City of Saginaw, embodying a change in form of government, and herewith submit it for your consideration.
Effort was made to have the charter brief and clear, to vest the city with every permitted home rule power, to limit rigidly those powers it seemed should be limited, to leave flexibility in the exercise of powers where flexibility appeared advantageous.
The plan of government is simple and logical. Responsibility is clearly fixed at every point, and where responsibility is placed proportionate power is granted.
To facilitate clear understanding of the proposed charter, we summarize as follows its more important provisions.
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE
The people elect a council of nine members, upon whom is placed the responsibility of governing the city.
The council appoints a city manager, who is the administrative officer of the city government and upon whom is placed the responsibility for efficient operation of the administrative service.
Other officials appointed by the council are: members of the board of review, the city's twenty-four (24) representativeson the board of supervisors, and a mayor. The mayor, chosen from the council's membership, serves as presiding officer of the council and as ceremonial head of the city government. Other duties of the council are chiefly legislative and policy-determining, the compensation of its members nominal.
The manager is given broad powers, including appointment and removal of administrative officers and employees but with provision for establishment of a personnel advisory board, and a system of city employment based wholly on fitness, training and experience.
The Council is free to hire the best manager available, paying such reasonable salary as his capabilities command, and is equally free to dismiss him if not satisfied with his performance. The field from which he may be chosen is not limited; he need not even be a resident of the city or the state at the time he is selected.
There are rigid requirements as to the manager's qualifications, and equally rigid safe-guards against interference by councilmen with the work of administrative officers and employees.
BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND COMPLAINT
To ensure every citizen easy and effective contact with his city government, provision is made for a bureau of public information and complaint, designed to be exactly what its name implies. . . a place where the public can get accurate and reliable information on city affairs, and, more important, where any resident may register complaint against the public service, with the assurance his complaint will bring prompt investigation and report.
ELECTIONS
Regular non-partisan city elections are held the first Monday in April of each odd numbered year. Candidates for councilmen are nominated by petition and the pre-election primary has been eliminated as an unnecessary expense. Councilmen's terms of office are four years, five members being elected at one time and four at another. They are elected at large to that each member will represent the entire city and each citizen.
FINANCE - TAXATION - BONDS
Greatest care was taken in preparing the provisions relating to finance, taxation and the issuance of bonds, so that the city might possess all rightful powers, but with the people's interest carefully safeguarded. Restrictions on borrowing money were not detailed in the charter, as authority to issue bonds without approval of three-fifths of the electors is strictly limited by state law.
Not because we believe it the ultimate answer to the vexatious taxation problem, but rather because it so recently was written into the existing charter by vote of the people, we have included in this new charter the constitutional fifteen-mill limitation on taxation.
BUDGET
The annual budget, prepared by the finance director, reviewed by the manager and considered at a public hearing, will be passed upon finally by the council instead of by a board of estimates, as in the past. Under the existing form of government, in which the commissioners are administrators as well as legislators, a board of estimates perhaps is a necessary adjunct, but it is the commission's belief that under the form of government here proposed such a board is unnecessary.
RETIREMENTS - PENSIONS
It is the intent of the chapter on retirements and pensions to assure that no superannuated or incapacitated firemen or policemen shall be obliged to depend on charity, and at the same time to make impossible abuses that have grown up around the pension system set up in the existing charter.
We realize there are many who oppose pensions on principle. To these we wish to point out that local precedent of nearly thirty years supports inclusion of pension provisions, and also that opposition to a pension system for firemen and policemen is no valid reason for rejection of this charter, because rejection would leave in operation a system of pensions less desirable than the one here proposed.
PUBLIC UTILITIES - FRANCHISES
Every care was taken to safeguard fully the people's rights in the granting of public utility franchises, and at the same time to avoid such drastic restrictions as might work to the city's disadvantage. No franchise may be granted except by vote of the people, and exclusive franchises are prohibited. Thirty years is fixed as the maximum life of a franchise, but the council and the people are given power to limit them to any shorter term as circumstances at the time may dictate. Because the right of municipal ownership of public utilities is satisfactorily provided by state law and is among the powers vested in the city, it was not repeated in detail in this charter.
INITIATIVE - REFERENDUM - RECALL
The early American "town meeting" rights of the people have been preserved in the only manner feasible in a modern city - through the initiative, the referendum and the recall. Exercise of any of these rights is cumbersome and costly, but there always is a possibility that at some time resort to one or another of them may be justifiable.
CEMETERIES - PARKS - TRUSTS
The preservation inviolate of our cemeteries, parks and other public places, and trust funds created therefore, and the investment of such trust funds, has been carefully safeguarded.
CONCLUSION
You are requested to pass judgment upon this proposed new charter in its entirety, and not allow disapproval of some particular provision to cause rejection of the whole.
Perfection is not claimed, but we are convinced this charter offers the best governmental machinery that has been evolved for a city of Saginaw's size.
Should you adopt this charter we urge that you follow up such action by electing to the council men with a will to carry out its provisions. There is no other method by which you can assure yourselves the benefits and advantages of the business-like, efficient and economical government it is our firm conviction this charter offers to the people of Saginaw.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
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Arnold Boutell |
Harvey A. Penny |
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George H. Boyd |
John W. Symons, Jr. |
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William J. Brydges |
Eric F. Wieneke |
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Harwood J. Gilbert |
Charles C. Wilson |
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Frank Marxer |
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Charter Commissioners of the City of Saginaw, Michigan