Excerpt from Proposed Charter for the City of Ashtabula, Ohio: Prepared and Submitted by the Charter Commission, Date of Election Tuesday, Nov; 3, 1914 The large affirmative vote by which you elected a Charter Commission less than a year ago Justifies the presumption that the people of Ashtabula desire to consider a new form of government. Believing this and appreciating the responsibility imposed upon It, the Charter Commission has. after mature deliberation, incorporated within the following provisions those principles deemed essential in a municipal government approximating the highest standard of impartiality and efficiency. The Commission has carefully considered Charters from twelve other Ohio Cities, so that it can truthfully be said that this Charter is the product of the combined wisdom of approximately 200 representative citizens of the larger municipalities of Ohio. The following are a few of the many important and distinctive features embodied In the Charter submitted which render it worthy of your earnest consideration: 1. It provides "Home Rule" for Ashtabula, with freedom from legislative control or interference in purely local matters. 2. It places the administration of municipal affairs and the whole responsibility therefor in the hands of a Council of seven citizens who are directly accountable to the people, thus avoiding, he shifting of duties and responsibilities among public officials. 3. It provides for nomination of members of Council by petition only, and their election on a non-partisan ballot. All other officers are appointed by the Council. 4. It provides for a "City Manager" selected by the Council on account of his peculiar fitness for business administration of municipal affairs. All subordinate officers and employees are appointed by the City Manager, upon merit and fitness alone, thus tending to develop trained public servants. 5. It makes the Council responsive to public opinion by means of the Initiative and Referendum. 6. It furnishes a simple and direct method of removing inefficient or corrupt officials through the Recall. 7. It affords capable men the opportunity of holding office during good behavior. 8. It aims to promote better Civil Service regulations to Insure continuance in office of competent employees. 9. It requires public hearings upon money appropriations. 10. It secures full publicity of official acts, yet eliminates wasteful methods of legal advertising. 11. It creates a Purchasing Department which will effect great saving in the purchase of supplies. 12. It permits public work to be done by direct labor as well as by contract. 13. It safeguards the City in Franchise matters. 14. it will avoid much unnecessary tearing up of streets for service connections; and 15. It recognizes the people as the sole source of governmental powers and Imposes upon each member of the community the duty and responsibility of actively Interesting himself In the affairs of his City. This Charter may be amended by a simple and adequate method to meet any changed conditions or future needs of the City. Its adoption is urged in the Interest of a "Bigger, Better, and Busier" Ashtabula. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com