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Published: 2015-08-09

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 9781332522828

Excerpt from The Charter of the City of Grand Junction, Colorado: Framed by the Charter Convention, August 6, 1909, by Authority of Article XX. Of the Constitution, to Be Voted on September 14, 1909; Official Copy The intent and purpose of this charter is to establish a free and independent city, and to restore to and vest in the people of the city, so far as the constitution of the state will permit, their natural, inherent, and inalienable right of local self-government, with all its powers, duties, and responsibilities. To that end, under and by the provisions of this charter: - The municipal government is vested, independently of legislative interference, with all powers not denied it by the constitution of the state. The people of the city are vested with its supreme legislative powers, with easy preliminary conditions in making and changing its charter and ordinances, and also with the absolute and exclusive power of authorizing, regulating or terminating its public service corporations, and of recalling its elective officers. The preferential system of voting has been established, in lieu of direct primaries or of second elections, thus securing a unique and accurate expression of the public will at the polls, with the minimum of cost and effort. Partisan and machine politics and government are inhibited, and a municipal democracy substituted therefor. No fixed tenure of office or employment is permitted except, subject to recall of elective officers, and, as authorized by a classified civil service, for employes. The city wards and the saloons have been abolished. Opportunities for graft and favoritism in innumerable directions have been eliminated. Boards have been established to care for the public library, parks, charities, and civil service. The city has been divided into five administrative departments, viz.: I. Public Affairs. II. Finance and Supplies. III. Highways. IV. Health and Civic Beauty. V. Water and Sewers. The question of having three commissioners to administer the five departments, instead of the five provided for in the charter, is submitted as an alternative question to a vote of the qualified electors at the same time that they vote on the adoption of the charter. The commission form of government has been improved and adopted, electing each commissioner directly to his department, and clearly defining his duties. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.