TOWN MANAGER'S DUTIES

Evening Star, Issue 18669, 25 June 1924, Page 4

TOWN MANAGER'S DUTIES

THE PORT CHALMERS CONTROVERSY.

Tn the matter of municipal reform Port Chalmers has taken a loading place by appointing a town manager. As on most occasions when reform makes an entrance it is accompanied by some differences in the arranging of details. Perhaps a unique feature about tho introduction of a town managership at Port Chalmers is that the councillors who brought forward the proposal are now strenuously opposing its application. As at first -brought forward in tho council the object of the move was to combine the positions of town clerk and engineer or inspector in one individual occupying the position of town manager. Many of tho pros apd cons of that proposition were solely of local application, and these purely local aspects weighed heavily when the matter was brought forward, so that discussion waxed unnecessarily warm. When put to the vote the town managership proposal was defeated by the narrow margin of one vote- Then an unexpected development took place. The mayor, who had voted against the defeated proposal, proposed that the present town clerk be appointed town manager. This was seconded, and the local application of the proposition quickly became apparent. The councillors who had a few minutes previously opposed the proposal mow spoke in favor of it. and voted for it. Those who had previously advocated it now opposed it. The voting was reversed, and the proposal was adopted by exactly the majority which had rejected it. Local application often stimulates personal enthusiasm. Tbo nest development in the .situation occurred at a subsequent council mectiiiir. when the town clerk stated that he had, without his own seeking, been appointed to the position of town manager. He wished to have the duties defined, so that he could fulfil them.

The request was a. reasonable and proper one. But it raised the question again of local application. The original proposers of a town managership had the duties of the position duly prepared for discussion and adoption. But the question o? local application was again an obstacle to immediate realisation. The, youthful element in the council still •hankered after realisation of something of their ideal when the matter of defining the duties was being decided. Meanwhile they were realising that generalship in the chair is often as real as the enthusiasm behind a rote at the table. The mavor had been called on to submit for the council's consideration a list of duties for the town manager. It seems that the list was ready several meetings ago. but the time was evidently not ripe for submitting a proposition on which the council was almost, equally divided. The absence of a councillor was a consideration not to he ignored.

At Monday night's meeting the list of proposed duties was eventually submitted. It- was noticed that the opposition was a member short of its full strength, and it immediately began to propound-'reasons for delay until a more convenient meeting. Evidently it was not prepared to be satisfied with the. fact (hat the principle of town managership had been established; it wanted the position to include something more definite in regard to inspectorship or borongh engineering. The duties as submitted by tire mayor for consideration had the merit, however, of simplicity. Subject to matters of policy which the council was to continue to 'control, the town manager was to have coutrol of the office and staff, be responsible (subject to the requisite finances being available for the carrying out'of all the works of the borongh, and to report to the council. The opposition noted tho absence, of definite provision for the carrying out of the work. One of the older members of the apposition first drew fire by moving that discussion be postjmued for a fortnight, councillors meanwhile to be supplied with copies erf tho proposed duties for considora-tP-r, TT„ W!. cnirl, been on previous Bnb-committees appointed to draw up lists of duties tor corporation officials; he liked In think snch things over at his leisure. This amendment did not find favor, and younger members pressed for more immediate action. The atmosphere became tens-c. Hard -words leapt from injudicious phrases. The amendment was lost and the motion carried.

Three councillors got up from the tabic. The mayor’s comments ns they readied for tlteir hats and overcoats included the phrase of “shirking it,” which was not replied to by the irate councillors as they quitted the chamber. Jn this hurried departure they omitted to close the door, and an icy draught made the chairman of the Finance Committee uncomfortable. The door was closed. The remaining member of the opposition, said he intended to give notice to rescind the resolution defining the town managers duties —“The whole lot of it,” he added.