NAC Te NC Ie ‘cornell University Library “HE Cornell University Library OF THE College of Architecture Oe oe a eee ee 1076 The City Plan Commission Newark, New Jersey Text of Enabling Act, Members, Officers, Rules and Outline of Work Newark, N. J. Published for the Commission 1911 AC “Th NeAs hy. S47] Property of College of Architecture, Cornell University: An Act to enable cities of the first class in this State to provide for a City Plan Commission and to provide funds for the same BE IT ENACED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. It shall be lawful for the mayor of any city of the first class of this State to appoint a commission, consisting of not more than nine citizens of such city, to prepare a plan for the systematic and future development of said city, which said commission shall be known as the “City Plan Commission” and the members of which shall hold office for one year, and shall serve without pay. Such commission shall have the power and authority to em- ploy experts and to pay for their services and for such other expenses as may be necessary, to an amount not exceeding the appropriation as hereinafter provided. 2. It shall be lawful for the board having charge of the finances of any city of the first class as atoresaid, to appropriate any amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars the first year and not exceeding ten thousand dollars any subsequent year that such commission may remain in existence, and to raise the money so authorized. the first year by appropriating for that purpose any moneys in the treasury of such city not otherwise ap- propriated, or by issuing and selling temporary loan bonds or certificates of indebtedness, provided that such bonds or certificates shall be sold at public or private sale, after 4 CITY PLAN COMMISSION due advertisement, at not less than par, and bearing in- terest at not more than five per centum, and any subse- quent year by providing in the annual tax budget for the sum appropriated. 3. This act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 30, 1911. Newark, N. J. Executive Office Jacob Haussling Mayor June 1st, 1911. Mr. David Grotta, Newark, N. J. My dear Mr. Grotta: I take pleasure in notifying you that I have this day appointed you as a member of the City Plan Com- mission for the City of Newark, authorized by the law enacted at the recent session of the Legislature. I have not had the opportunity to consult with you about this matter, but I have been ordered to go away for a rest by my physician and I feel it important that I should ap- point the Commission without waiting for my return. I trust, therefore, that you will see your way clear to accepting the appointment and to serving the city in this most important capacity. With regards, believe me, Yours very truly, JACOB HAUSSLING. City Plan Commissioners Frederic Bigelow................... 784 Broad Street John Cotton Dana........ ... ...-Free Public Library Christian W. Feigenspan............ 50 Freeman Street David Grotta..............0...00000. 401 High Street Frederick J. Keer................005 917 Broad Street John F. Kehoe..... SMa ee awe RES Lister Avenue Austen H. McGregor............. ..850 Broad Street Samuel E. Robertson................ 21 Walnut Street Gustavus Staehlin.............. 238 Washington Street Officers David Grotta, President Austen H. McGregor, Vice-President Samuel E.. Robertson, Treasurer Newton H. Porter, Secretary Address, Public Library Executive Committee David Grotta, Chairman John Cotton Dana Christian W. Feigenspan Frederick J. Keer Austen H. McGregor Rules Officers. First.—The officers of the Commission shall be a Presi- dent, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom must be members of the Commission, except the Secretary. Second.—The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Commission at the annual meeting each year, which shall be the first meeting after the appointment of commissioners, and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected. Third—The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Commission. He shall preside at all meetings of the Commission, sign all reports and other papers, ap- point all committees and perform such duties as may be necessary and incidental to his office. He shall be a mem- ber ex-officio of all committees. Fourth.—The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President during his absence or disability. Fifth—vThe Secretary shall keep a record of all meet- ings, file the reports of committees, attend to correspon- dence, and perform such other duties as may be required by the Commission. Sixth —The Treasurer shall keep a record of all finan- cial transactions, sign all checks and vouchers (which must be countersigned by the President) and make re- ports, monthly or at any time requested, of the finances. Meetings. Seventh.—The Commission shall meet regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 4.30 P. M. Special 8 CITY PLAN COMMISSION meetings may be called by the President or at the request of three members at any time. Eighth.—The order of business shall be roll call, read- ing of minutes of previous meetings, report of Secretary, report of Treasurer, report of committees, unfinished business, new business. Ninth.—Five commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Committees. Tenth.—There shall be an executive committee of five members who shall have full authority to act for the Commission in all matters, except the incurring of any expense, not authorized by the Commission, when the Commission is not in session. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, who shall be chairman, and four other members. ‘Three members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee. The Pr sident may appoint such special committees as may be expedient. Amendment of Rules. Eleventh.—These rules may be amended at any meeting by a majority vote of the Commission. City Plan Commission: Suggestions of Committee on Organization for Work of the Commission [At the first meeting of the Commission June 7, 1911, called by the City Clerk and held in the City Hall, the members were duly sworn. They then elected David Grotta President, and requested him to appoint a com- mittee of three to draw up rules and an Outline of Work. At the Commission’s second meeting, held July 28, 1911, in the Free Public Library, the committee of three presented the Rules, which were adopted, and the following suggestions, which were approved. Officers were then elected in accordance with the Rules, and the President appointed the Executive Committee. The Com- mission then adjourned. The Executive Committee then held a special session and instructed the Secretary to prepare and publish this pamphlet, 5000 copies, send it to all city officials and to other citizens, and to all City Plan organizations in the United States, and to a selection of those in other countries; and to send a letter requesting codperation and asking if the Commission can be of assistance to the heads of City Departments. ] Report of the Committee This Commission has no power to enforce its conclu- sions. Its work must be entirely suggestive and educa- tive. These facts do not limit the Commission’s field of work and opportunities. On the contrary, they put the Commission in the position of the city’s disinterested friend and adviser. As such, its first work, after properly informing itself and getting into friendly relations with the city’s legisla- 10 CITY PLAN COMMISSION tive and administrative bodies, is plainly to help in arousing public interest in and sympathy with the City Plan Idea. Experts. Many of the inquiries and investigations we suggest can be wisely pursued only by those who are familiar with such matters. It will be a mistake for the Com- mission to devote its time to inquiries, investigations and projects which will not be of value in the long run; and it will no doubt prove wise to secure soon the advice and assistance of one or more experts on the subject of municipal planning. City Departments. The Commission should get in touch with all the city departments and especially those that may in any way come in contact with, or be affected by, any suggestions and plans that the Commission may set forth. The Com- mission should early secure statements from them about the developments and changes they have in mind that may touch upon projects that the Commission may consider. We are confident that all the departments of the city will look upon this Commission as an agency well adapted to bring together the facts of Newark’s municipal life, to look at those facts without prejudice and to draw from them reasonable and helpful recommendations to be sub- mitted for approval to our fellow citizens. If the Com- mission is, as we believe, thus looked upon by the city at large and by all its departments, we may be sure that any reasonable request for figures, plans, statistics, sugges- tions and criticisms will be cheerfully granted. CITY PLAN COMMISSION 11 Statistics. We should secure statistics of population, manufactures, railway and other transportation facilities, housing con- ditions, congestion and many other things, in order pro- perly and intelligently to formulate plans and suggestions. State Government. Newark’s municipal dependence and the power of the State in respect to such matters as potable water and riparian rights make it necessary to consider the State’s share and influence in any large plans we may suggest. The Commission should keep itself informed not only on present laws and proposed legislation, but also on the State’s plans wherever municipal work may come in contact with them or with the several departments of the State. Federal Government. The same statements apply to the Federal Government. If any plan the Commission suggests promises to affect or be affected by Federal authority or legislation, the Commission should see to it that the Federal authorities are duly interviewed and their advice and codperation secured. Publicity, &c. It is most important that the work of the Commission be made known to all citizens as it progresses, and that the sympathy, approval and codperation of the general public be secured for all plans the Commission may out- line. ‘The newspapers will give due prominence to all reports, investigations and suggestions; and we are sure that they will give also hearty support to the Commis- 12 CITY PLAN COMMISSION sion’s work in all respects. The Commission should see to it that the newspapers are kept fully posted in regard to its work. Bulletins and Reports. The Commission should also consider carefully the publication either of an occasional bulletin or of a series of reports in which the results of investigations and all tentative and final plans may be authoritatively set forth. Such publications from other cities will be helpful to the Commission, and other cities will gratefully receive re- ports of the progress of municipal planning in Newark. Moreover, these reports and bulletins on the progress Newark makes in reconstructing the city for greater effi- ciency will help to make that progress widely known throughout the newspapers and journals of the whole country. Schools. It will be several years before the larger and more important plans we may recommend can be carried out. During these years several thousand young men and women will have graduated from the Newark schools and become Newark citizens. They should be told, while still in school, of the plans for its improvements which the city has under consideration or execution. More than this: In our schools, public, private and parochial, are nearly 80,000 children. Every one of them should be made familiar with the present and future needs and plans for growth of their city. Some simple methods should be devised of keeping all these future citizens in touch from year to year, with all the steps that may be taken to make Newark a more effective city. Our bulletins might be CITY PLAN COMMISSION 13 in part adapted to inform our young people of Newark’s progress. The Board of Education should be asked to add to its course of study on the City of Newark now being printed—a course which is chiefly devoted to practical points of citizenship—a section on the City Plan Idea. This course would be an extension of that work in civics which calls attention to such everyday matters as clean streets; and it would give the young people as definite an idea as possible of what is meant by City Planning. Placards reading somewhat as follows should be printed and widely posted in schools, trolley cars and other pub- lic places : “WHAT DOES CITY PLANNING MEAN? Why has a City Planning Commission been created? City planning means development of our city according to carefully prepared plans; stopping all further random development, all haphazard extensions, and all improve- ments for certain favored sections or limited localities. It means considering every suggested change or improve- ment as to its affect on the entire city and on all suburbs and nearby towns. City planning is for all, and especially for the man of modest income. It means better housing and attractive and healthful surroundings for the humblest homes. It means securing for the cheapest tenement the sunny, airy, sanitary conditions which health, science and common sense demand. It means a City Efficient, a City Clean and a City Enjoyable. The Commission wishes to help, first of all, to make Newark a good city in which to live and work, equal to the best. Newark, N. J. Tus Crty PLANNING CoMMISSION.” 14 CITY PLAN COMMISSION Civic Bodies. The codperation and sympathy of local improvement associations, study clubs, and all civic clubs of either men or women, should be secured. Large Local Enterprises. s The good will and codperation of the great corporate enterprises doing business in our city are most important allies in all efforts for its improvement. ‘The Commission should secure from them suggestions for relieving con- gested housing conditions, improvement of rapid transit facilities, &c., and should acquaint them with and seek their support for all proposed plans that may affect their own special development. Nearby Cities. Many neighboring municipalities are bound to Newark through common interest in many things, like sewage, water supply, parks, boulevards, roads, rapid transit, water, transportation, docks, etc. It will be very desirable to keep the authorities and influential citizens of neigh- boring cities informed about any plans which may affect their own development. Nothing of importance can be done to make Newark a more efficient city which will not be of importance to all neighboring towns. For Newark 1916. It has been suggested that the Commission lay out as soon as possible certain specific plans which may be brought to conclusion at the 250th anniversary of the city’s settlement, in 1916. The suggestion is a very for- tunate one. Newark might wisely show by the comple- CITY PLAN COMMISSION 15 tion, five years from now, of some public improvement of commanding importance, that after two and a half cen- turies of life, it is still a city of progress. The proposition will appeal to all citizens and to carry it out will be to justify for all time the City Plan Idea. John Cotton Dana, Christian W. Feigenspan, Frederick J. Keer, July 28, 1911. Committee on Organization. eon es