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II. CHARTER COMMISSION WORK- COMMITTEES, MEETINGS, CHARTER PREPARATION <br /> <br />Starting the commission's work. (410.0%) The law declares that.within 30 <br />days after its appointment the charter commission "shall make rules including <br />quorum requirements with reference to 'its operations and procedures.1' The <br />commission must file an annual report of its activities with thg chief <br />judge on or before December 31 of each year. A copy of the report is to <br />be given to the municipal clerk. Every such commission is practically master <br />of its own house. Succes~ or failure rests very much with the members <br />themselves. <br /> <br />A new charter as soon as practicable.. (M.S.A. 410.07.)!In k..ci2y~Without <br />a home rule charter, the new charter commission is directed to deliver to <br />the city'clerk "as soon as practicable" either (1) a report stating that <br />a home rule charter is not necessary or desirable or (2) the draft of a <br />proposed charter. The report or the charter draft must be signed by at <br />least a majority of the members of the commission. <br /> <br />First meeting. Officers and committees. At their initial meeting, the <br />commissioners should elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary, <br />and should prepare for their work. The chairman should be a person with <br />some experience as a presiding officer and one well acquainted with <br />parliamentary procedure. This person should be characterized by qualities <br />of leadership, tact, and businesslike habits. The vice chairman should be <br />selected for similar qualities. The position of secretary should go to one <br />who is able to write good English ih a'clear hand, whose'habits are orderly, <br />and who is willing to invest some time and labor not only in keeping a full <br />and clear record, of proceedings but also in keeping himself or herself <br />constantly in touch with all the work of the commission and its several <br />committees. A good secretary to a charter commission is simply invaluable. <br /> <br /> At the same meeting there should be appointed several committees, as <br />· -follows: (1) a small standing committee on rules (three members will suffice); <br /> (2) a small standing committee on arrangements to deal with the time and <br /> place, of meeting, stenographic assistance, library, stationery, and other <br /> matters, not neglecting publicity; (3) a large committee on general plans <br /> and purposes. This latter committee should deal with the general strategy <br /> of the situation] in the manner to be described, and the question of whether <br /> it should be a.temporary or a permanent committee should be left to later <br /> decision. <br /> <br />Committee on plans and purposes. Because it will have much to do, the <br />committee on general plans and purposes should meet immediately after the <br />first meeting of ~the entire commission to plan its work. Upon discussing the <br />problem it may find it necessary to divide into several subcommittees, <br />or at least to delegate to selected persons the duty to report on special <br />questions falling within the three main fields of its-investigations. <br /> <br />These fields are three: (1) Members of this committee should get in touch <br />with the.leaders of public opinion in the community, men and women, <br />businessmen, professional people, public officials, politicians, labor <br />leaders~ newspaper editors, ministers, and others, and particularly with <br /> <br /> <br />