The Bennington Evening Banner

ARGUED LONG OVER A NEW SIDEWALK PROPOSAL

Trustees Divided as to the Use of Funds

VILLAGE OFFICERS APPOINTED

Street Commissioner A. R. Dunn and Chief of Police Patrick Brazil for Another Year

The first meeting of the village board of trustees for the present year was held last evening. The new members of the board, J. P. Morrissey in ward 1, E. H. Holden in ward 2, Arthur E. Hollister in ward 5 and L. H. Buss (re-elected) in ward 6, took the oath of office and the meeting opened with all the members of the board present. President Fred C. Martin presiding, Clerk W. P. Hogan and Village Attorney Ernest D. Barber in attendance.

The session was an unusually long one, made so by the prolonged discussion over a resolution introduced by Trustee Holden relating to the building of new sidewalks. and it would have been even longer had not the temperature dropped to a point that made the room uninhabitable.

The resolution of Trustee Holden was prefaced with remarks touching upon the deplorable condition of the sidewalks in Bennington and read as follows: "Resolved, That there be appropriated from the highway fund the sum of $1000 which sum with the moneys received from assessments to be made pursuant to section 33 of the village charter shall be expended in the construction and repair of such sidewalks as the board may hereafter designate."

The resolution was vigorously opposed by Trustees Buss and Nash of the street committee who stated that the highway fund was not large enough to carry out the work of that department. They called attention to the proposal of the Berkshire Street Railway company to raise its tracks through certain streets of the village during the coming year which would necessitate regrading in the same locality.

Trustee Holden insisted that even with the $1000 taken from the highway fund there would still be as much money left for street purposes as had been used during some previous years. The village was doing three times as much for the horses as it was for the people who traveled on foot.

Trustee Nash insisted that it would be a crime to take a thousand dollars out of the highway fund.

Trustee Holden replied that it would be no more of a crime than to leave the walks in the village in their present condition.

Trustees Hollister and Kelly were of the opinion that something should be done with the sidewalks. Trustee Kelly called the attention of the board to the condition of the walks on the east side of North street where the water gathers in ankle deep puddles after every rain.

Trustee Davenport raised the question whether or not money could be diverted from the highway fund for the purpose of building sidewalks.

Trustee Holden gave it as his opinion that everything between the fences belonged in the highway.

The discussion was prolonged, Trustee Holden arguing for the resolution and Trustees Nash and Buss holding out vigorously against any reduction of the highway fund. The resolution was about to be put to vote when Trustee Holden asked for the ayes and nays. This started the discussion again. Finally Trustee Holden stated that he did not wish to take an arbitrary position and asked that the resolution be laid on the table temporarily.

With the opening of the meeting President Martin announced his standing committees for the coming year as follows:

Finance—T. A. Davenport, Arthur E. Hollister, John H. Kelly.

Streets—L. H. Buss, John Nash, A. E. Hollister.

Fire Department—Kelly, Davenport, J. P. Morrissey.

Lights—Morrissey, Kelly, Davenport.

Brunk	172	203	172
Hollister	182	132	159
Banks	143	144	184
Griswold	175	167	132
Knights	129	145	154

MacLaren	123	171	146
Shippey	119	154	168
Pratt	113	104	137
Edson	123	139	157
Arnold	111	115	168

ARGUED LONG OVER
NEW SIDEWALK
PROPOSAL
(Continued from first page)
Police—Nash, Hollister, E. H. Holden.
Curb and gutter—Holden, Morrissey, Buss,
It was voted that the list of committees be printed for the use of the board in small pamphlet form.
A. R. Dunn was unanimously re-elected street commissioner for the ensuing year.
It was voted to appoint five police officers, exclusive of the specials, and the following selections were made: Patrick Brazel, Richard Hurley, Andrew J. Griffin, Joseph M. Murphy and William F. Ashton. Following these appointments Patrick Brazil was made chief of police and John P. McGurn and Edward Mathers were appointed specials without pay.
John P. McGurn was given a permit to operate his popcorn wagon at its usual stand at the corner of Main and North streets.
It was moved that the employment of extra police be left with the police committee with power to act.
The following communication was received:
"To the Trustees of the Village of Bennington: I wish to present to your consideration the needs of a sewer on Grove street extension. It is a short street with houses on every lot with the exception of two on the east side, and as sewers have been laid on both Congress and Lyons streets. I should think it would be advisable to finish the sewer question on that side of the village, with the exception of Davis avenue which would have to be taken up at some later time. I was also asked to present to your consideration the fact that sidewalks from Mill street east are in very bad shape, especially near the freight yard, and as nothing has been done, although several times promised, I would kindly suggest that the matter be placed in the hands of our village attorney, Ernest DeForest Barber, with power to act and act strongly in the behalf of the pedestrian taxpayers who are compelled, going and coming, to walk in mud up to their ankles. It is bad enough to be obliged to earn our daily bread by the sweat of our brows, as the Good Book says, without having wet and muddy feet in the bargain. With the hope that you will kindly receive this little communication, I am,
Respectfully yours,
Peter Longtin."
The communication was referred to the sewer committee and it was voted that any other petitions of a like nature not now in the hands of that committee be similarly referred.
Trustee Hollister called the attention of the board to the absence of light in the face of the town clock. The matter was referred to the light committee.
Trustee Holden introduced a resolution authorizing the street committee to visit some of the neighboring cities and villages for the purpose of investigating the methods and materials used in the making of permanent roads and appropriating $50 expense money from the highway fund. In his opinion it was time that the village undertake some permanent work and he believed that the experience so obtained would be of value to the community. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Trustee Davenport brought up the matter of fire escapes. To his personal knowledge there were buildings in the village so constructed that in case of fire the exits would not be sufficient to allow the inmates opportunity to escape. The possible confliction of authority between the village and the state board of health was suggested by President Martin and it was voted that the matter be referred to a special committee. President Martin appointed the regular fire committee, Trustees Kelly, Davenport and Morrissey
Contractor J. T. Remington appeared before the board to make application for a building permit for the remodeling of the property recently purchased on Main street by Dominique Corsiglia. Mr. Remington stated that it was the owner's intention to lower the floor, bring the front out to the street line and rebuild the interior of the three stories on a plan similar to that used in the reconstruction of the property owned by N. Noveck on the north side of Main street. As the board is to hold a special meeting in two weeks no action was taken.
The locating of an incandescent light on Convent avenue was left with the light committee with power to act.
It was voted to draw orders for the following bills:
E. E. Larrabee, lights $470.00
A. E. Hollister, auditing 20.00
H. D. Fillmore, auditing 20.00
J. B. Harte, rent of hall 16.00
Kathryn Morrissey, check lists 25.00
W. P. Hogan, services as clerk 50.00
Louis Bleau, driving team 4.50
Patrick Brazil, police duty 31.00
Richard Hurley, police duty 4.00
Myron Stratton, carting booths 20.00
W. P. Hogan, election exp., 112.00
F. B. Newton, drying hose and rep. 9.85
L. H. Buss, shoeing team 3.25
F. E. Howe, adv. vil. meeting 17.00
W. J. Meagher, serv. vil. atty., 48.00
Olin Scott, rep. Putnam Hose Co 4.96
A. R. Dunn, sewers 91.49
A. R. Dunn, highway 197.78
Geo. H. Harwood, care steamer 50.00
Perry & Keeseman, vil. reports 75.00
C. A. Wood, printing ballots and supplies for vil meeting 48.10