Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-23

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form such duties in their respective departments
as shall from time TO time be prescribed by the
board. Said board shall make from time to
time all proper and needful rules for the trans
action of their business, and report the same to
the city council for information; but the city
council shall have the power to alter or amend
the rules and regulations of the board of public
works as they shall see lit; section fifth for the
election by the city council of IAN able and dis
Greet person." TO be STYLED the superintendent
of public works; section sixth defines
the duties of the superintendent which shall
be TO take the special charge and superntend-
ence OF the construction, alteration and repair
OF all streets and ways and OF all sidewalks and
crosswalkS il the same; of all bridges of all
lamps and lights for the lighting Of the Streets
ways, parks and public buildings of the city,
anu OF the erection ard repair OF such lamps and
lights; Of all sewers and drains, and of the
works pertaining thereto; OF the waterworks of
the city; of all public Improvements hereafter TO
he commenced by the city; and TO make all con-
tracts for labor and construction, and for the
purchase and sale of teams, tools and materials
that may be required in carrying on the opera
tons of this department, and to have the care Of
the same and of all buildings aud other property
pertaining to the department, and to perform
such other duties as shall be required by the
city council or the board of public works.
Sections I, s, 8, 10, II, -, 49, IA and 10 further
define, in detail, the duties Of the office in what
are now the various departments, and section l6
IluNiNCS ludl All OitllUdUCtS duu parts Ol or
dinances of the city of Worcester inconsistent
with the provisions of this ordinance, are here
by repealed; but this repeal shall not affect any
rights accrued before the passage of this ordi-
nance" Section II provides that This ordi-
nance shall take effect upon its passage"
The draft was referred to the committee on
finance.
IN JOINT CONVENTION.
The boards met in joint convention at half
past eight O'Clock for the purpose OF eecting
| commissioners of shade trees and public
| grounds and a commissioner of Hope cemetery
The convention then proceeded to ballot for a
commissioner of shade trees and public grounds.
| The whole number of votes cast was 30. of
| which Stephen Salisbury Jr., received rs, and
George 5. Barton .. Stephen Salisbury, Jr.
was accordingly declared elected.
On the first ballot for a commissioner of Hope
| cemetery, 81 votes were cast, of which George
| s. Barton received II, VIM. Bush s, A. G. Goes
| s. and E. I. Marble 1. Geo. S. Barton was ac-
cordingly declared elected.
Councilman Hewitt moved that the conven-
ton proceed TO elect a commissioner of high
ways aud water commissioner. Councilman
Towne objected, and the motion was lost.
The convention then dissolved.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
The order in relation to the printing of the
| water rates, introduced at the meeting of JAN
18Th, hack fares, and operating the Ere alarm
| telegraph was, on motion of Councilman Ames
| indefinitely postponed.
The order in relation TO the completion of the
| grounds around the high school house and the
boxing of certain pipes in the building took its
second reading, and was adopted in concur
| renee
The order authorizing the city treasurer to
continue state aid to families, was adopted in
| concurrence.
The petition from R. c. Taylor and f. A.
Goodnow for land damages, was referred to the
committee on claims in concurrence
| Inc draft OF an ordinance establishing a
| BOARD oil pubic works was accepted and referred
TO- the committee on finance, on motion of Coun-
| Gilman Walker.
The order authorizing the city messenger to
purchase copies of the city directory was adopt
| ed in concurrence.
The report of the directors of the free public
library was accepted in concurrence.
The petition for a sidewalk on Home street
| and the petition from Geo. +. Leach and Howard
L. Church were referred in concurrence.
| Councilman OGorman offered an order an
| thorning the joint standing committee on edu-
cation to procure suitable site for school house
| on Mechanic street, aud the erection of such a
building thereon as shall meet the wants of that
| section of the city.
Councilman Lowell moved that the order be
amended by striking out the words Mechanic
| street and leaving the location of said school
house TO the committee on education
Councilman O'GOrman hoped that Mr.. Lovcll'S
| motion would not prevail, as he considered that
a school house would in that locality accommo-
date larger number of people than one in any
available locality.
Councilman Goddard agreed with Mr.. O'Gor-
man in his reasons for the erection of the build
ing on Mechanic street, and the order was refer
red TO the committee on education as originally
offered
The resolve regarding the irregular cutting of
land INTO streets was passed to be enrolled in
concurrence.
The communication from the commissioner
on highways, in regard to water Spouts, was ac.
ceptcd in concurrence.
| The second reading of the order in regard to
taking measures for the better ventilation of the
city hall was objected to by Councilman Walker
who stated that he thought that they had already
expended money enough on the hall.
The petition of Henry T. CheeVer was referred
in concurrence.
| The report of the committee on finance pro-
viding for the borrowing of money to pay Tor
the completion of contracts was accepted in con-
currence, and the accompanying order adopted.
Inc report OF the committee on highways in
| regard to moving the dirt near the line of the
Boston and Albany railroad on the Stafford
| turnpike was accepted in concurrence.
The order authorizing the mayor to petition
the legislature for leave to borrow such a sum
OF money as was necessary to fund the floating
debt of the city was adopted in concurrence.
The report of the Joint standing committee on
education in regard to finishing the basement OF
the old high school building at an expense Of
$3.50, was next taken up.
Councilman Walker protested against giving
small sums continually to the high school build
ings, and moved that the committee be required
to report to the council what sum was wanted
to finish the new as well as the old building.
Councilman Goddard stated that the money
called for was required for an immediate neces-
Sty, and that two small appropriations were IL
that would be called for before it could be ascer-
tanned how much would be necessary to COM
plete both houses.
Councilman Allen stated that he thought it
| unjust TO couple the old and new buildings to-
gether, as they were entirely separate.
Councilman Walker Withdrew his motion and
the report was accepted in concurrence
Councilman IOWne made few remarks in re-
gard TO the gas light company, and stated that
they were not furnishing gas according to the
| contract with the city, and reviewed the action
of the city solicitor with the directors of the
company, and thought that it belonged to the
members of the party who went into the cam
pagn with better gas at less prices" inscribed
on their banners, to make the first move in the
matter; but rs he had waited for them in vain,
he would, without attempting to steal any of
the thunder from the successful party, offer the
following order:
Ordered, that the order passed Jan 16, 1871, re-
pecting the price of gas and all papers relating to
the same be taken from the files and referred to the
committee on finance.
Adopted and sent up for concurrence.
Councilman Walker offered the following:
Ordered, that the joint standing committee on
finance be and are hereby instructed to inquire and
report whether any legislation is desirable to en-
able the city council to create a board of public
works, which shall discharge the executive duties
now devolving upon the various committees of the
city council. Also, with reference to comforting
the veto power upon the mayor; also, comforting
upon the city council the power to determine the
material that may be used and the plans upon which
buildings are to be constructed in the city limits /;
also, giving the city council the authority over rail-
road crossings now vested in the city commissioner.
Adopted and sent up for concurrence.
| Adjourned for one week.
| r,xNnrnrtn.nr Lille,