Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-24
The Village Charter.

There has evidently been some misap-
prehension among our citizens in refer
ence TO the scope and effect of the proposed
amendments TO the village charter. In
consequence Of the steady growth Of the
village and the gradual dimnution OF the
springs and small streams that have hith-
erto supplied it with water, it has for some
years been apparent that a larger and more
permanent supply OF wafer would soon be
required. At the last village meeting a
resolution was adopted instructing the bal
lifts TO make investigation and report 10
the next annual meeting upon this subject.
Pursuant thereto the bsilifTs and other citi-
zens interested, during the last summer,
examined the country around the village
and found two or three sources fully ade-
quate for all village purposes. At present
the village lacks both the machinery and
the means Of carrying out such an enter
prise if the citizens generally should de-
sire it, and we understand that the bailffs
caused this amendment 10 the charter 10 be
drawn so that the village would have the
power, if at any time majority OF the vot-
ers should SO elect, 10 carry the suggestions
of the last meeting into effect.
Whether the time has come for an enter
prise of this magnitude and costing so much
money as this would cost, is a subject upon
which citizens honestly differ, but certain
it is that during the drought OF the last
summer all our people were impressed as
| they never were before with The knowledge
OF the scanty supply of water for family
use, and the alarmingly short quantity for
the fire department in case of fire. Sec
tons six and seven Of the amendments
show clearly that this whole matter rests
with the village corporation, and that the
| bailiffs have no power TO act in the matter
except with the consent and under the in
structions of the legal voters of the village,
If the village should vote ii, the bailin:
would furnish the wafer supply, the reg
ulation of which would afterwards be in
the hands of a board of wafer commission.
| ers.
The other amendment, If adopted, would
take the laying out and control of tht
streets Of The village from the hands OF thu
selectmen and place them in the hands o
the village bailiffs, and the entire high
way tax Of the village would thereafter
be expended upon its own streets. Thii
amendment also annexes the West Rive
road 10 Dummerston line and the roa(
past George II. Clark's house 10 GuilforC
line 10 the village highway district.
Section 20 OF the amendments wisel,
provides that village meetings shall be helC
from three o'clock until eight o'clock in th,
afte rnoon and that village officers shall b.
elected by a plurality of votes. By thi
mode our village meetings would be as quie
and orderly as GU Frreemen's meetings are
citizens then being able TO go to the poll'
at any time between the hours named, de
posit their votes and 60 away. Tho las
two or three village meetings have been
reproach TO our professed civilization.
Since some opposition has been manifest
ed to the amendments, a section has beer
added, which provides that the whole shall
be submitted TO The voters at legal meet
ing for their rejection or adoption.
The amendments are printed in full oil
our third page to-day.