The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-06-09
Proceedings of Common Council,
Town of Donaldsonville.
SPECIAL MEETING.

MAJORS OFFICE, May 81, 1877
The Council met this day at o'clock P.
NJ.
Members present-Fred Duffel, Mayor;
DIR. b. Claverie, Jos. Burbridge, Aldermen
LIST ward Severn Ricard, Alderman end
ward Victor Maurin, Ursin Landry, Alder
men 3rd ward.
Absent-H. S. Boudreaux, Alderman 3rd
| ward.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved
The Committee on Public Works made a
verbal report, stating that there was q bad
bridge corner Lessard and Conway streets,
and required immediate repairs.
On motion of V. Maurin, duly seconded,
the following resolution was adopted:
! Be it resolved That the sentence imposed
| by the Mayor against v. &. Gabrielle chem
forced by the Town Constable upon his
ascertaining that the same has not been car
RED into execution.
The following report was presented and
received:
To the Hon. Mayor and Common Council of
the town of Donaldsonyille
Gsntlensen-Your undersigned committee.
|
Of the late Mayor and Town Collector, beg
leave to state that owing to the failure of
the former to meet your committee, they
have been unable to report at this meeting.
With regard to the Collector, after having
spent several days investigating the rolls
and delinquent lists surrendered by him and
comparing the same with his receipts and
the Treasurer's books, from the year 1873 to
the present time, it appears therefrom that
he owes for the year 1876, SOS S. for the year
1875, $2l6 As, for the year 1873, 1882 %;
making a total for said years of $4l4 % UNI
accounted for. For the licenses and the taxes
of previous years it is impossible from the
manner in which the books have been kept.
and the failure of the authorities to make
annual and final settlements with the late
Collector, to ascertain with any degree of
certainty the actual amount of his indebted
ness. The Treasurer's books do not show
in any instance when the delinquent lists of
tax payers were delivered to the Collector,
the amount of such tax lists when he re-
eeiyed the same, the amount therefor at the
end of his term of Office the amount of the
tax rolls for the current years and OF the
several delinquent lists delivered to him
from the time he was first elected in 1873,
seem to have never been charged against
the said Collector, and there is nothing
thereon to show in what year the amounts
marked paid were so paid, nor to whom
Nor does it appear in any instance, either
from his receipts or the Treasurers books,
the amount paid nor the year for which the
payment is made, or whether paid in scrip
or currency. TO illustrate our meaning !:
Some receipts are for the sum of s. for the
years 1873 and 1874. or the sum of s. on
account of back taxes, and some OF the en-
tries in the Treasurer's book instead of ex-
hibiting on what account, for what amount
and for what purpose, and for what year
money paid in the Treasury was so paid,
merely show that said Treasurer received
on such day from the Collector the sum of,
say S433 for taxes of the years 1866 '67, '6S,
$50, 10, III, 20 and 1873, or the sum of 800
on account of taxes and licenses, without
specifying the amount received for each ac-
count respectively. Your committee would
earnestly recommend your Hon. body, as
the only feasible way of making an inspec-
ton and thorough examination, the appoint
ment of some skilled accountant who shall
Immediately proceed to make Il thorough
. examination of all the books, vouchers, ac-
counts and records of the Tax COllectOr's
and Treasurer's offices, concerning all mon
eYs paid into and out of the Treasury, since
the last final settlement made by any of the
Town Collectors preceding the late Col
lector. Respectfully submitted,
DIR. b. CLAVERIE,
FREDERICK DUFFEL.
DR.. B. Clayerie in the chair.
On motion of +. Duffel, duly seconded
the following resolution was adopted:
/ Resolved, That Mr.. A. Bercegeay be and
| he is hereby appointed accountant TO make
q thorough examination OF all the books,
vouchers, accounts, records and papers of
the Collectors and Treasurer's office, exhib-
iting the receipts and expenditures OF the
, public moneys and concerning all moneys
paid into and out of the Treasury since the
last final settlement of any OF the Town Col
lectOrs, in order to ascertain what Collector
it any is in default and the amount of such
defalcatiOn.
Be IL further resolced That it is hereby
made the duty of the Treasurer to place at
his disposal on demand all such books, pa
pers, vouchers, etc., as he may require for
the above purpose.
Be it further resolred, That said account
ant for his said services shall receive rea-
sonable compensation. to be determined by
the Common Council according to the nature
and value of said services.
Mayor Duffel in the chair.
The following report was presented, re,
ceived and adopted:
DoNALDsoNvILLE, May 81, 1877.
To the Hon. the Mayor and Council. town
, of DOnaldsonville
f Genlemcn-In compliance with your in
structions, conveyed in resolution adopted
by your Hon. body ON the 10Th inst, we
: have thoroughly Investigated the subject of
} the present salaries, fees and cOmpensations
allowed to the several officers and Aldermen
of the town of Donaldsonyille, with a view
of aseertaining what reductions could be
f effected without impairing proper and eff
Gent administration of the government Of
the town, and row beg leave to report as
to the result of our investigation that We
are of the opinion that the amount allowed
) under existing ordinances to said officers
for the services they are required to render,
is exhorbitant and beyond all reason, and
. greatly in excess of what in proportion to
The annual revenues of the town and the
value of those services, it ought reasonably
to be.
Thus the recordsshow US that those officers
were allowed and paid for the year ending
the 31st December, 1876. the sum of $2i56,
while the whole amount of the corporation
tax and licenses collected for the same year
is considerably under $4,000. IL the list OF
9 officers we dot include the Coroner, Clerk Of
Court, Sheriff and keeper of the parish Jail
I the Supervisor of Registration, bis clerk