Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-21
Board of Public Works.

The Contract for Cleaning and Repair
ing Streets Under Consideration-The
City Engineer Instructed to Advertise
for Bids.
A special meeting of the Board of Public
Works was held last evening. Present, His
Honor the Mayor, presiding, Msssrs. Pond,
Coleman, Joyce, Feldman, Sargent and Gill
bert.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss
the proposed plan of cleaning and repairing
the streets of the city by contract, as sug-
gested by committee of which Mr.. Joyce
was chairman. At a meeting held on the
evening of February the committee report
ed form of plans and specifications which
we're prepared under their direction by Engi-
neer Fowler. These forms were ordered
printed so that each member of the Board
might have copy before him when the mat
ter came up for final action.
At the opening of last evenings session
| there was considerable dilatorv discussion.
Finally Mr.. Pond made motion to indefi-
nitely postpone the whole matter on the
ground that it would dispense with many
poor laborers who are now at work ON the
| streets. He said that in many of the districts
proposed to be farmed out (for instance the
| ELEVENTH. the contractor would not be re-
| quired half of his time in doing the work
and when an emergency arises the contracto,
| has gone to Saratoga Or somewhere else and
| cannot be found. Hs was satisfied that un
der the contract system the streets would not
| be kept in good condition and there would be
| more complaint under that system than even
| before
Mr.. Sargent combatted the position, taken
| by Mr.. Pond and claimed that the streets
would be better cared for under the proposed
| system.
! Mr. Feldman suggested that perhaps il
would be well to try the experiment on the
| nine original squares.
The motion of Mr.. Pond to indefinitely
| postpone was lost.
| Mr.. Pond then moved to strike out all in
the specifications except that relating to the
| original nine squares of the city lost.
Several amendments offered by Mr.. Joyce
in regard to the time of commencing anc
closing the contracts, were adopted.
| The question of disposal of street scrap
ings came up, and Mr. Pond urged the poin
that the same should not be given to the con
tractor, but should be used to protect the
East street and Meadow street sewers.
| Mr.. Sargent said the city could not protect
| these sewers in that way, or in any way wher
the filling was liable to wash into and fill uk
| the harbor. If they attempted to do SO he
| would procure an injunction with the leas
possible delay.
| Mr.. Pond said he would like to see the
thing tried for other reason than to see
a city officer fighting the city while trying te
protect its own property
After further debate and changes in plans
| and specifications, Messrs. Sargent and Pont
were appointed a committee to consult with
the Corporation Counsel in regard to some
legal points and the City Engineer was in
| structed to advertise for bids for street clean
ing and repairs, to be opened on Wednesday
| evening, March Sth. The real purpose O.
this action is to ascertain what it will cost tt
clean and keep the streets in repair, tn,
Board reserving the right to reject any Or al
bids.