The Portland daily press., 1882-02-20
DEERING.
The New Plan for Tow Government
Abandoned.

There was quite large gathering at Lewis
Hall Saturday evening to hear the report Oh
the committee on municipal reform.
The meeting was called to order by COL d
M. Adams and on motion N. Smart, Esq., was
made chairman.
The report of a majority of the committee
was then read, as follows:
MAJORITY REPORT.
The committee appointed at meeting OF citi
zens to consider and present some plan for I'M
provement in the administration OF the atairs
of the town, having attended to that duty, beg
leave to submit the following report:
The committee, on looking over the ground'
find that the occasion for this movement seems
to have arisen from some dissatisfaction, on the
part of many ciJizens at the present system OF
administering the affairs of the town. 1t is felt
that system which may be adequate 10 tne
needs of a purely agricultural community uoeS
not meet the demands of a community largely
composed of suburban villages, and that whiie
the form of to n government cannot be dispens-
ed with in our case, and all the privileges OF
city are not to be expected the fact OF the exis-
tence of q large village population, paving
large proportion of the taxes, should not De ig
nored in the administration of town atfalrs. "A
mutual spirit of concession and accommodation
between the farming population and the VII
lage communities, it is believed, would result
in benefits to both classes.
The suggestions made to the committee point,
first, to the necessities of more uniform system
in the improvement of the great thoroughfares
of the town, in which all are alike Interested
1t is believed that these main avenues might pc
SO improved as to add not only to the faculty. Oh
travel, but to the attractiveness OF the town,
thereby promoting the increase OF It's wealth.
and population.
Secondly, it is felt that in the administration
of the sums voted by the town for the improve
ment of roads, and for other purposes, the citi-
zens should have an opportunity Tor nearing
before the Selectmen previous to the taking OF
measure which may involve the expenditure OF
large sums of money. As 1t is now nothing Is
heard of contemplated movements on the part
of the Selectmen until they are some day sud
denly put into force, often to the annoyance OF
citizens most interested in the matter.
To obviate these objections and complalnts,
to some extent it is urged that the locaton OF
the office of the Selectmen and Town CLERK
should be changed to one of greater accessl6lll-
ty to a large portion of the population. The
present location of these offices is remote from
the main thoroughfares of travel, and not east
ly reached by many. 1t is thought that IN their
location greater regard should be mad 20 the
centre of population, and to general accesslDill-
ty, than to the geographical centre OF the town.
Then again, the present hours of meeting are
very inconvenient to large class OF citizens.
A considerable portion of our population have
business engagements in the neighDoring city
during each secular day, and it is difficult Tor
them to to give half day to a visit to the town
house; whereas, were the meeting held IN the
evening, they would find time to consult with
the Selectmen to the advantage OF their own
affairs, and those of the town generally
1t is also urged that to secure the services OF
citizens of experience and business ability on
q. IL - xrrnn fr0tr
nature of their private affairs cannot give their
time during the day to the public service, Inc
meeting of the board should be held In the eve
ming; and also that there should be larger
representation of all the interests of the town,
the number of selectmen should be increased
to seven. 1t is proposed that the board thus
chosen should serve without pay, the carrying
out of the measures perfected by them being
left to the paid officers of the town. 1t has been
urged on the one part, that it would De DIM
cult to find seven competent citlzens VINO
would serve without pay. On the other hand
it is replied that no difficulty is found IN cities
in inducing competent citizens to serve as ale
dermen and common councilmen without pay,
and it is believed that the citizens OF TINS town
are not SO lacking in public spirit as to be una
BILE to furnish seven of their number who would
give some portion of their time to the conduct
OF public affairs. 1t is felt that, st all events,
the experiment is worth the trying.
In view of these considerations the committee
have cast about them to find some method OF
meeting these complaints, and improving the
administration of town officers within the linn
its of our system of town government. Ihey
offer the following propositions not as an 1nfall-
ible remedy for the defects complained OF, but
as coming nearest to the public demands IN
the matter.
The committee beg leave to suggest, in adj
vance, that no system of town government Will
give general satisfaction where the voters do
not attend to their duties as citizens, that
those who are absorbed in their private AFFAIRS,
or SO Indifferent to the public good, that they
cannot attend town meeting one day IN the
year, have little right to complain of the ad-
ministration of affairs, and that for the sue
cess of this, or any other scheme of improve
ment, it is necessary sthat citizens should not
stand outside and grumble, but should enser
heartily into its administration
First, as to the location of the town offices,
the committee were agreed that their location
at Woodford's Corner would convenience the
larger number of citizens, that LOCALITY being
easily accessible by horse cars, and near the
centersof population.
AS to the increase of the number of select
men to seven there was not such unanimlty OF
opinion, one or more of the members being
strongly of the opinion that three IS the more
efficient number. In view OF the TACT, how
ever, that the number seven has been urged py
many citizens, as receiving wider range OF
experience and ability, the committee, or the
majority of it, offer the following plan:
That the board of selectmen shall consist OF
seven members, chosen with reference to the
representation OK the various citizens OF the
town and that they shall serve without pay.
That the board shall chsose chairman, who
shall preside lover its meetings, and have
general observation-disclosures of the administration
of the affairs which were within control OF the
board.
That the board shall act as overseers OF the
poor as whole, or by committee, as they may
elect
That the board shall have charge of all mat
ter which usually come within the control Oh
the selectmen.
That it shall hold stated meetings once a
month"; in the evening OF some secular DAY,
and special meetings shall be called by the
chairman or be held by adjournment OF the
stated meetings, as the business OF the town
may require.
That the board shall give notice, through
the public prints, or by written or printed
notices posted up IN public places, Oh any IN
tended action in the expenditure OF appropria-
tions, that those interested may appear at a
meeting of the board and present their views
thereon
That the board shall elect commissioner of
roads, who shall execute under It's direction
the measures adopted by the board Tor the I'M
provement of roads.
That the town shall elect town clerk,
treasurer and collector in one person, who
shall be salaried officer, and shall be required
to be in his office during certain hours on the
afternoon of every secular day In the year,
holidays excepted, to attend to the receipt OF
taxes thus to be paid, and such other duties
as pertain to his office.
That the town clerk shall act as recording
secretary of the board of selectmen, and shall
also assist the board of assessors in their cleri-
cal work.
That the town shall elect beard OF three
assessors, who shall make the valuation Of
property and assess the taxes
1t is further suggested that should this meet
ing see fit to accept any, or all, of these provi
sions, they may be put into the form OF by
laws, and under an article in the warrant be
presented to the town for its action at the ap
preaching town meeting
All of which is respectfully submitted
FRED o. BAILEY,
EDWARD FL. ELwELL.
JOHN M. ADAMS.
A minority report was offered by Mr.. George
B. Leavitt, as follows
MINORITY REPORT.
To the meeting of citizens Of Deeri'ag to be held
at Leaois Hall, Woodford's, on Saturday eoe
ming, Feb. IS, 1882:
The undersigned, minority of the "com
| mittee on municipal reform in the town o.
| Deering so-called, would report that they have
| attended to the matter referred to them SO fal
| as they have been able
| They have found few expressions of dissatis
| faction with the present system OF town admin
| istratiou or of desire for change
| With regard to the Monday sessions of thu
| Selectmen, Assessors and OverseerS of tht
Poor thew conclude from the testimony of pas