Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-12
Board of Selectmen.

l Work Gn Winfergreen Avenue-Abate- i msnt of Taxes of James Say-Selectmen ! English, Reynolds and Feldman App 1 pointed as q Supply Purchasing Conn l m1ttee-An Informal Discussion About l Town Agents.
 All the Selectmen except Town Agent Rey- ! holds were present at their regular meeting | last evening
 The Committee on Roads and Bridges rec- l omended that the rocks on Wintergreen avenue be blasted away and that the road be 1 filled up and graded far as Harrison's pond.
 The committee on the abatement of l taxes reported as follows about the James Say matter: Mr. Say owes to the city, town l and school taxes from 1876 to 1883, amount ing to $500. He owns real estate on Lombard street worth about $6, 900 with l mortgage encumbrancs of $4,OOO. He en- listed in the army from this State, has honorable discharge, and receives small pension. He is sick and unable to work. Dr. Chapman gives it as his opinion that he
 will never be sble to work again. He agrees to pay one half of his entire indebtedness
 and this would enable him to retain his prop
 erty and make living for his
 family. The following recommendation
 was adopted: That the towns portion of
 the taxes of James Say for the years 1875 to
 1882 inclusive be absted if the said Say shall
 have paid within 60 days one-half of the
 principal, interest and liens standing against
 him on the books of the collector of taxes in
 favor of the town of New Haven for the
 above named years.
 The special committee on the purchase of
 supplies recommended that standing com
 mittee of three should purchase supplies for
 the almshouse and farm by contract and that
 4I. ho fT,otr tad n
 to the committee on the first
 Tuesday evening of each month,
 or oftener if necessary, list of what may be
 wanted The recommendation WAS adopted
 and Selectmen English, Reynolds and Feld- man were appointed as such committee.
 The board while waiting for the keys to the safe, which Mir. Reynolds had indulged in an informal talk MT. Treat said that he had word to say in regard to the town agent He said: T don't believe the town agent has ever been elected by the board This board has not elected any town agent. Simply putting his name on the tickets and electing him by popular major ity doesn't make him town agent. It is no reason why we should submit to Mir. Rey- holds being town agent because preceding boards have. believe we have no legal town agent That office is the creature of the Selectmen They can elect one Of their own members or go outside"
 Mir. Feldman: "Three years ago this same | matter was brought up and Mir. Reynolds ob- l iected to being elected by the board. We elected him and he submitted under protest. 1 Two years ago Iaeain brought up the matter, | but on Mr. Reynolds motion it was indefn- itely postponed. So far as can understand ! the law the Selectmen should elect him."
 Mr Beecher read from the general statutes | of the State of Connecticut to show that in | the absence of any special appoint. menE the first Selectman should be | town agent. "I am told that the thing | originated by a scheme for effect in the Republican party and that the Democrats got wind of it and also put the town agents name on their ticket. Since then the town agent has been elected by the people.
 Mir. English "I have looked through the statutes for any provision for town agent, but could find none. I have also asked for opinions and the parties asked said that it was no way to do for the board not to elect the town agent. In 1877 the Corporation Counsel decided that the Selectmen should elect their own town agent
 Considerable discussion followed. Select man Feldman said that the town could elect a clerk of the board as well as an agent if they chose. At this point a messenger ar rived with the keys and the Sslectmen went to work approving bills. The application of William Wrinn, 1O9 Orchard street, for abatement of taxes was referred.