The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-13
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
COMMON COUNCIL Room, !
Owosso Eeh'v q 1SSh
l70 ts Cutia'lca.l


Owosso, Feb'y9, 1885.
Regular meeting Of the Common Coun
Gil of the City Of Owosso.
Present, Aid. Dawes, Friesckc, Jones.
Keylc, Mat lock. Wolverion and Tit
comb also Clerk Turner
AS The Mayor was absent, motion was
made and adopted that Aid. Titcomb ACT
rs Chairman of the meeting. which he re-
fused to do. Motion was then made and
adopted that Aid. Wolverton take the
Chair for the evening.
Minutes Of last meeting read and ap.
proved, with the exception Of The name OF
of those tax payers who had told the com.
mttee on Ways and Means that they were
in favor of building new engine house and
Council room.
The following acnounlS were presented
and referred TO the committee on Claims
and Accounts:
TIMES Printing Co, s 13 90
Dewey g. Stewart 81
A. X. Giles. 10 25
l.. e. Woodard, 220 Al
Isaac Parker. 8 rs
j. Il. Wulverlon, 2 90
r. Campbell. 10 80
Clerk Turner presented the following
veto, which was filed in his Office Feb. Sd,
1886; which upon motion was laid on The
table;
To all whom il may concern: TAKE NO.
TICE: That the Resolution and action Of
the Common Council of the City of Owos.
so, adopted and had ut u meeting OF said
Common Council, held on the second day
of February, A d. 1885, and relating 10
the acceptance and adoption Of the report
Of the committee OF said Common Council
or Public Buildings. aud the contracting
by such committee in behalf Of said City,
with one Burnett for the building of an
Engine House and City Hall for said City,
and the immediate operation of such Reso.
luton and action. is hereby suspended.
Dated February I'd, 1885.
DAVID M. EsTEY,
Mayor Of City of Owosso, Michigan.
REASONS,
The expenditure is an unreasonable and
extravagant outlay, far beyond the pres
cnt needs of our city; and in my views u
ring has been formed to accomplish your
unreasonable ends, regardless of any jus
tice reason or common dccency to honest
taxpayers or to your oath of Office, as the
proceedings show for themselves
First-By being determined and express
ing it by your vote to let the Job to the
highest bidder, by four hundred and fifty
dollars, and after so doing, before the veto
previously made had been placed before
you, you planned secret meeting-con-
trary to n former understanding and unbe-
known to all the Council opposed to the
hall and against the Mayors protest--and
then again voted for the committee on Pub
lie Buildings to let the job TO construct the
hall; which in my opinion was an illegal
meeting and that action of no effect
The records of your meeting of Jan.
10Th, show in particular no business done.
except pressing to gain your point and ac-
complish your sworn end
Second-At the meeting of Jan. Goth.
there was petition in favor of the build
ing Of n city hall, as per the plans and
specification, signed by 104 citizens-rep-
resenting about one tenth of present grand
list-after diligent labor of the Aldermen
themselves in circulating the petitions
| There was also laid before you at the same
meeting petition of remonstrancc against
so extravagant an outlay. and praying that
a reasonable and suitable building might
be built to cover present needs; said peti-
ton was signed by 297 humble taxpayers.
said to represent 80 per cent of the present
tax roll. Both petitions were referred To
the committee on Ways and Means, and
were never afterward reviewed by the
committee--yOu so stated at the last Coun-
Gil meeting, Feb. 2d-but submitted the
contract made with Burnett for construct
ing the hall for S5,00000, and voted to
accept the contract, rs the records show,
i'm place of advertising for bids in proper
and legal way for public work-all of this
last mentioned before the report of the
committee on Ways and Means had been
made on either petition, which in my view
is an outrage and an insult to honest tax.
payers that signed these petitions.
Petitions of such magnitude as these.
signed by honest, candid minded men.
deserve reasonable consideration and hon
est treatment.
A summary of all these facts fully sub
stantiatc in my mind that desire to ac-
complish your unreasonable and unjust
end regardless of the views of the great
majority Of our citizens, is too great
wrong TO receive my sanction.
pray you in all future business during
the period of the present Council, to con
slider your actions well and try TO serve the
greater number with wisdom and reason
| able economy. ID. M. EsTEy,
Mayor.
The committee on Claims and Accounts
reported back upon accounts referred 70
them rs above stated, with the exception
of account of l.. L. Woodland, Which re-.
port was accepted. Unanimous consent
was given, the accounts allowed. and or
dcrs dawn for the same, ayes nays 0.
| On motion the Council adjourned
JEROME f. TURNER,
/ City Clerk