The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-06
Middlebury Town Meeting
WHAT THE TOWN DID AT IT'S ANNrl
GATHERING.

ticcrs were chosen: Moderator, l. d
Eldredge; clerk. l.. f. Knapp; select
men. W II Allen A II Matthews. John
Halliday; treasurer, G Pnnry; over
seer of the poor, Orvis + Comstock; first
constable and collector, VI A Monroe /;
second constable, John NJ Nash; listers.
Philo 5 Severance, Edwin Vallette. G
l. Porter; auditors, j NJ Slade. II NJ Chap
man b ) Bcckwith; trustee. Calvin Hill !;
fence viewers, f Stapleton, DR.. W II
/ Sheldon. NJ Wilds inspector of leath-
er, John Powers; pound-keeper, Dr..
| Sheldon: surveyor of wood and inspect
or of lumber, 1had NJ Chapman; agent.
} NJ Slade; superintendent of schools,
Ezra Brainerd. A tax of IS per cent was
laid, to cover the town expenses and the
county and State taxes. The town sys-
TEN of schools was not adopted. Moth
ing was done relative to the commence
ration of the Tooth anniversary of the
town and county organization, or with
reference to doing of Il room in the base
ment of the town hall for the use of the
Ladies' Library association.
The meeting was called to order soon
after 10 o'clock by Town Clerk l. Z
Knapp, who read the warning. Mr.. Ell
dredge was chosen moderator. and Mr.
Knapp reelected clerk and sworn.
Action on the reports of town officers
being next in order. j l. Buttolph moved
that the reports as printed be accepted,
which was done.
John W Martin made some inquiries.
One amount was put in the report in two
places; and he wanted to know if that in
dictated that it had been paid twice. Mr..
Slade, for the auditors, said it did not.
lie also said, in answer to further ques-
tions from Mr.. Martin. that the auditors
had tried each year TO get in all outstand-
my oils. but that had not always been
practicable.
MIR Upper noticed that bills aggregat-
Ing Sl3lI.l5 had been paid on account of
the town hall and wanted to know
whether this amount was for work done
during the past year. George Hammond
said that all the bills had been presented
since the last annual settlement of the
town, though a part of the work was done
previous to thar date. Replying to other
questions from Mr.. Upper. Mr. Ham
mond said the cost of running the town
hall the past year was something more
than $500. and that the selectmen thought
1t necessary to repair the road on the
Porter hill, and. if anything was done, it
was considered economy to make a
thorough job For the details of the
work ne was responsible, though the
board had advised that the work be I'M
dertalcn.
MIR Martin didn't see why the town OF
Cornwall was not compelled to share the
expense. MIR Hammond reminded him
oil the TACT that the town of Weybridgc
had found it very expensive to attempt to
get help from other towns. and then had
not succeeded.
Mr. ComstOck was of opinion that the
money laid out on Porter hill was well
expended.
ii ) Foote asked how the indebtedness
OF the town had increased from over
SlOOO year ago to over $1,000 Mr. Slade
said 1t was caused by extra OUTLAWS on
highways and by expenditures not pro-
Nlueu Tor III the auditors estimates. He
doubted whether in view of the burden
already upon the town. the selectmen
were justified in doing 80 much extra
work. If they were convinced that il
was required, the better way would have
been TO call the town together and ascer-
tam their opinion. We ought to see to it
that no more money is expended this
year than is absolutely necessary. Mr.
Foote asked also, whether there was
law prohibiting the selcctmen from draw
such law was passed ut the recent SEES
sion.
The town officers reports were then
adopted
AT the suggestion of G NJ Wids. arti-
Gle of the warning, TO elect town otli-
GERS ETC., was laid upon the table; and
article /, 10 lay a tax for the payment
OF outstanding orders on the treasury for
the support OF the poor and all other eX-
penses OF the town for the ensuing wear"
was taken up. Mr. Slade moved that the
selectmen be authorized to raise 80. 800.
had NJ Chapman suggested that the tax
De % cents on the dollar. Mr. WildS
thought it would be better to make it Gs
cents,to cover the State and county taxes
which could then be paid out of the town
treasury. Messrs Slade and Chapman
withdrew their motions and Mr. Wilds'
was carried.
Article >, 80 see if the town will
abolish the district system and adopt the
town system of schools" was next con
sldered. MIR Slade explained the town f,
system. Darius Severance opposed the
adoption OF the town system. and favor
ed waiting awhile to see how it worked
elsewhere. Geo Hammond wished to
know how the cost would be. compared
Nili Ilic present system, l. ID Eldredge
replied that so far as his information
went the expense would be less. District
NO ! Is subject to the same law as other
districts. With our location. the schools
would be bettered under the town sys-
tenn. All in the town could then attend
the central schools without extra cost. !
Vermont has the reputation of having
the worst school system in New Eng
land. Let us abandon it and adopt the |
better town system. j Farr and An |
drew Balm didn't believe in the town sys-
TEN. Darius Severance thought the |
scholars outside the village would not
tare so well under it as they do now. |
Key Mr. Palmer sand the town system
worked well in Massachusetts, but in
Maine town where he had lived it had
caused trouble. Elijah Boyce made an
earnest plea for the established order of
things. The ballot resulted: Whole !
number of votes, 259; yes, %; no, $50.
Article &, TO see if the town will pay
direct from its treasury, by including in |
the amount raised from town purposes
enough to cover the county and State tax
to be paid on or before the first of June