Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-10
THE. poAnD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
A Long Discussion on Its Duties, By
the Charter Committee

A Long Discussion on Its Duties, BY |
the Charter Committee
The charter revision committee held
another interesting meeting last evening.
Section Al relating to the proposed board
of public works, was brought up for dis
cussion. The section provides that the
board of aldermen shall elect an alder
man as member of the board, the board
of councilmen a councilman and that
the mayor shall appoint the two other
members, one from each of the leading
political parties. Mr. Chase objected to
the last sentence, claiming that it barred
out mugwumps, prohibitionists etc. Mr.
Kilduff "said he thought the section did
not treat fairly all citizens of different
political beliefs. 1t Disseminated in
favor of the republican and democratic
parties" He moved that the sentence
| "from one of the leading parties" be
stricken out. His motion was adopted.
| For the sake of consistency the clause
providing for vacancies further ON in
the section reading: said appointment
shall be made from the political party
formerly represented by the person
whose place on said board is to be filled"
was also expunged. The section was
then adopted.
Section As, relating to the powers of
the board and the departments which it
shall control was then considered.
Mr. Welton was ne in favor of includ
ing the water board in the department.
He said: 81 am not in favor of the
water department being included in the
departments to be controlled by tho
board of public works. In all other
cities where a board of public works
exists the water department is under a
separate management. 1 believe that
the interests of the city will be best SUBJ
served by having the water department
under a separate management. The
water board is a revenue department
and in that manner differs from the
others. / move that all the portion of
this section referring to the water board
be stricken out"
Mr. Coughlan wanted to know if the
members of the board of public works
were to receive salary. He thought
that if they were to be paid they ought
to be able to take care of the water de.
partment alcng with the rest.
MIR Terry favored clipping their wings
if the board was to be partisan, but if it
be minority representation he favored
including the police, fire and water
boards.
Mr. Welton said that if all go in he
he would not object to the water board
being included. Mr. Chase said If it is
positively felt that the motion of Mr.
kildutf, which seconded, expunging
the provision that the mayor should APP
point the two outside members of the
board from each of the leading political
parties would shut out a minority re-
presentation, would like to move to re-
consider. l had no idea of such thing.
/ merely wished to make provision for
people who We're not dyed in the W DOL
! members of either of the great parties. >"
A motion by Mr. Chase that section Al,
as amended, be reconsidered was then
/ 20 81.
ton as printed was then passed.
After much debate the section was
adopted as it originally stood.
!; In discussing section 4S Mr. Burpee
objected to including the police depart
ment, On the ground that it is not a de-
partment of public work and is depart
ment peculiar to itself. After much
discussion it was voted to include the
; police, fire and lamps and gas depart
!. ments. On motion of Mr. Chase the
board of health was also included. Mr.
; Terry moved that the whole section be
tabled to be re-drafted in accordance
with the several changes. The motion
J was adopted.
Section 40, powers of the board of
public works to lay out and construct
public squares, parks, streets, bridges,
etc, was then taken up.
Mr. Coughlan objected to the last
clause of the section, which provides
that all work except ordinary repairs,
! done by the board, the expense of which
shall exceed $500, shall be done under
, contract.
Mr. Thompson was of the opinion that
if this section was passed as it stood, it
would be great injustice to Waterbury
laborers. IF good deal of this work
J Is done by the city," he said, "the
money will be spent here and be of
benefit to the city" On motion of Mr.
Welton the part of the section relating
to this matter was stricken out and the
section adopted.
Section SO, 81, 90 and SO, 81, 90, SO
and 81 were adopted without making
any changes.
Section So was amended by inserting
the word daily" before newspaper, in
providing for the advertisement of seal
ed proposals for bids of any kind.
Section 80, relative to assessments,
was discussed. The section provides
that if any assessment remains unpaid
more than sixty days after it shall be-
come due, a sum equal to three-fourtbs
addition on the corresponding day of
each subsequent month so long as said
assessment shall remain unpaid
Messrs keenan, and Thompson opposed
such a high rate of interest. Mr.
Keenan's motion that the 60 days grace
be increased to 100 was adopted. Sec.
ton 81, 60, So and "a, relative to the
water board making surveys regulating
the use and distribution and other mat.
tiers relative to that department were
discussed. The board adjourned until
Friday evening.
NICHOLAS sTAUR Is TRUE BLUE.
Gives the Lie to the Report That He
Had Gone Over to the Enemy.