Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-03
SEWER AND ROAD BOARDS.

CITY Attorney Burpee's Opinion in
Regard to Grading Near Baldwin Street
Bridge.
The regular monthly meeting of the
road and sewer boards was held last
evening.
The sewer board voted that a sewer be
constructed on Union street at an esti-
mate cost of about $4,000. 1t was also
voted to ask the common council for an
appropriation OF 80, 900 to complete this
and other work.
1t was voted to lay assessments on all
the property owners where sewers have
been put in on Spencer avenue, North
Leonard East Main, Aver, Baldwin and
Welton streets. They will be given a
hearing at the next meeting.
The city engineer reported that the
Peter Morgan middle had been settled
satisfactorily without any loss to the
city and that }. w. Gatfney would COM
plete the work left undOne by Morgan.
The action of the engineer was ratified.
The board then adjourned.
In the road board it was voted to re-
scind all votes concerning Vine and
French streets and to give the property
owners there permission to widen the
streets if they will hold the city free
from all expense.
The opinion of the city attorney on
| the BALDWIN SCTeeG approaches was lettu
and referred to the council with the
suggestion that the work be done as
recommended.
| The city engineer was instructed to
bring in an estimate of the expense of
changing the course Of Little brook on
Pearl street.
There was considerable discussion
over widening South Main street at J.
B. Mullings' building and taking the
| II fl lX
voted to cut Off the first story of the
building and erect a truss.
1t was recommended that Bank street
be widened at the Brooklyn bridge, and
that Edward and Seymour streets be
laid out and building line established.
The estimate of grading Drayer ave-
nue., as furnished by the city engineer, lis
81, 375. The property owners will be
given a hearing at the next meeting of
the board.
The grade of Burnham street as pre-
sented by the city engineer was adopted.
1t was voted to cite in the property
owners on South Main street from
Meadow street to the Mad river and on
Meadow street from South Main to Bank
streets on the matter of paving said
streets with Belgian blocks.
The board then adj jOurned.
City Attorney Rurpee's opinion on the
Baldwin street matter is as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Road Com
missiOners:
Gentlemen: On the 9th of August l
received from the clerk of your board a
copy of the vote passed at your last
meeting requesting me to submit to you
my opinion of "what course shall be
pursued to cause the necessary work to
be done on Baldwin street at the east
erlV approach from the Mad river" In
: reply to that request l have to say:
| understand that previous to the
time when the Meriden & Waterbury
! Railroad company took possession of the
easterly bank of the Mad river, this CITY
} had satisfactory street of full width
extending to the easterly abutment OF
! the bridge over that river. The bridge
at that time was some feet narrower
than this street. The railroad company
found it necessary to raise this bridge
and the town of Waterbury thought ii
advisable to take advantage of the op.
; portunity to make the bridge of the
same width as the street. 1t is admitted
r by every one that the widening of this
, bridge was benefit to the
adjoining property owners and the
: public in general, and that the
change in grade made by the
' railroad is the cause of all the trouble
: Nevertheless, although they seem to bt
the sole beneficiaries of the raising OF
the bridge, the railroad company has re
fused to fill in the easterly approach
> over the full width of the street, anc
contend that they are required to dc
= such work only to the width of the
q original bridge.
understand from conversation will
, the city clerk and Mr. Terry that the
= city asked the railroad commissioners t.
= decide whether the work done by the
)" railroad fulfilled the requirement, anc
that the decision of these commissioner
was adverse to the city. On wha
ground such a decision was rendered i
1 is hard to understand.
Under these circumstances, the city
. must complete the work, if it is to b.
done at all, and leave the courts to de
eide who shall pay the resulting dam
3 ages. If any property owner is injured
he has abundant remedy and can, if h'
will, assist the city in an attempt t.
make the railroad company settle, as i
ought to have done long ago, for the
damage it has caused in obtaining it,
, own ends. Respectfully submitted,
r RITRPEE Ctitv Attorpau