The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-20
1T WAS A STORMY SESSION
TOHN AGENT BALDWIN rs .ASSAILED
BY THE DEMOCRATS.


one. The opposition of the democratic
minority to the recent workings of the
board was made very evident
The applications of Drs. Arthur O.
Baribault and George F. Converse for
appointment as town physicians were
received and placed on file.
Petitions from residents of Main street,
Westville, and Alden street, asking that
these thoroughfares be repaired, were
received and referred to the committee
on roads and bridges.
Town Counsel Goodhart presented to
the board charters and consolidation
acts that had been proposed by the
cities of Hartford and Waterbury, con-
solidating the town and city govern
ments.
Town Agent Baldwin moved that Mr..
Goodhart be instructed to make digest
of the plans for consolidation in the
above mentioned cities, and submit his
plans to the board at future meeting.
4hi+ IoIGAAIEAQCI Sttlds w AciI lEf lilc
object OF the town counsel in bringing
these things hefore us? Mr.. Chairman,
this is republican scheme to defeat
the new city charter, and then secure
consolidation by fritting away the time
between now and the date set down fol
the consolidation and the new charter.
I'VE come in here and instruct some
body to prepare a digest, then take a
couple of weeks more to consider it,
and thus the time eiapses, the new
charter will be thrown down, and we
selectmen, who voted unanimously to
oppose consolidation, will see some
scheme go through before our eyes"
Town Agent Baldwin said in reply
I'VE were instructed by the town meet
ing to favor consolidation, and we ought
to look over an plans proposed for the
large Connecticut towns before we fol
low the Instructions of the town meet
ing"
Some members of this board are
trimmels," said Mr.. Bretzfelder. "Thay
voted to oppose consolidation, and since
then have signed petitions asking for
consolidation"
The question was called and passed
and Mr. Bretzfelder launched forth in
another storm of denunciation againet
in general in the board.
He said that the minority was entitle
to representation in every committee
of the board and that he didn't propose
TO sit still like a bottle or a blockhead
and see things slide past without being
allowed a voice.
He also stated that he was on the
outside poor committee. and he had an
agreement with the other members of
the committee that no work tickets
should be given out without the full
vote of the board, but he understood
that Mr. Baldwin had been giving out
tickets without consulting me. 1t had
been the plan to give out fifteen tickets
per week, but as may as thirty-five had
been put on at times without his con
sent or knowledge. He also added that |
some of these bills would be approved by |
The finance committee, of which b -'as
4 member
Mr.. Bretzfelder further declared that |
1 novice had taken Engineer Mccoy |
,rn's place at Springside farm, and that |
his fact would cost the town a neat |
sum for repairs,
Town Agent Baldwin answered that |
here was such thing as biting off |
more than one could chew If Mr.. |
would take one thing at |
4 time they would treat the subject |
For instance, if he had said that the
own agent didn't know anything, they
,ould talk about it, but when he called |
he whole board bad and don't have
AI,4 h,,4 ~.
lie mixed them all up a little.
MIR. Baldwin then explained the sys-
EN- of giving out work tickets and
laid in reply to the claims that too
labor had been employed
n the administration of town affairs
hat he thought that the facts that
here We're valuable horses and other
'allrable town property We're to be
ared for and stone crushing and drill
ng were necessary, made it advisable
o pay in some cases higher wages
han had been paid the past year.
Selectman Cunningham then inquired
{ 1T was true that several new wagons
ad been purchased by Town Agent
Baldwin without the consent of the
oard as a whole or of the proper COM
littees. Mr.. Baldwin said that the
wagons had been bought and Mr.. Gun
ingham after thanking him for the
remarked that that was
he only way he could get any informa-
ion to the doings of the selectmen
lie also stated that about 81, 300 had
cen spent since Mr.. Baldwin entered
n his Office without the knowledge of
he board.
Mr.. Baldwin answered that the books
,ere free for the inspection of any
lembers of the board at any time.
II don't propose to inquire about the
of buying these horses
r teams" continued Mr.. Bretzfelder,
Or why you put a telephone into your
rivate residence at the towns ex-
ense. But / just want to inquire to
Ill the attention of the board to the
lct that Mr., Baldwin last year stood G
ut for referring these things to com l
ittees and now does them without
,ferring them" t
Town Agent Baldwin denied that any
lch amount as $1,000 had been ex- r
ended for horses and trucks. a
Selectman Brown at this point said I
rat they had q town agent thoroughly $
,mpetent to look out for these things I
I'D he was in favor of letting him I
} it,
Mr.. Bretzfelder thought that If that 8