Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09
MAYOR PECK INAUGURATED.
DISCUSSES CITY AFFAIRS IN A BUSl-
NESS-Llke MESSAGE.
VI. j. Gutchell President OF the Board of
Aldermen City Omoials Elected and
Standing Committees Appointed
Two Intsresting Contests.

The new city government was organized
Monday afternoon. All the aldermen were
present and City Clerk Allen administered
the oath of office. Alderman IL. j. Clutch
ell was unanimously elected president and
in taking the chair briefly thanked the
members for their expression of conf
dence. The resignation of G. d. Wright
as water commissioner was read and ac-
cepted. Aldermen Goodell and Shea were
appointed committee to notify Mayor
Peck of the organization of the board.
They did so and appeared with the new
mayor who spoke as follows:
Gentlemen :--Before entering upon my
official duties ] wish to express my APP
probation of the valuable services rem
dered the city by Mr.. Van Patten during
the two years past. He has given freely
of his time to tho city and has discharged
the duties Of his Office with acknowledged
ability. He and his associates will, ] am
sure, receive the sincere thanks Of their
constituents for their faithful services.
Mayor Peck then delivered his message
In which he favors the continuance OF
permanent work upon our streets, IN ac-
cordance with the expressed intention oil
our citizens when the city bonded foi
such Improvement; recommends that
twenty miles of cement pipe he replaced by
iron pipe during a period of five years
advocates the construction of lateral sew
erS in the north part of the city; recon
mends that fire wardens inspect buildings
in the business portion of the city once q
month instead of annually; suggests the
sale of the city poor farm, and makes
other recommendations.
In conclusion Mayor Peck said:
The city has taken no backward steI
and we must suffer none to be taken thi.
year. Gratifying progress has been mad,
in nearly all of the departments of tho
city. We are here not to retard the city'l
progress but to accelerate Il. We must
however keep the expenditures of cacl
department within its appropriation. Pro
vision will have to be made to pay ou
floating debt and the current expenses o
the year but we should strive to keep tn
rate of taxation as low as possible. W.
can be prudent and at the same time pro
gressive. Public improvements shoul,
keep pace with the demands of the peopl
and the needs of the city. In all things
however, we should practice the strctes
| economy consistent with the cty's bes
interest. Faithful service will be demand
ed of us: efficient service we Will try L
render. We may differ in our judgmen
| in respect to methods. but we SHOULD
agree In action. l shall wish to cooper
ate with you in all things proper for tn
Mayor to take part in, to the end that gu
administration of the city's affairs ma.
be both prudent and efficient
! The message was accepted. placed on III
and ordered published in the next city re
port. The rules of the last Board wer
made the rules of the present Board unit
! others should be adopted. The Boar;
then took recess until after the meeting
! of the City Council, when they took
second recess until 1880 p. IN.