The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-01
AMENDING THECHARTER
ELKTON TAXPAYERS VOTE
DOWN A BOND ISSUE.
Ask For Several Important Amendments
10 the Charter Exemption From
Road Tax Wanted And Dogs
Will Pay Tribute in Tax.

! The attendance at the adjourned meeting
/ uE the taxpayers of Elkton held in Council
| .ali, North street, on Monday night was
| large, but not rs many by half were present
as were on the night when the question of
town Improvement came up for the first time.
The meeting of Monday night was repre-
sentative one in every respect and the busi-
ness of the evening was considered in II busi-
moss way. The general committee upon the
matter of town improvement in its every
detail made Il concise and well framed report,
which was submitted in type written form,
aud read by Mr.. Frank II. Scott, chairman of
| the committee.
General Chairman Reuben Il. lamar pre-
sided when order was called at eight o'clock,
and Secretary William ID Bratton was in that
position. In opening the meeting Mr. Jamar
stated that the next proceeding was Il very
| Important matter for the taxpayers the
| passing upon the report Of the committee
| which would be then presented. He sug-
"ested that the report be read first in it.,
entirety and then by sections, and then passed
upon by vote as the sections were read
COMMITTEE REPORT.
In speaking of the subject of municipal GOV
crnment and the best methods OF town i'm
pfovement as applicable to Elkton, the COM
mittee made the following report:
In accordance with the instructions of Il
majority of the committee. | beg loave to
make the following report:
Your committee appointed sub. committee
OF five members to visit different towns for
the purpose of informing the committee of
the methods employed by progressive towns
in securing necessary and desirable improve
mcnts.
Different members of the committee visited
Collingswood and Freehold, n. j., Media,
Pa Smyrna and Dover. Del. In all Of these
towns the committee found Il bonded debt OF
considerable proportions, but in every case
the town owned the water works, which rep
resented large portion of the bonded debt
As Il result of such investigation your com
mite" IS Of the opinion that complete sewer
system, either separate or combined is not
practicable in Elkton on account of the cost
thereof being entirely beyond our mears.
some members of the committee are of tLe
opinion chat even if the cost were within our
means a sewer system is not desirable
In all of the towns visited the cost of side
walks, including curbing, is levied upon the
aouttlnS property owner, and in some towns
the cost OF gutter plates is also paid by such
owner
The pOmmittpe of bn ,i,in I,
an essential condition of any substantial,
progress that this provision should be adopted
in Elkton, for without it any permanent
street improvements are well nigh impossible.
The committee are Of the opinion that all
property within the town limits should b.,
exempt from county tax for roads. which
would enable us to have a town tax rate OF
fifty to sixty cents, without increasing mate
rally the present burden of taxation upon
our property. The present rate is thirty-nvc
cents and the gross revenue of the town last
year was $4,000; the county paid to town $500
total gross revenue $500.
If the tax rate is made sixty cents, on tn,
present basis OF assessment, the total gros.
revenue would be IS 400, which would max,
gain in the revenue of the town SO 900 ovel
last year.
The fixed charges of the town amounted
last year to about $4,000. leaving only 81 ,SOl
, for street repairs and incidentals. That tn,
income of the town is insufficient is showI
by the fact that, Notwithstanding the bad con
, dtion of our streets, the town has foatin,
, debt of about 9230O which must be provide,
; for.
majority of the committee also recon
mend the issue of bonds, under certain re
strictions. not to exceed $40 900. Tor improve,
: roadways and other permanent Improvements
They also recommend to the commissioner
to have an accurate survey OF the street
made establishing the grade lines thereof anc
curb lines, to which future improvements o
, streets ard sidewalks shall conform.
; They are also of the opinion that no perna
nent improvements of the streets can be ac
I complished except after careful and extended
, investigation, and upon II plan approved by
competent engineer.
A recommendation is also made that tb,
, town have the power to collect town taxes b,
the same process employed by the county il
the collection Of taxes.
In order that thu meeting may act upon tn,
, recommendations of this report they ar,
hereto appended in separate resolutions a.
J follows:
FIXING TOWN LIMITS
) Section Section First, as follows. wa.
read separately, and upon motion of Mr.
Scott seconded by Mr.. William s. Evans, was
, adopted:
|. That the limits of the town be definitely
fixed by the charter.
COLLECTION OF TAXES.
!, SECTION Adopted on motion of Mr.
Scott:
9. That Section 143 b OF the charter b,
amended 50 as to give the town the authsrit,
10 collect town taxes in the same manner Al
state an county taxes are collected in Ceci
county.
EXEMPTION FROM COUNTY ROAD TAN.
Sertion 3-Section three respecting the
Exemption OF the town from county road tal
was passed, the sentiment being unanimous
in its favor.
3. That in consideration OF caring for the
roads and highways within its limit, the
town shall hereafter be exempt from county
| taxation for roads within its corporate limits