Smyrna times., 1898-03-02
TOWN COUNCIL.
They Finish All Business Pertaining to the
Present Administration and Adjourn
Anthony Stands Treat.

The Town Council held its last
meeting last Friday night under the
present administration and unless the
exigences of the case shall demand
another meeting before a new council
is elected, they have adjourned sine
die. Every member was present at his
post and a mingled JOY and sadness
seemed to pervade the meeting. As
the terms of all expire by ruling of our
Legislature set forth in the new town
charter, possibly but few of the mem
bers of the present Council will he
sitting in the next. President John
H. Hoffecker called the last meeting
to order. Secretary H. S. Anthony
read the minutes. A bill of Edward
Ridgeley, Esq, for $3.50 for profess
s!Onal services against the town was
allowed, after which the rest of the
meeting was taken up in auditing the
accounts of the Treasurer, Alderman,
Opera House and sand Lot, the Presi-
dent appointing the committees.
The Treasurer account, James p.
HOtfecker, treasurer, was audited by
COuncilmen r. L. and A. Lee Cum
minis. During the past fiscal year,
| $11 ,646. 80 has been disbursed with q
balance in the treasury of $3.50. .96. The
committee reported the accounts cor
rect.
The Opera House account, DIR. T. c..
| Moore, chairman, was audited by
COuncilmen w. A. FAIRIES and J. G.
Robinson. The receipts were $2SS. .S6;
the expenses $77.30; paid treasurer
$207.9G. Balance due from the Uni
versity Extension Circle, IS. 10. Money
in hands of the chairman, $3.50
The Alderman's report, w. H..
Baggs, alderman, was audited by
COuncilmen Robinson and Moore.
The receipts were $67OO; expenses
! S11 40; paid treasurer, 500 go.
The Sand Lot, r. l.. Cummins,
chairman, was audited by Councilmen
H. S. Anthony and J. G. Robinson and
showed a total of receipts during the
year of $6.65, which was paid over tc
the treasurer.
Councilman Moore called for re-
port of the committee to confer witt
attorneys as to the legality of the new
Charter Attorney r. c.. White sub
mitted a written statement saying thai
the new charter was constitutional and
nothing could be undOne that theLegis-
lature enacted. President Hoffeckel
stated, on behalf of attorney Walter
Hayes, that the new charter was lega
and that the coming election will have tC
be held under the new order of things
This settled the matter and on motion
of DIR. Moore, a committee of three
was appointed to prepare ballot boxe:
and select officers of election. Presi
dent HOffecker appointed Councilmer
Moore, FAIRIES and Robinson to make
all necessary preparations. The cleo
ton will come off the first Monday il
March, the 7th inst. at the Town Hall
There will be six districts, one Coun
Gilman will be elected from each dis
trict except the sixth. In that dis
trict two will be elected. A cOmplica
ting question was raised as to how
business could be transacted when tn,
terms of the present members eXpir
on the eth of March next. Under tin
new charter the new members do no
meet until the first Monday in April tC
organize, and without a Municipal or
ganiZation no business can be legal,
transacted. This will not only happel
this year but in every year and will
seriously affect business Of the town
which will have to be transacted dur
ing this month without government
There is no way but by legal enact
ment to do away with the presen
dilemma.
Secretary Anthony moved that thu
town pay for no election tickets thi
year, and that the Town Financia
Statement be published in both th
SMYRNA TINES and Smyrna cal, afte
which there being no furthur busines
the Council adjourned.