Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-09-21
COMMON COUNCIL MEETS.
Held Regular Session last Tuesday Evening
Interesting Matters Brought Up
and Dicussed

duu OlCuSS6u,
A regular meeting of the common
council was held Tuesday evening with
all member present except Aldermen
Stack, Chapman, and WeTtheimer. Ow-
ing to the fact that the matter of James
Roy, fire chief, who has been charged by
the mayor with careiessneSs in office was
to come up, a large number Of citizens
took occupation Of the lobby in the
council chamber. to hear the trial.
The matter was brought up by Mayor
Brusenbach and the complaint read
where upon the following defense in
writing was made by Mr.. R0y.
Watert0Wn, Wis.,. Sept II, 1901.
To the Members Cf the Common COuncil
Of the City of NTatertoWn
Gentlemen: On last Tuesday evening,
September 10, 1901, notice was served
upon lie in Which the mayor OF this city
John b. BIusenbach, charges me with
neglect Of duty and careieSsness as chief
Of the WatertOWn fire department and al
SO with having taken the Silsby fire en-
gine and hose wagon to Jefferson on
| September 5, 1901, without authority from
the mayor to do 50. As regards the first
two complaints [ will say that as the
mayor d0es not specify in what way |
neglected my duty or was careless, | will
pass them by, relying upon my record as
fire chief to deny these allegations. The
charge that I took the Silsby engine and
! hCse wagon to jefferson without author
ity | can best answer by giving history
of the matter SO that your honorable
body may decide the case upon its merits.
| While going to dinner on September D, |
was hailed by members Of Phoenix Fire
| Co. 2, and reaching the engine house
was told that the city of jefferson was
on fire and that the engine and cars were
waiting at the Northwestern depot to take
! the apparatus down. The iiTemen were
in readiness to go and | teleph0ned the
city hail telling the janit0r to tap the
! bell but not TO take out the apparatus,
| but that DIS many members as were pres
might 60 il they wished to DO so. [ then
tried TO reach the mayor by telephone
! but was unable to do SO. No order had
| yet been given TO move, but on going out
of the house / met John Chapman who is
president Of the ire department, alder
man Of the Third ward and member Of
the council committee on fire depart
ment. | stated the case to him and was
| told to go as the cal! was an urgent one.
/ then ordered the apparatus out, took it
to Jefferson and returned iti good order.
| This is my defense and by it | Will abide
Respectfully yours,
JAMES Roy,
Chief Of the WatertOWn Fire depart
ment (Suspcnded.)
After reading the matter was laid over
as unfinished business.
Alderman Jacob then read a request
asking that the mayor request the busi-
ness men to close their respective places
/ Of business from to 5 O'clock on Thursday
afternoon. report by the board of pub
lie works was made, stating that they
deemed it advisable to mount the can
mons in the city park, which they were
authorized to do at a cost not exceeding
! $50. A resolution was passed in mem
DRY of our late president and symp.5ti,,g :
i % yoi.si,5,: ,.t.liis~ witt3w. ~
The matter Of the width of sidewalks
in Berlin avenue was brought up and
the standard width fixed at four feet.
The board 0fpublic works was instructed
by the passing Of d resolution to have
sidewalks built on North Water street
| without delay.
The trial Of James Roy was then taken
up, and Alderman MuIberger moved that
the council resolve itse into committee
of the whole to take action. This was
done and Alderman Mulberger was
elected president and L. Mueller secre-
tary. Mayor Brusenbach was then sworn
by the president and the committee de-
clared Itself ready to report and did SO
begging leave to sit again at the next
regular meeting Of the council
On motion the council adjourned.