Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-13
BAlLIFFS' PROJECT DEFEATED
Vote on Recognizing Fire Depart
ment 11e No, 90 observation-disclosures
Adopted Giving Balliffs and Chief
Engineer More Power.


Adopted Giving Balliffs and Chief
Engineer More Power.
The plan Of the village balliffs and chief
engineer for ganizing the Brattleboro
fire department was defeated at a special
village meeting last evening by a vote
of 11S to 80. The vote was decided by
division of the house, and while the
may" side controlled more votes II was
easy to see that the yea side represent
ed a much larger amount of property The
proposed amendments to the rules and
regulations of the department, as sug-
gested by the bailiffs and chief engineer
were carried, with the exception of those
made unnecessary by the defeat of the
reorganization plan, so that If, as the
opposition claimed. the plan or reor-
ganlzation was of no value the bailihs
and chief engineer won their principal
point-a desire for more power.
The meeting was held in Festival hall
at 100 o'clock and was attended by
large number. Mayor Blodgett called
the meeting to order, after which Clerk
w ID. Perry read the warrant. Bailiff
r. G. Bacon read the plan of reorganiza-
ton published in full in The Phoenix
of Nov. 20. which sought to increase
the efficiency of the department by re-
ducing the number of men and slightly
increasing the salaries of those remain
ing. Gen J. j. Estey said that about 10
years ago the department was reorganiz-
ed on the same plan rs proposed now,
that II made the department more nearly
a paid department and was n step In the
right direction. He believed that the
plan should be carried still further, and
he moved the adoption of the plan as out
lined by the bailiffs and engineer, to be-
come operative Jan. l. Col. G. w.
Hooker said the bailiffs never asked for
anything they ought not to have, that
the former chief engineer was a good
one, that the present engineer had dem
onstrated his fitness for the position, and
he hoped not voice would be raised in
opposition to the plan.
d. f. Tasker who acted throughout
as spokesman for the opposition. was
unable to concur in the views OF Gen.
Estey and Col. Hooker. He had seen
outsiders doing efficient work at fires,
did not believe there were any too many
men in the department. thought a better
plan would be to keep horses and men
at department headquarters. had no
doubt that there was deadwood in the
department, but said II could be gotten
rid of without reorganizing as planned
Bailin Charles r. Crosby cited an
instance where n former chief engineer
wanted TO rid the department of a GER
tain man. but the most he could do was
to request him to resign. He had no
power to enforce compliance with the
request Bailim Crosby said that Judge
Waterman said there was no authority,
under the present rules. for Diminishing
any member for any cause. What we
want Is more power" said Mr. Crosby
Mr. Tasker said he was not opposing dis
cipline but the plan to reduce the num-
Der Of men.
At this point there We're loud calls for
the question. Some called for a division
| Of the house, while others shouted f:
"a H-r7a
ordered a ballot bat Lawyer G.. G. Fits
informed the voters that nl vote Of the
village could be taken by ballot without
| using the Australian system. SIN there
were calls for ballot. but the chair or
| dered a division Of the house. with the
| result as stated.
Bailin Crosby moved that the second
article in the warrant be dismissed. and
| il was so voted. The article was:
To see If the village Of Brattleboro
| will vote to make or authorize to be
| made such changes and amendments to
the rules and regulations for the govern
| ment OF the fire department OF the VIII
lage Of Brattleboro as will make them
| conform and he uniform with the afore-
| said plan of reorga nizatio
| The alterations which il was desired to
| make were indicated on printed slips
| which were distributed to the voters be-
| fore the opening Of the meeting. Gen.
| i%'AfN illNNtu llldI the NOIe 10 dismiss be
reconsidered, which was done without OPP
| position. Gen. Estey then moved that the
| first recommendation be adopted. which
was done The recommendation was:
That the rule regarding the duties OF
| the chief engineer be amended by adding
the following: He shall have the power
| TO Summarily suspend or with the ap-
| proval of the bailiffs. dismiss members OF
| the department when he deems II neces-
| sary for the discipline of the depart
| ment'
The second recommendation on the
| printed slip was as follows:
That the clause under the head OF
Meetings in the rules and regulations
which reads as follows: All officers to
he subject to the approval of the board OF
| engineers be amended to read as fol-
| lows: All officers to be subject to the
| approval of the board of bailiffs and
| chief engineer in joint session "
John r. Kaine thought this second
recommendation ought to be discussed
so that II could be understood. bringing
| out the fact that IL had nothing to dc
J with the election of officers Gen Estey
moved that II be adopted. and D. F.
| Tasker approved Of the idea. j. J. Eckles
wanted to know what was the matter
| with the assistant engineers, why they
were not included and he moved ar
| amendment that the words board OF
| engineers be substituted for the words
chief engineer" Bailiff Bacon said the
| entire board of engineers would make the
| tribunal unwieldY, that the assistant en-.
| gineers We're appointees of the chief en-.
| gineer, and that the governing board
| should consist only of officers elected by
| the village. Gen. Estey and Chief En-.
| sineer Sanders made no objection to the
proposed amendment, the words were
| substituted and the recommendation as
1t then stood was adopted
Bailiff L. w. Hawley suggested thai
action be taken on the following recon.
mendation, which was carried on motor
of D. f. Tasker:
That the following rule be adopted
The chief engineer shall order at least as
| often as once in 60 days, such drills OF
the various companies as he deems need
full and proper
Bailif Hawley also suggested action or
the last recommendation, which was:
S"That the following rule be adopted
The several houses of the department
shall be open to the inspection of tn,
public from two to four p. m. Satur
days
Mr.. Tasker thought the proposition wal
foolish because the chief engineer already
had authority to open the headquarter,
to the public. Gen. Estey moved that
| the recommendation be adopted, makinf
the opening of the department head
quarters obligatory, and the motion wa.
| carried.
The meeting was then adjourned