Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-01
BY A SNAP MOVE
Resolution to Bond for Lighting
Plant Passed by Aldermen.
Advantage Taken Of Absence Of Tive
Members Who Are Opposed to
Scheme-Mnyor Burke Quickly
Signed Resolution.

BY snap move on the part of the al
dermen in favor of a municipal electric
lighting plant u resolution was passed
Thursday afternoon at a special meeting
OF the board providing for the issuance
OF three per cent bonds to the sum of
S5s,oN. for the purpose Of constructing a
plant. ~ meeting Of the board was to
nave been held that night but during the
DAY Mayor Burke issued a call for "A
meeting at four o'clock in the afternoon.
the board related to the extension of
the water main out North avenue to the
new almshouse. Alderman Richardson
was out of the city and Alderman Stiles
did not appear at the meeting.
There were but three minor matters for
the consideration OF the board, one being
the report of the water committee recon-
mendng the payment OF the bill for SIS
presented by the State board Of health
Tor broken bottles at the laboratory and
another being the report Of the water
committee recommending that the reso-
luton providing for n water main in
lsham street be not passed at present
Inc water committee asked for more
time TO consider the extension Of the
main out North avenue and that com
plcted the business before the board.
President Taft was about to ask for a
motion to adjourn when Alderman Trick
presented the resolution providing bonds
for an electric light plant The rcsolu-
ton provides that the bonds be in de-
nominations of $1,000 each. to bear inter
est at three per cent from the first day
Of November. 1909 and to be payable 30
years from that date.
The interest is to be payable scmi-an-
nually. Tho right is reserved to reject
any and all bids and the funds realized
from the sale are to be placed to the
credit Of the committee on street de-
al ~ 10
plant. The resolution contains the usual
LEGAL qualifications
As soon as President Taft had read the
resolution, Alderman Courtney moved
that it be adopted and Alderman Shea
seconded tho motion. calling for yea
and nay vote. President Taft said that
inasnuch as tho matter was one Of great
Importance and that two Of the alder
mon were al scnt the resolution ought to
lie over until tho entire board was pres
cnt. lie said II was not tho honorable
thing to pass il when they were absent
as it was we'll known how they would
vote. He further said that there was a
provision in the city charter requiring
all resolutions to he presented q hours
before the meeting Alderman Shea said
that the provision referred only to Hills
to be paid and not to resolutions. Alder
man Trick then cited the action of the
board in locating the Carnegie library
on the market lot. lie said that resolu-
ton was passed at meeting Of the
board without being presented II hours
In advance.
Alderman Taft moved that the resou-
ton be laid upon the table until the next
meeting Of the board. Alderman. Trick
called for a yea and nay vote and the
motion was lost as follows:
Voting yes-Aldermen Morgan, Reeves
and Taft.
Notipr M ldarp,cu I'nffo, ('OurtpoN,
Parker, Shea and Trick.
The vote unon the passage of the reso-
luton was then called for and tho resolu-
ton was adopted. the vote being the
same as upon the motion to lay upon
the table.
After the resolution had been passed
Alderman Reeves remarked that tho resO-
luton would not have been presented to
the board if all the members had been
present. The board then adjourned.
AS soon as the board adjourned Mayor
Burke reached for the resolution and
signed it, thus completing the legal pas
sage.
The question Of bonding for a munici-
pal lighting plant has been under con-
sideration for Il considerable time. At
sd-Callcd city meeting ii was voted to
issue bonds for the establishment Of such
4. plant and the aldermen WEE instructed
to take the necessary action. Several
members Of the board did not believe the
city meeting expressed the wiSlA Of the
people and when the resolution was pre-.
sentcd several weeks ago il was not
{ dopted. the vote staining five to five.
however. Aldermen Richard
son and Stiles who wcrc opposed to the
resolution. were not present and the fac
ton of the board in favor Of the plant
was successful. There is question as to
the legality of the meeting Thursday af
tornoCn that will probably be brought up
soon.