Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-01-05
THE THIRD WATER MEETING
WILL BE HELD IN FESTIVAL
HALL WEDNESDAY EVENING.
Issue Is Likely to Be Warmly Fought
at That Time-Doubt Expressed as
to Powers Of Charter-Test Of Reso-
luton to Be offered.

to Powers Of Charter-Test Of Reso.
luton to Be offered.
The third special village meeting tc
consider the water question will be
held In Festival hall next Wednesday
evening at 1.30 o'clock when the fol-
lowing articles will be acted upon.
Ito see If the village will vote to
construct or purchase a water system
for the use of the inhabitants thereof.
In pursuance of the resolution adopted
at the special meeting Dec. IS.
2-To see II the village will choose
committee to construct or purchase
a water system.
3-To see II the village will pro-
vide means with which 10 construct
ing a tax, Issuing bonds. notes or or
derl there
ito transact any other business
that may lawfully be done.
BY its vote at the meeting Of Dec.
is the village expressed itself in ia
vor Of municipal ownership of a wa
ter system and by defeating G.. l..
Dunham's resolution agreed not TO
bind itself To await the completion Of
the Sunset Lake system before taxi
ing steps toward its purchase. John
Calvin offered resolutions Offering
Sl50,000 for the Sunset Lake system
as 1t now stands with the provision
that II this price was not accepted the
village should take steps toward es-
tablishing an indeDendent system, but
these resolutions did not get before
the meeting.
The question TO be fought out at
Wednesday nights meeting is wheth-
er the village Will decide to take inn
mediate steps toward establishing an
Independent system IL the Sunset
Lake company does not accept terms
at once. or wait until the completion
of the present system before enter
Ing into negotiations.
Many people claim that the right of
the village to act under the charter of
1892 Is questionable and that action
would be likely TO result in expen-
sive legal complications They assert
that the village can only bond itself
Tor Sl25,0O0 under that charter and
only hold property to the amount of
100000. and that in order to raise
enough money TO install a complete
system IL would be necessary to raise
Al least $4,000 by short time notes.
which would necessarily bear a high
rate of interest and require legisla-
ton to permit the issue of bonds |
therefor, and perhaps raise more
money by direct tax In order to pay |
Tor the work. This, it is claimed, !
would mean anywhere from s3 TO IS /
)n the dollar of the grand list. or |
AK of from $50 to $50 on each $1,000 |
worth of property. The claim is also |
made that there is some doubt as to |
Whether the village can act under its /
'harter without a vote OF the ma
Orlty oi the voters in the village. !
Three local attorneys. none of them |
connected with the Crowell interests. |
Interpret the charter i'm that way. and
n view of this doubt there seems to /
'e some question as to whether any
'anking house would advance the VIII
age money to begin the work
Those who believe that additional
egislation is necessary before the VIII
age embarks on this enterprise will
introduce the following resolution at
he meeting:
Resolved, that articles /. and of
he warrant be laid on the table. that
committee of five be chosen TO as
ertain and satisfy themselves between
he present time and the sitting of
he next legislature as to the quail
ty' and quantity of the water sup
ly of the Sunset Lake Water COM
any, to procure from the next session
( the legislature suitable legislation
D give the village the necessary pow
r 10 purchase or construct a water
ystem, with right to issue bonds to
n amount sufficient to pay for the
anne and all legislation necessary to
ully carry the same into effect. to
rocure a village meeting to be called
$ soon as possible upon taking effect
such legislation to act upon the
a Il Tn b. fY,s. IL, /
he warrant of such meeting of the
ecessary articles upon which a vote
lay be legally taken to purchase or
Dnstruct water system and to pro- !
ide funds therefor; to employ In the
leantime an engineer. If they deem =
ecessary, to carefully examine and l
sport upon the expense of new sys- d
IN. including the laying of distribute {
lg mains in the village; also to care
lily examine and report the condi- !
on and value of the whole Crowell
ystem. That said committee are au- z
lorized to eXpend a sum not exceed a
g $500 in and about the duties to be C
arformed by them as provided in this r
solution. s
Taking into consideration the doubt a
Il power of the village under its Fl
larter of 1892, and the equitable a
ghts which the Chestnut Hill reser- t
,ir and Sunset Lake Water COM W
mics are now said to hold there is
rong likelihood in case work should
, begun on an Independent system.
at an injunction would at once be
rived. In spite of the unwillingness s.
many to admit it. the situation b
oks very much as if the village n
ould be obliged to wait until the next il
ssion of the legislature before taxi p
& any definite action on the water b
lestion. As a member of the village d.
lter committee expressed it yester- il
": THE village was never farther ST
Dm municipal ownership of a water oi
stem than at the present time. Sc