The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-02-08
Town Hall d. velopments.

We publish ihib week section b. chap
ter 81, of the laws of 1851, also copy of
warrant for q town meeting held March
"a. 1886 and the copy of the records of
the meeting held under that warrant
The legislative act was published last
week but we repeat it in this issue that
it may appear with Other records which
have since come to light that all may be
considered together.
The act of legislature limited the To-
cation of any town house that should
subss quently be built TO "Skowhegan
Island" unless a majority of each town,
told kowhegan and old Bloomfeld) as
constituted previous to tho act, should
otherwise decide. 1t will be noted by
the records of the town meeting of
March "a, 1865 that q vote was passed
"by those who constituted the town of
Bloomfield" and "by those who consti-
tuted the town of skowhegan", as the
record ssys, previous TO the union of
the towns, consenting 10 have town
hall IN place other than on Skowhe-
gan Island. The occasion of this town
meeting and of this vote was contract
then pending between the present town
of Skowheeap and the SkoWhegan hall
association for certain permanent rights
in Cobnrn hall block, particularly for
public meetings In Coburn hall and for
roomIfor town Office. This contract
was executed In compliance with votes
passed at tho meeting referred to and
WAS the arrangement under which the
town of skowhegsn occupied its select
mems office and held lis town meetings
In Coburn hall block until that building
was destroyed by fire in December, 1904
II is not disputed that the legislative act
limited the location of town house to
Skowhegan Island; it Is evident that a
ma jority of the voters participating in
the meeting of March "a 1868, intended
to waive that limitation 40 far as neces-
aary 10 enter into the contract with the
Skowhegan ball association. The ques-
| ton now is: Is the legislative act of
| 1851 sill in force or were its provisions,
! limiting tho location of town house To
/ Skowhegan Island, waived to such an
extent that the town of Skowhegsn may
! locate it's proposed municipal building
upon any lot upon which the majority
of voters may decide at the annual
meeting to be held March Il
Varying opinions are entertained
among our citizens in regard to the
matter II Ia held on the one hand tn at
the meeting of March "a 1896 was 2
meeting of the town of Skowhegan aud
that under the warrant issued for that
meeting the voters of the old town OF
Skowhegan and tho old town of Bloom
field could take no action. II is further
held that, supposing the voters of the
two old towns to have been legally as.
sembled at that meeting and assuming
that they separately voted, for the pur-
pose of entering into a contract with the
Skowhegan hall association, to consent
to have town house in place other
than Skowhegan Island, that the vote
was for the purpose OF leasing aocomo-
dations for the town and not to build q
town house and that 1t did not waive the
limit az TO location imposed by the
statute. The opposing Wow Ia that the
voters of the two old towns were legally
asse m bled so far as was necessary to
waive the limit as to location for a
| l.
vote of consent, given by the voters of
each of the old towns, acting separately,
was effective, not only for the purpose
of making lease with the Hall Asso-
citation but also as regards the location
of any town house which the town of
Skowhegan might ever wish 10 build
Ii 10 further asserted that tho lease of
Coburn hall and Its occupancy for town
purposes for 30 many years strengthens
this position
AS there is belief with many of our
citizens that both of the towns as con
stituted previous 10 the act of 1861
would consent to waive any limitation
as to location, II WAS thought best TO call
meetings to determine that fact and
warrants have been posted notifying
the citizens of Old Bloomfield to as
semble at Hartwell hail. ON the Island
next Saturday afternoon at 2 O'clock
and the citizens of old Skowhegan to
assemble at Grand Army hall at 80 on
the same afternoon, to see what action
may be taken in the matter If the
voters of the two old towns decide to
waive the limit as TO location. the town
meeting of March II will be at liberty TO
decide upon any location they wish. II,
at tae meetings Of next saturday after
noon, the voters OF either of the old
towns fail to assent 10 waive the pro
visions of the legislative act as to loca-
ton, the present town OF Skowhegan
may yet vote To purchase lot on the
Island II they wish to do so II a ma.
jority do not wish to do this they may
vote To purchase any other lot offered
and the legality of the statute of 1861 as
modified Of at all1 by the vote of the
town meeting Of March "a 1896, can be
tested.
Regardless of a division of opinion as
to the present legal standing of the
matter. there is a universal desire that
decision may be reached which will
be unqnestioned and upon which the
town may proceed with its plans for a
Municipal Building.
IMPORTANT RECORDS
Section @, Chapter "a of the Private
and special Laws of Maine for the year