Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-18
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Bad Long Talk Over Method of
 Charging for Sewers

meeting last nlSHI, MT Nloii piSo'o ing, and all the commissioners being present.
 The principal debate was over the method employed in charging fo: sewer assessments, MT Finn intimat- ing that it would appear this is ds- termined by where the sewer is built and who owns the land abutting on it. The snarl started over com munication from the engineer st .t- ing that w. D. Nye is wrongly as- :sessed on Columbia boulevard. MT Nye owns a strip of land fronting on that street about 270 feet, which makes three lots. The sewer IS !a. C the full length of one lot and half the length of the other, Following rule applied in other places, nota- bly on the English property on ie street, the board assessed MT Wye OF his entire frontage. Naturally MT Nye objected to the bill, but said Ee would willingly pay on two lots. En- gineer Cairns thought this a good way out of it. MT Finn wanted to know what was the difference be tween this case of MT Nye and that of James English on Pine street, whose house stands in the center of a large piece of land and who was assessed on his entire frontage, al though the sewer extended but short distance ill front of it. The engineer took the ground that hlr English should pay $1.50 per lineal foot of frontage on what was sew cred as we'll as what wasn't and the board levied the assessment in that way. Another case was brought up on Fuller street for F. J. Kingsbury, where the sewer runs fourteen feet in front of vacant lot. The asses ment was levied on the whole front age and MT Kingsbury paid it, be lieving at the time that Miss Phoenix, who holds a bond for deed of the lot, would pay him, but it appears that Miss Phoenix knows more about the charter than Mir Kinksbury does and refused to settle for more than fourteen feet of sewer. After hot debate both matters were laid on the table and a vote passed requesting the engineer to appear before the board and enlighten the commission CTS on the law relative to sewer as- sessments. The engineer was also asked to be prepared to explain at the next meeting the reason why the change of grade of the sidewalk on East Main street, beyond Rutledge street, was carried beyond the point authorized by the aldermen. It was also voted to cite the East Main street people who feel aggrieved at this action to be present and state their case.
 Property owners on Merry street were called and heard regarding the petition to lay out that street. Some of them claimed damages and others would be satisfied to have it go through without putting in big bills. Thomas Dooling, the contractor, who owns the property at the corner of Merry and Stone streets, said the widening of the street would serious ly interfere with his place, and in case it should go through he would look to the city to make good. Pat rick McGovern, whose property is situated at the corner of Washing ton and Merry streets, objected to the layout. When they opened Washington street." said MT McGov. ern, they took away my front yard and damaged my house so that it cost me $500 to fix it, and some of the rooms never were repaired since. Now you come along and propose to take my we'll and what land there is on the side of the house. Why don't you take house and all ond have done with it? No, sir. I don't want any more city work dcnc around my place"
 Mrs Martin Campion would lose a valuable we'll and would ask com pensation for the loss thereof. A hearing was also heard on the pro- posed layout of Beech street. Some claimed damages, amongst them Mrs Catherine Holohan, who was represented by her daughter, Mrs Mary Holohan Jackson. Both pro- jects were referred to the engineer.
 The matter of additional water service at the Mulcahy school re- vealed sad state of affairs in that part of the town. There is a six inch main in Baldwin street from Scovill's bridge to Washington street and from that point to Lounsbury street the main is only four inches, so that in case of d big fire the wholo district would be wiped out. Tire district needs twelve inch. main. The board of public works asked an appropriation for a larger main, but the board of finance cut 1t out. Now the only thing the school can do is install an electric motor and a vote to that effect was passed.
 The proposed layout and grade of South Wilson street, Meadow and Grand streets were referred to tLc aldermen. There are some of the big projects connected with the new railroad station. Hearings were set for December 31 on the proposed discontinuance of Benedict street, from Jewelry street, sOutherly to the Naugatuck river: on the laying of a permanent pavement on Benedict street, from Liberty to Jewelry; on the layout, grading and establish ment of building lines on Chipman avenue and the Bradleyville road. Mayor Thoms, City Engineer Cairns and City Attorney John P. Kellogg were appointed a committee to con fer with the railroad company con- corning the grade of Mattatuek street.
 The board asked permission to hold hearing on the petition for side walks on Liberty street.
 A communication was received