Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1907-12-24
Public Hearing Is
Given Property
Owners
UPHOLD WORK
>..OF ASSESSORS

An adjourned meeting of the city
council, to give public hearing to
the property-OwnerS along Smith
street, who had been assessed for the
wooden block pavement from State
street to the Central railroad, was
held in the council chamber, last
night, and, after hearing the argu--
Nents of Lawyer Wight, who repre-
sented the property-OwnerS, and City
Attorney G. G. Hommann, the alder
men decided to reafiirm the resolu-
ton which they passed few weeks
ago, confirming the assessment
The resolution passed by the alder
men sometime ago was vetoed by
Mayor Bollschweiler and the alder
men upheld the veto, in order to
grant last nights hearing.
James S. Wight said that he rep
resented number of property
owners. He gave reasons why he
thought that they should not be as
sessed so much Alderman-at-Large
Pfeiffer said he would like to hear
from one of the commissioners of
assessment. John Anderson told how
they had gone over the ground in as
careful a manner as possible and
while they might have made mis-
take, they did the work to the best
of their ability. If mistake had
occurred, they were willing to go over
it again, he said.
City Attorney Hommann told how
under the city charter, the assessors
were compelled to assess property ac-
cording to the value. The city attor-
ney further said that he believed that
the commissioners had done what
they believed was right, and that they
had assessed the property-owners ac-
cording to the benefit their property
received Lawyer Wight, wanted to
know why the property-owners had
not been granted a public hearing
when they asked for it. City Attor-
ney Hommann replied that they were
having such a hearing now.
The matter continued in this way
until nearly 10 o'clock, Alderman-at-
Large Pfeiffer asked many questions
in regard to the case and cited the case
in which the Valentine estate sued
the city for an assessment for prop
erty on State street, about twelve
years ago, when Mr.. Wight was city
attorney, and he told how the city
won the case.
The alderman-at-large put the mat
ter to the council Alderman Stacey
made a motion that the assessment
of two-thirds of the cost, as fixed by
the commissioners of assessment.
stand. The motion was seconded
by Alderman Schultz. All of the aid
ermen, with the exception of James
Garland, were present, and voted for
it.
When Lawyer Wight was asked
if the matter would be carried to
court, he said he did not know just
yet what the outcome would be.
Transact Other Business.
After the public hearing, the coun-
Gil attended to routine business.
The appointment of Francis Braten,
as special officer at the Majestic
theatre, to serve without pay from
the city was confirmed.
Notice was received that, according
to the Supreme Court decision in re-
gard to the Sheridan street assess
ment for grading, the city would have
to pay the costs. The clerk reported
that Mayor Bollschweiler lad ap-
proved a resolution transferring $10,-
900 from the sinking fund to the con-
tigent fund for the city hall extern
sion.
The aldermen then adjourned to
meet at II O'Clock on the morning of
January 1, when the old board will
retire and the new board will take
Office.