Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-10
DECIDES TO RESIGN
Councilman of Takoma Park
Declines to Sacrifice Business.
ACTION OF THE TOWN DADS
Declare Against Employing Member
of Council on Public Work.
ACTION OF THE TOWN DADS
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED
Estimates Submitted and Reports of
Committees acknowledgements
tions for Public Improvements.

council or lakona Park, Nd, at d meeting
held last night in abolishing a custom
which has prevailed since the town was
founded of employing members of the
council on public works, Councilman E. E.
Blodgett will probably tender his resigna-
ton as member of that body. The meet
ing was held at s o'clock in the chapel of
the TakOma Presbyterian Church. Mayor
W. c. Plat presided, with the following
councilmen present E. E. Blodgett, ]. B.
Derrick, II. f. Rogers, L. r. Grabill. John
Hansen. W. W. Dyar and Town Clerk Ben
G. Davis
In forwarding his annual estimates and
recommends tons to the finance committee,
Mayor Platt stated that he felt 1t to be his
duty to call to the attention of the council
the custom of employing its members on
public work. which, in his opinion, was
wrong in principle. He recommended its
disContinuance. Mayor Plat stated that
the policy had been criticised by residents
of the town. and reflected upon the mayor
and council.
The members of the council took an active
part in discussion of the matter. and it
was declared that Councilman Blodgett had
done his work we'll and faithfully in the
interest of the town, as chairman OF the
street committee, and they were reluctant
to vote against him. The town has saved
considerable money through employing
Councilman Blodgett, because of the fact
that in addition to being chairman of the
street committee he has devoted nearly all
of his time to the affairs of the town gener-
ally. owing to his years of experience in
government.
Mayor Platt said it was not personal
matter with any member of the council,
but as the members were representing the
people he thought that the custom should
be abolished.
Councilman Bodgett addressed the coun-
ell, expressing regret that such recon-
mendatiOn should have been made, and that
rather than sacrifice his financial affairs
he would tender his resignation. The town,
he said. had received the benefit of his
time and had received full value for money
which had been paid him. AS chairman of
the street committee, he declared, he was
constantly looking after the improvements
of the town. The council finally voted APP
proval of the mayors recommendation.
Committees Annual Estimates.
The annual estimates for the ensuing
year, which were submitted by the finance
committee and approved by the council,
together with the recommendation OF the
mayor, contain a number of important
Items. The total estimated receipts of the
town include the following: From general
taxes. SiG26; water rents, $3.50; road tax
refund. Montgomery county S675: road tax
refund, Prince George county, $40; inter-
est on bank deposits, $50; available balance
on hand, $i9l.65, making a total of
SO. &C.. 90.
The estimates of the various committees
are as follows: Finance. S5,O1924: street
committee. s3,47O: health committee, $50;
water and sewer committee, $3.50, making
a total of $10.659.24 and leaving an esti-
mated excess of revenue of 1908 Al.
The recommendation of the mayor that
the item of $500 for repairs to the Sligo
bridge be omitted and $1,000 substituted to
be applied toward the construction of a new
bridge. was discussed. resulting in the
ia ms for ,iri,, fla
bridge. which should suffice until such time
as the town is financially able to construct
q new one.
The finance committee recommended that
the town treasurer be authorized and di-
rected to purchase from the sinking fund
series of the public improvement bonds,
amounting TO $1,000. with accrued interest,
and deposit them to the credit of the sink
ing fund. At the same time the council
voted to purchase series / of the same
character of bonds. with accrued interest,
from the general fund and to cancel the
bonds. The first recommendation was
adopted, but upon consideration Of the
question of constructing new bride across
the Sligo by a vote of 3 to 2 1t was de-
cided to hold the latter recommendation in
allowance.
Repairs Ordered.
An appropriation of $500 was made for
the resurfacing of Carroll avenue from the
District line to Ethan Allen avenue The
mayor was authorized to secure bids for
crushed stone and hauling and spreading
the same.
The street committee was directed to re-
pair the sidewalks on Oak and Holley ave-
nueS. The town clerk was instructed to
notify the company which constructed the
cement walks that. in accordance with its
contract to keep the walks in repair, such
walks should be repaired before December
l.. The council decided to construct a ce-
ment walk on Elm avenue. south of Car
roll avenue. to be included In the ordinance
for the proposed walk Tulip and Buff
falo avenues.
Relative to the petition Of John A.
Ridgway, r. B. Humphreys. Maty Ridg-
way, T. d. B. Austin and J. c. Earnest,
trustee, owners of lots 4, 8 and 8, in block
s, and lot !, block 9, on north side of
Tulip avenue between Maple and Carroll
avenues, for a granolithic sidewalk the
council recommended that the work be
done and assessed against the abutting
property owners.
Treasurer's Statement.
The report of the town treasurer was
submitted and approved by the council. 1t
showed receipts during the month Of
August as follows: General taxes, $487.S2;
special taxes. cement walks, $399.45; Car
roll avenue water main. $500: water
rents. sos SO: permits, $500; plumbers de-
posts, $1,000, making a total of 81 O6lSO
which, with the balance on hand of S4-
60S.sS. made a grand total Of $5.665.6s.
The disbursements during the same period
were as follows: Pumping plant, sS2S3;
water works, s7.45; sewer system, $4,000;
street work. $4,000 street lighting S4270;
general expenses, s7.1O interest, 81 cents:
redemption of tax sale property. sS43;
public Improvement bond, $4,000: de-
post to credit OF sinking fund $500. 90;
salaries, $4,000. making a total of ST.
271.42. leaving a net balance on hand Of
s4,394.26.
The finance committee submitted bills
amounting to s95.4S, which were audited
and ordered paid.
The finance committee in forwarding its
report to the council stated that in con-
nection with the construction of q filtering
plant. while the committee admitted the
desirability of such plant. it was doubt
full of its urgency to the extent of increas-
ing the bonded Indebtedness which would
be necessary 10 carry out the plans as
recommended by the water and sewer COM
mittee. That committee was directed to
investigate and report to the council some
plan for making it effective.
The sum of $50 was appropriated for
a blowout for the pumping plant.