The Newtown bee., 1908-05-15
BetheY.
TOWN AND BOROUGH MEETING

There was fair sized attendance at the joint meeting of the town and bor- ough, held in the Town hall. Saturday afternoon, May 2, goodly number being present from the surrounding sections, but not as large representa- tion of those residing in the borough as might have been expected. The ques- tions before the meeting were of suffic- tent importance to have had a wider hearing by the townspeople. many of whom were not present, either through lack of interest or by engagements elsewhere. This was so noticeable that it was alluded to by some of the speak CTS before the close of the meeting. William P. Bailey was chairman of the meeting, which was rather lengthy session, commencing at ? o'clock and lasting until safter o'clock. The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing the report from the special committee appointed at the adjourned town meeting October 13, 1906, for the purpose of looking into the affairs of the town and borough, and to make such recommendation as they found advisable in regard to consolidation and finances of both. Both Mir Leigh and Edgar T. Andrews, the chairman of the committee. made remarks in the way of exclamation of various portions of the report, after which it was ac- cepted by the meeting, with the under standing that each question should come before the meeting separately for action. The first taken up was the recommendation of a superintend- ent for the schools of the town. There was a lively discussion of the question, during which the present school system was gone into some extent by both the members of the special committee and members of the school board present. The advisability of continuing the pres- ent plan of free text books, on account of the way that the books are de- stroyed by the pupils, was remarked on. When the question of a superin- tendent of schools was put to a vote, the meeting voted to reject the recom- mendation of the committee. A member of the school board spoke ot the furnace giving out in the Center school build ing, and that it would be neces ;ary to take some action in regard to the mat ter, the board desiring instructions from the town as to new heating ap- paratus, and a possible improvement of the present heating system. It was voted that the school board procure plans and estimates of such improve ments as they had suggested, and sub- init the same before future meeting. In regard to highways and bridges as the committee had nothing to recom- mend. it was the opinion of the meet ing that it was satisfied with the town roads and their expenses. Several men in the meeting spoke in high terms of the excellent condition of the roads of the town. As to the town poor the committee had nothing special to offer, believing the present system to be sat- isfactory, and the meeting voted to en- dorse the committees report. Bien- nial elections were next taken up. This was recommended in the committees report as a saving of expense. After several had expressed an opinion in re- gard to such change, it was voted that next fall the town vote on the question of biennial elections Con- solidation, the next and last question. brought out a good deal of discussion by those in favor of and against the same. The report of the committee neither recommended nor opposed con- solidation. After some extensive re- marks on the subject, but arriving at no definite action, one of the members of the committee made motion that the present committee be discharged. The vote was carried, and then mo- tion was made that committee of five be appointed to draft and bring in a plan at future meeting, for the con- solidation of the town and borough. This was later passed. Several named declined to serve on the committee. and after some further remarks for and against consolidation, it was voted to reconsider the vote that was passed in regard to a committee on consolida- tion. and then the meeting adjourned. -[Danbury News.