Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-12
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
Baldwin Street ReiaiDiDg Wall
Was Matter Of Discussion.

Four opinions were received from
City Attorney Kellogg, one with ref
erence. to the retaining wall on the
east side of Baldwin street; another
regarding persons to be notihec ior
hearings on layouts Of streets; one
with reference to laying sidewalks,
and another explaining the law on
setting poles in the highways and the
right Of the city to compel companies
that break walks putting in poles to
! pair them.
lin the first case the attorney simply
hted what everybody knows to be
n, le law, that is, the city is obliged to
dild retaining walls on Baldwin
treet provided it created the condi-
lions which made walls necessary. Mr.
lScully claimed that there could be no
doubt about this, and called attention
to the fact that most of the walls
there now are positively dangerous
And have been so for long time.
Commissioner DennisOn, who has al
ways been a strong opponent of this
project, stated that If the city should
Ido anything with that wall on Bald
Twin street he knew Of several other
/ Dpaces where similar service would be
demanded He didn't think it wise to
do that class of work in old streets.
10 this Mr. Scully replied that the law
should be carried out without partial
ity in all sections of the city, but that
unfortunately this had not been done
in the past, and as consequence,
Baldwin street and other places where
the property owners neglected to keep
up a stiff fight for their rights, got
left in the shuttle. At the suggestion
of the mayor, the matter finally went
over until some time when the whole
board has an opportunity to look at it.
Mr. Dennison brought up the mat
ter Of retaining walls on Highland
avenue and suggested that the work
be taken up where it was left off last
year and completed The matter was
referred to the committee on streets.
Mayor Thoms submitted a copy of
|, resolutions submitted to him by a conf
mittee representing the Good Roads
association. 1t suggested that only
able bodied men be employed upon the
streets and that capable and compe-
tent overseers be put in charge. 1t
also complained that the money ex-
pended on the town roads was not
!. handled to the best advantage. The
communication was received and plac-
ed on file, but not before the mayor
and all the commissioners had ex~
pressed their opinion upon IL, and
while they Were not of one mind, 1t
i is doubtful II any of them agreed with
! all the resolves in the paper. 1t was
/ stated that 1t is out of the question for
Il city laborer to move fast eEougn
10 suit farmer, anyway, and that 1t
was pretty generally admitted that
men who work for the city render Il
fair equivalent In labor in exchange
Tor the wage they receive. Regarding
the charge of men stopping before
quitting time, Mayor Thoms explain.
ed that during the present winter the
men cleaning the streets have been
working only seven hours a day and
that he thought some misunderstood.
ing grew out of the fact that they had
been seen stopping much earlier than
usual. His honor defended the street
laborer from the charge of frittering
nway his time, SO far as lie had been
able TO observe, at least. III the
question had been put to vote 1t is
likely that the decision of the board
would have been that the trouble is
due TO the present system of taxa
ton rather than to incompetent fore
men or Indifferent laborers.
Property owners ON Madison street
from Baldwin street TO Sylvan avenue,
on Long Hill road. Birch street and Di-
vision street were called and heard.
There was no opposition to any of the
projects, but as the mortgages were
not called in, the hearings were adj
journed for two weeks. One Of the
opinions received from the city attor-
ney covered this point He hold the
mortgage has right to a notice. The
city attorney also holds the ground
that the city has Jurisdiction over the
setting of poles in the streets by
private corporations and that such
companies can be Obliged to repair all
damage to sidewalks and streets &C.
casloned by the erection Of poles.
Peter Il. Coughlan called attention
to the fact that snow still obstructs
Lounsbury and Southyiew streets.
The mayor told him that the board
would call the attention of the super
intendent of police TO the matter. Mr.
COughlan also stated that ne had re-
eelved bill for the paving Of South
Main street opposite his property, al
though be nor the parties from whom
lie bought never had notice of
hearing before the work was ordered,
and no lien was filed when he made a
title search just before the property
was transferred TO him. He said he
wanted to pay all his honest debts.
but this Is something he knew nothing
about, aud his attorney had advised
him not 10 settle. The mayor inti-
mated that every man who had a case
vas justified In following the advise
Of his attorney, and the matter end
ed.
= A big delegation was In attendance
rom the Hin Street Improvement
Tub. The spokesman. Mr Swenson,
remarked that he supposed that the
'oard would soon be deciding upon
Khat Il would do this season and he
hoped that they will not overlook the
Fact that there yet remains 4 great
Deal TO be done on Hill street. He
wss directed to the committee on
|sireets.
George II. Cloves submitted a bill
for two electric lights on Tower road
flor the month Of February. The clerk
was instructed to inform Mr. Cloves