Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-06
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD
South Elm Street People Oppose
 Jefferson Street Opening

ODJtCJ lO luc CAbShoAoh VI VI ferson street to South Elm street, not only because l don't want to pay an assessment, but on account of the fact that in case t should De opened 1t would land all the mid night drunks from Benzine corner into our door yards"
 The above remark was made by Lawrence Brennan of South Elm street at the meeting of the board of public works last night in reply to question from Mayor Thoms, who presided. This was the second airing the matter had before the board of public works. Almost all the other South Elm street property owners, including E. J. Finn, P. Il Real, Eugene Martin, John Hennes- sey and Ms Carson, said they dldn consider it any benefit to them and should object to paying anything for it, MT Finn remarking that 1t possi- ply might be a benefit to South Main street, where there are so many stores, but he thought it detriment to nice residence street like South Elm. On the other hand property owners on Jefferson street and some from South Elm, among whom were the Standard Electric Time company, Henry Weyand, George Panneton, F. N., Perry, Dr Martin of St Cecilia's church and hers, favored the project and were will ing to pay reasonable assessment for the work. No action was taken on the matter, but it is likely that it will be taken up later and passed along to the aldermen.
 A big delegation from Columbia boulevard was in attendance with John Littlejohn as spokesman. MT Littlejohn said that when the mayor spoke in Brooklyn he invited people who had grievances to call at the meetings of the board and make them known. He and his neighbors had accepted the invitation. They want things and are willing to pay for them. MT Littlejohn was in- formed that the property owners in that street will be given a hearing regarding their petition for layout of that street in about two weeks. This appeared satisfactory and the boulevard folks left. Later on Dr c. H. Brown, who lived in that street, dropped in and spoke on the condition of the place. He has been up there about eight years and things are not much better now than they were at that time. He wondered why. The assessors taxed them pretty high. The lots he owns there are listed at $1,5OO each, al- though he has been and is not offer ing them for sale at $1,2O0, but can not find purchasers. Just people who are willing to pay for grading a street and couldn't get it done was something the doctor didn't un- derstand. The mayor told him that the case had been assigned for hearing in about two weeks.
 James Blondin of Baldwin street gave the board call regarding it's tardy me.hod of doing business. He wants stakes showing the street line in front of his place and he also needs steps and retaining wall. The chairman told him he would have the stakes to-day or tomorrow, but he would have to wait until the board had an outing before anything would be done regarding the other things.
 John Hull, representing his fa- ther. David B. Hull, said that an in- justice had been done him in the layout of Baldwin street, at Pied mont street. A strip 25 feet deep is taken of, destroying one lot, ana he gets no damages. It is a couple of years ago since this work was ordered and the mayor didn't see what can be done about 1t except to bring it to the attention of the aldermen. Wilfred B. Schlegel, representing a client on South Leonard street, claimed the mans store is ruined on account of the layout. He can't get into it and all the damages he got was s17.50. In this as in the other instance, the mayor directed the petitioner to the aidNimcu' 6inhiidi Itpiy was given to Mrs c. A. Sackett of Wa terville street, who wanted a wa ter main extension of about 200 feet. Peter F. Coughlan desired to know when the city will put up retaining wall in front of his prop erty on South Main street. The mayor said 1t would be looked into.
 All the new work referred to the board by the aldermen was put on the list for investigation. The ap- plication of W. H. Camp and c. H. Gloves to lay walks themselves, the city to give them its share of the cost of such sidewalks as IL puts down didn't appear to please the mayor, and at his suggestion the city attorney was asked to give an opin- ion on it. Hearings were set for the following dates: May 12. sew CTS in Robbins street and sidewalks on North Willow street: May Is, double tracking on South Main and North Main streets. and building lines on Easton avenue: June 2, dis continuance of the layout of Beech street.
 The superintendent of streets was 4