Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-04-20
ADJOURNED MEETING
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Resolutions Concerning Laying OF
Track and Switch by Connecticut
Company and Sidewalk Amendment
Adopted After Much Discussion.

Il
The adjourned meeting of the board
/ Of aldermen was called to order Mon
/ day evening by Mayor Dunn at $50
with Aldermen Dawson, Holmes.
| Gelinas, Pollard and Smith in atten-
| dance, with q large number OF the
! clty's representative citizens.
Hearings We're held concerning the
laying of tracks and a switch on Main
street for use by the Connecticut COM
parry In entering its proposed car barn
| to be erected thereon and proposed
an endment to the city charter relative
| to sidewalks
Engineer Harke of the Connecticut
company appeared and explained the
! position of the company In asking to
put in a switch and lay tracks to the
| proposed car barn on Main street near
the Willimantic cemetery He said it
was the cOmpany's desire to lay a
| double track across the sidewalk just
east of the cemetery and stated that
the company would pave both tracks
and between, clear in across the side
walk to the companys land. A. c. An
drews and a number of the other resi-
dents of West Main street appeared
and Mr.. Andrews addressed the board,
saying that in view of the fact that
West Main street in front Of the town
farm was to be macadamized he would
ask that the street be widened, as 1t
was HeJAStEOuS al Llb present LIUef am
that he believed that the city was
morally bound to do so, as the citizens
Of that locality were given to under
stand that II would be done years ago.
but nothing had been done since that
time. He requested that the matter
be given consideration.
Ex-Alderman Charles M. Holbrook
spoke in favor of the widening of the
thoroughfare also. A resolution was
adopted granting permission to the
Connecticut company to build switch
and lay tracks to enter into proposed
car barn, the company to comply with
all requirements set forth in the speci-
fications and bear the expense of sarle.
Discussion on Sidewalks.
There then ensued a spirited discus
sion on the sidewalk controversy. par
ticipated in by the following men who
favored the resolution to amend the
city's charter: M. Eugene Lincoln, who
spoke as q member of the committee
recently appointed by the board of d.
rectors of the Board of Trade; A. c.
Lircoln. as a citizen endorsing the pre-
vious speakers statements; Frank
Larrabee regretted that there had not
been some concerted action relative to
sidewalk improvement. He said: We
certainly need better sidewalks. and as
there has not been any opposition we
had better settle the matter now"
Judge A. J. Owen favored better
sidewalks. He believed the common
people want better ones, and they are
the ones to demand them. He said the
present charter was inconsistent and
should be remedied. Dwight A. Lyman
favored the matter John p. Briggs,
president Of the Business Mems asso-
citation, characterized the situation as
"all boys play" and said he knew Of
OnrncFff1y7 Cd
and one or two members Of the COM
mon council. He favored settling the
matter.
Nothing Attractive About Willmantic.
L. S. Bigelow stated that there was
absolutely nothing attractive about the
city Of Willimantic, station, sidewalks
or streets, all being the subject of COM
melt by visitors, ana should think that
the board would grant the opportunity
TO do a lasting good to the city. W. G.
Norris said that the new amendment
covered everything necessary and that
it had been drafted by Corporation
Counsel Meloney In conjunction with
others after long and careful study Of
the situation. Alderman Dawson stat
ed his position, that he was not OPP
posed to better sidewalks, but wanted
to be sure that the people desired the
amendment.
Corporation Counsel Meloney cited a
good feature of the amendment, that
each property owner viii know exactly
each style of sidewalk he must build
on order Of the common council. Mr..
Norris publicly apologized for his re-
marks on Mr.. Meloney's work. Mayor
Dunn did not have much to say, but
still adhered to his opinion that the
referendum clause should be consid-
cred.
There was no perceptible opposition
in sight and a resolution ratifyirg and
approving the sidewalk amendment
was unanimously adopted amidst great
applause. 1t was voted that the mayor
be instructed to present a true copy OF
the resolution to the committee on
cities and boroughs at the legislature
in Hartford.