The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-08
IMPORTANT MEETING
OF TOWN COUNCIL
LAST THURSDAY NIGHT
Matters OF Interest to HOnesdale
People Discussed.


the town council was held in the
council room of the Town Hall on
Thursday evening, December 2,
1909, at 8 o'clock. There was pres
ent President Charles McCarty, sec
retary Wyman Kimble, and council
men Philip Murray, George Genung,
George Penwarden, Thomas Canivan
and Martin Csufield; also Burgess
Kuhbach. The minutes of previous
meeting were approved as read.
Treasurer Penwarden reported hav-
ing a balance on hand of $4,124.9O,
which included a check of $14 Just
received from Burgess Kuhbach, be-
ing fines, etc., received by him.
Under the head of Reports of
Committee p. r. Murray and George
Genung, the committee on fire ap-
paratus, reported having purchased
a hose cart and 400 feet of hose for
Hose Company No. l.; further re-
ported that the hose cart and hose
had been received, and the bill for
same was presented for approval
One bill for 400 feet of hose at 95
cents per foot met the approval of
the board; another bill for S167 was
objected to by councilman Wyman
Kimble on the ground that it called
for hose cart, spanners and five
black rubber coats and one white
rubber coat without specifying the
cost of each article. In order to get
the report before the meeting, Mr..
Murray moved the report be accept
ed and the other member of the
committee seconded the motion.
The discussion that followed went to
show that some of the councilmen
were opposed to furnishing coats,
ETC., for the members of the new
fire company. One member of the
board claimed it would establish a
precedent that would enable the
other company to collect from the
borough for the coats which had
been paid for out of their
own fund; another coun-
stated that he thought the
had exceeded their au-
thority in purchasing coats. An
was offered by council
man Caufield that the report be
laid upon the table and the COM
mittee be instructed to get an item
lied bill. This was adopted.
The committee, consisting of
Messrs. Penwarden and Canivan,
who were appointed to confer with
Protection Engine Co. in regard to
selling one of the steamers and re-
placing it with a hook and ladder
reported progress. A
letter, regarding the purchase of the
steamer by the American Fire En-
gine Manufacturers, was read. The
tenor of he-letter was that they did
not buy secondhand apparatus. but
would entertain a proposition to
take steamer in part payment of any
new apparatus needed by the bor-
ough. This committee was continued
with power to advertise and dispose
of the steamer If possible. Burgess
Kuhbach asked information in re-
gard to the ordinance which calls
for the election of chief engineer
tion of the new company making 1t
necessary for a chief engineer to
have control of the different COM
panies. There was a difference of
opinion among the council as to the
proper Interpretation of this ordi-
nance which made no mention of a
hose cart, merely specifying engines
and hook and ladder companies. but
President McCarty instructed the
Burgess to hold the election accord
ng to his own Interpretation of the
as the ordinance says
the election must be held on the
irst Monday in December and the
of different companies
must be notified ten days prior to
he day of election" 1t is a ques-
ion how the Burgess can do this
with the election only eight days
,ff.
The matter of protest against
George Genung serving as council
nan was then brought up and a
engthy opinion from Henry Wilson,
ESQ.,, Borough attorney, was read,
n which the law bearing upon the
;ase was fully related. 1t clearly
stated that no officer or any person
in an official capacity,
with corporation having a con-
ract with the borough, was eligible
Is a member of the town council, and
f serving was liable to a heavy fine,
md it was further stated that the
council had no right or power to re-
move any of it's members. The gist
If the matter, as per the opinion, is,
ienung legally elected, but could
1ot legally qualify under the law
without running the risk of a fine.
The committee on taking over the
Spring street sewer reported parties
lot ready. Committee continued.
A communication was received
rom the Ladies' Improvement So
;iety, requesting the council to en-
'orce the ordinance regarding the
of snow from the side
walks. All further business was
and a number of bills