Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-09-21
MAY CALL SPECIAL
ELECTION ON FORM
Of GOVERNMENT
BelleyiIle May Change from
Township to Town
Charter. Il
finite move toward having voters

A definite move toward having voters
of the township of Belleville decide
whether Belleville shall remain as a
township or have its form of govern.
ment changed to that of town was
taken last night by the Belleville
Township Committee in adjourned ses-
sion
Joseph Phelps, of IA Greylock ave.
nue., In the Greylock Manor section of
Bellevllle, presented a petition to ths
committee which has been signed by
over fifty resident freeholders of the
municipality, and which document pro-
yides that the matter be voted on at a
special election for the exclusive plr-
pose CT that it be settled at a general
election
The petition was formally received
by the committee. and a resolution
was introduced by Committeeman
Frank A. Cadiz and adopted, which
provides that the petition be left in
the hands of Township Counsel John
De Graw. Mr. De Graw will look into
the question and will probably submit
a report at the next regular session Of
the committee, which will occur two
weeks hence.
The Petition.
The petition reads as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned, being at least
fifty resident freehoders of the town
ship of Belleville, hereby petition and
request you to adopt an ordinance pro-
yiding for the holding of special cleo
tion In said township of Bellevile for
the purpose of deciding whether said
township shall be incorporated as q.
town, or to adopt an ordinance provid-
ing for the submission of the question
of Incorporating as a town 10 the
voters of the township of Bellevilie
aforesaid at the next annual or town
ship election, under and by virtue of
the provisions of an act OF the Legis-
lature of the State of New Jersey, en-
titled "An act providing for the forma-
tion, establishment and government of
towns" approved March 7, 1895, and
prescribing the time and place or
places of holding such special election,
and such other regulations respecting
the same as may be deemed necessary
and proper
The petition was drawn up originally
by Assemblyman Harold A. Miller. of
Belleville, who also made the refer
endum possible by an act which he had
passed by the last Legislature after
bitter fight on the question by alleged
special interests.
Opposition to the official reception of
the petition was voiced by William
Hornish, resident of Greylock Manor,
who said that he thought 1t was q un-
necessary expense TO call special cleo
tion on the matter, and he added that
! if the township committee was going
to take any action "let them bring
about annexation to the city of New
ark"
Chairman c. Lyman Denison declared
that 1t is up to the people to have their
voice in the matter, and that they
should be unquestionably allowed to
vote on it.
Mr.. Phelps, VIXEN he handed in the
petition, said ttat there was blank
affidavit attached to the document.
which provided that the signatures be
sworn to- and that 1t had not been filled
out as yet, he not knowing whether 1t
was really necessary.
Phelps Takes Affidavit.
| Former Township Counsel Andrew l..
Boylan later suggested that Mr.. Phelps
| take the affidavit Immediately to safe
guard against any legal quirk, which
might come some time before the
courts to contest the legality of the
| procedure. Committeeman Fallows and
Mr.. Denison told Mr.. Boylan the sug-
| gestion was an admirable one, and
Mr., Phelps then went through the or
| deal, the oath being recognized by
! Counsel DeGraw.
The change will probably be voted
on in November If time allows this.
! However, in the event of its being too
late to put the affair on the ballots
then it was said that a special election
will be called