Putnam patriot., 1911-07-21
Common Council.

1 mon cDuDcii WIS utiu ! ut1udF thFh ing with Mayor Macdonald presiding Present alderman Dady, Nichols, Hawkins, Broduer, Miner, Bouthille- tte, Davis and LsRue.
 4 petition was granted 4. l.. Diekin- son to build a garage on Florence street,
 The chairman Of the highway com. mittee reported that the committee had met the High school committee and agreed to changes at the corner of School and Providence streets. A communication relative to the matter was read from John P. Sabin stating that he would give the city warrantee deed of a triangular piece of land at the junction Of School and Barber streets providing the city would agree to set curb and build sidewalk about 23 feet in all. The highway committee re- commended that the changes be made and 1t was voted that the recommends tion be accepted and the committee be empowered to make the change. The proposed change will do away with the acute angles at the junction of Pro- violence and School and at School and Barber streets changing them to cur yes.
 Voted to empower the police com mittee to purchase handcufis and clubs for the use of the police. The present ones were reported by chairman Bro duer to be inadequate.
 The corporation council reported that the finance committee had met the city treasurer and figured out the city's standing relative to issuing bonds. They found that Sl00 900 would cover the cityis floating indebtedness. The | legislature had granted the city per- mission to issue bonds not exceeding this am cunt and at rate of interest not exceeding 1 l-2 per cent.
 The matter Of the collection of street 1 spfinkling assessments was discussed | 1t was stated that some of the abutters were refusing to pay their assessments for 1910 on the ground that 1t was in- | ere ased over the previous year. It seemed to be the opnionIof the mem bers that the assessment should be made the same as before although it had cost more to sprinkle with oil than | with water. It had been understood | that the oil would cost no more than only fair that this understanding l should be ca -ried out and that if there was deficiency it should be borne by the city. In explaining why oil had cost more than the committee had supposed 1t was stated that there was difference of opinion as to how the oil should be applied, as it was the first experience with it in the city, and the second application had been put on too thick and second car of oil had to be ordered to make 1t cover the territory, making the extra cost. When the | sprinkling assessments had been com- piled the pro rata assessment had been based on the amount paid out which was more than that of the previous year when water was used. No action was taken but it was suggested that a new assessment should be compiled.
 The mayor brought up the matter of back axes, which had been referred to him with power to employ counsel. In regard to the matter the corporation counsel stated that he had it in charge and was looking out for 1t. He stated that he had looked over the accounts and found that after eliminating those that were worthless from one cause or another about 5000 remained. Az ainst few of the accounts there were setotis and some had been illegally assessed. He advised that the matter be left in abeyance until this other assessment matter Is adjusted and then take steps to make the collections, bringing test suits if necessary. He had made some collections since the matter had been placed in his hands.
 Resolutions amending the city char ter were adopted. The amendments were In six sections.
 Section 1 does away with annual elections. Hereafter all members of the city government will be elected every two years and there will be no "oftN year when only aldermen from two wards are elected, as has been the custom in the past. The aldermen from the second and fourth wards, who under the old charter would not be elected until the election in December 1912, will not assume the duties of otfi- ce untile January 1918, although cleo ted this year.
 Section , amends section 20 of the present charter to read as follows "Neither the mayor nor any alderman shall receive any salary or eompensa- tion for his services AS SUCH OFFI- GER. The salaries of the city clerk and of the treasurer shall be such as may be designated by the common council by a proper ordinance" This changes section 20 by adding the words "as such otiicera and by allowing the council to fix the salaries of the clerk and treasurer heretofore fixed by the charter.
 Section provides for the calling of the annual city meeting in March.