Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-08-22
ADJOURNED MEETING OF
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Approves Awarding of Main Street
Paving Contract to A. j. Langefeid.

Jodlueu meeting OF Inc DOaf0 Oh alder
men, Monday evening, to hear and dis
cuss the facts relative to the recent
award of the Main street paving con-
tract to A. J. LangefeId, was held in
the council chamber, but later ad-
Journed to the town hall because of
the unusually large ATTENDANCE. there
being about $50 voters present It
was agreed that Attorney Thomas J..
Kelley should have the privilege of
opening and closing for his clients,
the Ahearn Bros. and Arrigoni. and
that committee should present their
side Of the case in between. Mr.. KEEL
" offered as evidence resolution No
539, passed by the board at its June
meeting. the contract between the
city of WiIlimantic and Mr.. Langefeld
for 1910 and the proposed contract
with him for this year. He first ex-
amined Frank Arrigoni, the contractor
making the lowest bid. and brought
out the fact that he was a competent
man with ample experience and that
he had compliedswith the requirements
set forth in the specifications as ad-
vertised, and that he had submitted
his proposal in good faith. ]. D. Nc
Guinness, Mr.. Arrigoni's representa-
tive, who was present the night the
bids were opened, was next examined
and told the circumstances of the case.
He said the bids were not opened pub
licly, but in the vault. Aldermen Shep-
ard and Pomeroy asked Mr.. McGuin-
ness a few questions.
Why Ahearn Bid Was Dropped.
Attorney Kelly next examined David
P. Ahearn of the firm of Ahearn Bros.
who were the next lowest bidders He
recounted the story of the opening of
the bids and the awarding of the con-
tract and said he wanted to know why
the committee had done as they did.
Alderman Shepard, chairman of the
street committee, then told why the
committee had awarded the contract
to Mr.. Langefeld. saying that they re-
jected Mr.. Arrigonis bid because his
representative told the committee that
he would not give his daily personal
supervision to the work, as called for
and that AEearn Bros bid had been
rejected because it was higher than
that of MIR. Langefeld. He said that
he had no personal feeling in the mat
ter and that the committee had acted
for the best interests of the city, as
he believed He read extracts from
the specifications to substantiate his
statements. Attorney Kelly then aues-
toned Alderman Shepard closely and
brought out facts to indicate that the
committee had overstepped their au-
thority and that they had not asked
the advice of the corporation counsel,
relative to the specifications. or sub
mitted them to him for his approval
that the resolution gave them the right
to advertise for bids and nothing else
Alderman Whittemore took exception
to the questioning and rose to a point
of order but was oVerruled by the
mayor and the examination continued
He maintained that the committee had
not done as they should, but had
gone according to custom. spite or
personal feeling. He laid stress upon
the fact that the committee had failed
to submit the specifications to the cor
poration counsel and also maintained
that according to the city charter, the
committee should have had the cor
poration counsel draft the specifca
lions and contract.
Appeared for Committee.
Attorney S. B. Harvey appeared for
A. J. Langef6ld, the successful bidder,
and said that he believed that the
committee had done right in award
ing the contract to his client and that
under the circumstances and accord
ing to the specifications could not re-
cede from the position they had taken
in the matter and now set the contract
aside Attorney Kelly then spoke and
closed with the plea for fair and just
treatment for his client, il such a thing
were possible under the conditions
He then thanked the council for civ
ing the hearing. The meeting then
adjourned back to the council cham
bers shortly before II o'clock.
Resolution Lost.
Mayor Dunn reviewed the case and
Alderman d. B. -O'Connor offered
resolution in writing that all negotia-
tons entered into with A. J. LANCE
field relative to the Main street paw
ing contract, be declared null and
void Alderman Whittemore gave his
fair minded reasons for sustaining the
committee in its actions. The resolu-
ton was voted down by a vote of a
to 5. Cooperation Counsel w. A. King
then requested the attention of the
board for a few moments and stated
that the resolution referred to earlier
in the evening did give the committee
the right to go ahead and pave the
street as we'll q to advertise for bids
on the same He also said that he had
drafted the resolution himself and
would shoulder the responsibility of
any errors, if there were any therein.
A petition for a sidewalk on Wind
ham street was granted and the street
committee authorized to lay the walk
m accordance with the provisions of
the charter. A resolution appropriat-
ing $4,000 for the extension of the city
water main in Lewiston avenue was
adopted. The meeting adjourned at
1125 o'clock until this (Tuesday) eve
ming at s o'clock for the consideration