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

ieschs aiueIiucn baus, tdIptuteT, Nichols, Hawkins, Miner, LaRue, and Brodeur.
 The minutes of the previous meeting were read and placed on file.
 The police report showed F arrests,S sent to jail, light out 103 hours, stores found open.
 Petition of Philias Cloutier to have council furnish him grade lines in front of his premises on Green street so i that he could curb sidewalk at his own expense was referred
 Permits were granted: T. Tetreault to change barn on Cleveland street in- to tenement. E. Mullan for garage on Chapel street. George k. Brous- seau changes in house on Wilkinson street. J. N. Douty for garage on Ring street.
 Voted that the highway committee be authorized to agree with the school board relative to curb lines at north east corner of the High school lot.
 Voted that the clerk be authorized to draw an order on the city treasurer for 500 in favor of the Connecticut Con. tracting company, the same to be an advancement on the next estimate. In explanation of this it was stated that the money was to be used in settle ment of some local bills. That there was over S3000 due the company for work already done, but that il was the percentage that is being held back in accordance with the contract.
 A set of rules and regulations to gov ern abutters in making connections with the sewer, which had been drawn up by the engineer, were read, and it was voted that the rules be accepted and adopted as an ordinance. These will be found on page s.
 It was voted to increase the pay of the captain of police from S2.25 to s2.75 per day. In regard to the matter it was stated that Putnam's captain of police was the poorest paid police cap- tain in the country. He did a great deal of work that the citizens general. ly did not know about, and every year collected license money that amounted to more than his salary. He had proved to be an efficient officer and il was thought he deserved more money.
 Some amendments to the city char ter were then submitted. They were drawn up in compliance with vote of the council some time ago authorizing the mayor to have new charter drawn up. In explanation of the matter the corporation counsel said that it had been found that 1t would cost more to have whole new charter than the city could afford at this time. It had there fore been deemed wise to make some amendments that were most needed. The principal points covered were to do away with annual elections, anu to have all the members of the council elected at the same time. It was stat- ed that on the of year only few vot- CTS went to the polls, and that these elections had cost the city a great deal of money. The annual city meeting for appropriations would remainithe same.
 It provided tor salary of $500 for the mayor. Other sections, if the amendments were adopted, would put increased burdens on the mayor, and it was thought something should be received by him for his possibilities.
 It also provided that the salaries of the city clerk and city treasurer be regulated by the council. The duties of these two offices had increased great ly, and with the sewer collections and the water collections would increase still more.
 It also provided that the mayor have the power to .veto in case of offi- eers elected by the council, ,'the council eleeting such officers over the mayors veto by two-thirds vote.
 It made the mayor the city's chief executive with power to carry out con- tracts and have supervision of all things pertaining to the interests of the city.
 There were also amendments cover ing the layout of streets and making il less cumbersome and more simple matter to get at this important work and for the control of the sewer connec- lions.
 The amendments precipitated live ly discussion, especially the sections relating to the mayors veto power and to his being made the city's executive. Some of the members thought that taking away powers from the council and committees and placing it in the hands Of the mayor should not be done without due deliberation and as the members had not received copies of the proposed amendments in time to give 1t careful study it was finally decided 10 adjourn to the 18th and decide the matter at that time. Some action will have to be taken soon as the legisla- ture will not be in session much longer and 1t is especially necessary that the sections relating to streets and sewers be approved by this general assembly.
 Alderman Hawkins asked for infor- nation as to how much money was left from the appropriation to improve the north end of School street. He was told that the appropriation h ad been used up and was somewhat sur prised as the School street improve