Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-06
GARBAGE Man WILL QUIT
His Proposition, However, Is Not
Satisfactory to Officials.
Aldermen Dlscussed the Question
along With Much other Business,
at Regular Monthly Meeting
Monday Evening.


evening was not completed until nearly
ten o'clock. The list ranged from the
purchase of three horses for the Are de-
partment to the granting OF licenses to
travelling street musicians. Considerable
money was ordered spent in payment of
bills and matters pertaining to garbage
telephone poles, ancient suits against the
city, street repairs. water. etc, etc. re-
volved about the board table in kaleido-
scopic fashion.
Alderman Walker started the ball roll
ing when he asked why bill OF sale had
not been presented to the board by tho
chief of the fire department for three
horses which Chief Niles recently pur-
chased. Mr.. Walker objected to the pur-
chase of three horses anyway. because. he
said. the board had authorized the pur-
chase of only two horses. He said he
could not understand on what authority
three horses had been bought and why
bill Of sale had not accompanied the bill
sent to the board. Alderman Drew moved
that Chief Niles be called In to explain
Upon the arrival of Chief Niles. he said
that three horses were bought because
the fire commissioners ordered him to buy
three instead of two. He said that three
horses had been sold because they were
unfit for service in the department and
the sum Of sS7996 had been received for
the three that were sold. Tho third horse
had become crippled after the board had
authorized the purchase Of two, he said.
and the commissioners considered 1t wise
to buy three horses so that the depart
ment would not he crippled in any way.
The chief said he could easily obtain
bill Of sale of the horses and would do so.
He said II had never been customary to
present such bill and he had no idea
that the board required one.
The committee to which was referred
the matter of an increase in salary for
the health officer recommended that the
salary be continued as 1t is at present.
The committee was composed of Alder
men Barnes Coffey and Drew. A petition
to have Clymer street extended was re-
ferred to the street commissioners, and
the same commissioners were also in
structed to repair the roadbed on North
street from Winoosk avenue to North
avenue. This street has been in bad
condition for some time.
The board voted a temporary loan OF
$500 to the cemetery commissioners and
the city treasurer was authorized to Dor
row $4,000 to meet the expenses Of the
city. Mayor Roberts sent a communica-
ton to the board announcing the appoint
ment Of George p. Burns to fill the posi-
ton OF park commissioner, a vacancy
being caused by the resignation Of Austin
F. Halves. City Attorney Horton made a
report on a petition filed by the New
England Telephone & Telegraph company
for permission to erect poles In certain
streets. The city attorney recommended
that the petition be denied until II is
revised to conform to an ordinance which
sets forth that the top gain Of each pole
shall be reserved for city purposes. The
petition as worded. did not conform to
this part Of the ordinance.
The ancient suit OF John n, Finneran,
former police officer against the city
to recover pay for services In the depart
ment. was revived when. in a report to
the board the city attorney recommended
that the city make Mr.. Finneran a COM
promise offer in order to prevent further
litigation In the matter. Finneran was
appointed a policeman by Mayor Burke
In 1907 and was suspended directly after
ward by Mayor Bigelow. The policeman
claimed that the charges on which he
was suspended were irregular and he re-
ported to police headquarters for duty
for several months and afterwards en-
gagged In the hack business. The case
could he taken to the supreme court on
technical points. II necessary. but the
city attorney was Of the opinion that It
would be best to effect a settlement if
possible The matter was referred to a
committee.
THE GARBAGE TANGLE.
The garbage question was up again
and referred back to the original COM
mittee. consisting Of Aldermen Barnes.
Cowies and Coffey. Thomas r. Conon
submitted a proposition to the board by
which he will give up the Job OF col
lecting garbage. provided the city will
allow him certain concessions. He wants
$50 each for the boxes in which the gar
bage is collected and he also asks that
the board pay him for collecting garbage
for April and May. Mr.. Conlon also sets
forth number of minor considerable
relating to the temporary hiring by the
city OF the present garbage collectors.
The board Of health and the committee
on garbage also presented reports. but
not In favor OF the Conlon proposition.
The board Of health recommends that
the Conlon proposition be not adopted
and that further negotiations be taken
up for the purpose OF settling the gar
| bage matter The garbage committee also
do not favor the Conon proposal but
recommend that the board OF health be
instructed to collect all garbage and tin
| cans not collected by Mr. Canton under
his contract. until such time as a set
| Element Is reached. The whole garbage
matter was referred back to the gar
bage committee. In the meantime II
looks as II the city may have to go into
the garbage collecting business itself
but. In case II does. the citizens who
have not complied with the ordinances
relating to the placing OF garbage etc.
may be forced to do so under a new
ordinance. At present the whole garbage
matter is 'In the air." so to speak. Mr.
Conlon's bond has not been approved
and his bill OF sNl6o for garbage collec.
ton during the month of April has beer
held up and referred to the garbage
committee
petition for water and a sewer In
Ledge road, sent to the board by
Michael Collins, was referred to the
water and the street departments.
BILLS PAID,
The board orierei the following
bills paid. Water department. sb.lOl.'
90: electric light department. s+.S32,
81; pauper department, N.0s2.7d; fr'
department., N456.Ss; lights. N'h7''
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