The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-05
BOROUGH COUNCIL
REORGANIZATION
Pres. CaufieId and Treas.
Penwarden Reelected
JOHN ERIK CHOSEN SECRETARY
NO SOLICITOR APPOINTED
POLICE FORCE RETAINED.


Honesdale organized, Tuesday even
ing, at City Hall, by electing Martin
Cauield, President, John Erik secre-
tary, and George w. Penwarden,
/ treasurer, for a term of two years.
! The selection of a solicitor to sue
ceed Hon. Chas. A. McCarty, recently
| appointed Mayor of Honesdale, was
laid over for a time.
! Lawrence Weidner was continued
as Street Commissioner for another
year The services of Policemen j.
j. Canivan and Levi De Groat were
! retained for the year 1912, their
compensation to remain the same as
/ heretofore. The regular meeting
! night was fixed for the first Thurs
day evening in each month, at 1880
! O'Clock.
Present at the first meeting in
! the New Year were Messrs. Martin
| Caufield George W. Penwarden, S.
! T. Ham, John Erik, Harry Rettew and
| William Kreitner. Temporary or
! ganization was effected by the cleo
| ton of Martin Caufield as tempor-
airy chairman, and John Erik as tenn
porary secretary.
Mr.. Cautield took the chair, and
upon nomination of Mr.. Ham, sec
onded by Mr.. Kreitner, his election
as president was made permanent.
| Mr.. kreitner nominated and Mr.. PEN
warden seconded the nomination of
John Erik as permanent secretary.
No opposition developing Mr.. Erk's
election was duly made.
Messrs. John Erik, Harry Rettew
and William Kreitner, councilmen-
elect, presented affidavits from the
Clerk of the Orphans Court that they
had taken the oath of office as re-
quired by Law.
Mayor Chas. A. McCarty dropped
into the council chamber shortly af-
ter o'clock and enlightened the
borough fathers on the solicitorship
question.
At the last meeting" he said, 81
was appointed burgess, and burgess
and solicitor would be incompatible.
| couldn't be appointed as borough
solicitor. However the Council re"
quested me to take charge of the
case of Menner against the borough.
Since that time I've been occupied
preparing that case for trial. 1t
would be difficult for another attor-
ney to prepare it for trial. The
Judge told me that could go on and
do the work even if not appointed
solicitor. If | should go on and do
the work and take charge of the
trial, ] could be their council without
being the solicitor.
"A borough solicitor must be
sworn in just as the councilmen.
The Council has a right to have any
number of attorneys. There is no
incompatibility between Burgess and
Attorney"
President Clufield thought it would
be better not to elect or appoint
solicitor until after the Menner case
was over. 1--WE rarely need the ad-
vice of an attorney he said. I'm
the ordinary run of business an, at
torney is rarely consulted. The du-
ties of solicitor are to advise in a
case where the borough might be
involved"
Upon motion of Mr.. Rettew, Sec
onded by Mr.. Penwarden, it was de-
cided that the appointment of a soli-
citor be deferred to some later date
When the matter of appointing a
Street Commissioner came up for dis
cussion, Secretary Erik read letters
from two applicants for the posi-
tion. Street Commissioner Lawrence
Weidner asked for re-appointmentI
on the ground of having faithfully
endeavored to fulfill his duties in
the past. John F. Killgallon, a
glass cutter residing on Spring
street, also wished to be considered
an applicant.
After some discussion it appeared
to be the sense of the council that
Mr.. Weidner likes his work, Is will
ing, has done well in the past, and
just fills the bills. So Mr.. Penwarden
moved and Mr.. Ham seconded his
nomination, and he was duly ap-
pointed for the year 1912
Mayor McCarty reminded the coun-
cilmen that their organization was
for two years. You only elect
councilmen," he said, now, every
two years. You meet biennially for
organization. This organization will
continue for two years.
The Mayor also presented his first
months report as chief executive OF
the municipality, and turned over to
the treasurer SIS, $40 of which he
received from Manager Dittrich as
tve months license fee, in advance,
| Tor the Lyric theatre, and $5 from
fine imposed on young man for dis
orderly conduct.
The minutes of a special meeting
of the Town Council held December
29, 1911, were read, and disclosed
the fact that three streets, Spring,
Rock and Grove, were accepted as
borough property.
Treasurer Penwarden stated that
the borough tax duplicate for 1911
| amounted to $9,862.S2.
Following a decision to hold their
monthly meetings half an hour ear
lier than usual, Council adjourned at
9:4O p. m.