Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-29
BOARD DIVIDED
\ OVER NAMING
Of ARCHITECTS
Nutley Officials Rescind Action
in Selecting Firm for
New School.

The Nutley Board of Education had
q stormy session last night over the
selection of the firm of Armstrong
d De Gelelxe, of New York, as archi-
tects for the new school to he erected
IN Harrison street. Mr. Armstrong is
a resident of Nutley. The selection
OF the f1rm was made at meeting on
july H. As a result of the debate
last night that part of the minutes
OF the meeting referring to the Sc
lection of the architects was elimi-
mated
trustee William L. Longfelder. who
nao advocated the selection of Arm
strong q DE Geleke, took firm stand
against appointing another firm to do
.he work until all the members of the
board were present. Trustee Marion
Il. Lewis was unable to attend the
meeting last night and Trustee Will
lam >. hlnsley Is in Europe Both of
.nese men favored the selection of the
armstrong firm. Mr.. Longfelder
Termed the opposition to the Arm
strong firm rank injustice.
ny vote of to it was decided
10 postpone the selection of another
1rm until September or Whenever
tnere is full meeting. This mearV
,hat the school will not be completed
In January, as planned
In selecting Mr. Armstrong on .T,,lv
u it was pointed out that he was q
local resident, and that his work on
tne new library was evidence of his
AFFINITY. 1t was also said that he nos
sessed the civic interest that would
make II possible for the board to ask
many favors which otherwise il could
not do. The vote at that meeting was
to l in his favor. ]. M. SattIer
voted in the negative, and the presi-
dent Richard W. Booth, did not vote
MRS. G. w. Little was absent.
President Fires Opening Shot.
AZ the opening of the meeting last
night the president fired the opening
snot by entering protest against
Mr.. Armstrong; selection. He based
ms objections on the fact that Arm
strong's price Is above the other bid
GERS and added that he has seen no
work as yet which, he said, adds to
ms credit. Mr. Longfelder mentioned
tne new Carnegie Library, to which
WI. booth asserted that the building
was more of detriment than n
credit to any architect. He said he
had heard many comments to that
effect. eA"'
:, Mr. Longfelder. who served on the
nprary board, exclaimed excftedly
tHat ne would like to know who had
said anything about the building. Mr..
Booth replied that he would like to
know who has said anything good Of
IL. He mentioned the fact that the
building is not facing toward the cor
ner or Franklin avenue and Chestnut
street, as the Board of Education
10 tod Frrt "a l.
lie asked the reason for this. Mr..
Longfelder said that both the COM
nlittee and architect had thought it
best to face the building directly
toward Centre street.
rhat is an instance of how thin
:, Armstrong isl Mr.. Booth asserted.
''He told me personally that he had
urged that the building face the other
way. This brought Mr.. Longfelder
to his feet. shouting that Armstrong
was not thin and he wanted every
member to know it,"
Woman Meanber Protests.
Trustee Mrs. Joseph d. Little took
a hand in the discussion to say she
had come from Boston to voice her OBJ
jections to Armstrong serving as ar
chitect. She was indignant to think
that Mr.. Longfelder should think 1t
Ill lHJuSI1ce u feSclUQ lH6 ACTION OIL
selecting Mr.. Armstrong; firm in the
absence of two of the members. She
remarked that nothing was mentioned
about her absence when the original
selection had been made. She based
her objections to Armstrong on the
ground that he is inexperienced and
that, although he has submitted plans
for schools in several municipalities,
none have been accepted.
With Mr. Longfelder still protesting
vote on accepting the minutes as
read, with the exception of the APP
pointment of Armstrong, was taken.
1t resulted as follows: For, Messrs.
Booth, Sattler, Dakin and Mrs. Little;
against, Messrs. Calkins, Longfelder
and Mitchell.
The question of appointing a new
architect was then brought up, but Ii
was decided to await full meeting.
II. King Conklin is the choice of those
opposed to Armstrong.