The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-03-19
CITY Government Organized.

City Government Organized.
The Mayors Address, Appointment Of Com
mittees, etc.
The members-elect of the city council met at
10 a. m. March 10th and were called to order in
joint convention by city clerk, Eben F. Little-
field. James s. Hartman, Esq, then admin
istered the oath of office. After prayer by
Rev. Haraden s. Pearl Mayor Robert F. Dun
ton read his address, as follows:
MAYORS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the City Council:
The administration of the business affairs Of
the city for the ensuing year has been entrust-
ed to us, and we now assume the duties of our
respective offices. We must at all times bear
in mind that we are servants and agents OF the
people, and that it is our duty to transact their
business in businesslike way, giving to it the
same careful consideration that prudent men
give to their own affairs
, By the city charter. the executive powers of
the city generally. and the administration of
police, with all the powers OF selectmen of
towns, are vested in the mayor and aldermen
as board of municipal officers. All other
powers vested by law in the inhabitants OF
towns, and all powers granted by the city
charter, are vested in the mayor and aldermen
and common council OF the city, to be exercised
by concurrent vote.
The charter provides that the mayor shall
| from time to time communicate to both boards
| such information, and recommend such meas
ures, as the business and interests of the city
may in his opinion require, and that he shall
preside in the board OF aldermen and in joint
meetings of the two boards, but shall nave only
casting vote.
| desire to call your attention to some mat
tiers which / deem to be of special Importance
at this time, and from time to time hereafter
shall recommend such measures as, in my
opinion, the interests of the city may require.
FINANCES.
| We are unfortunate in taking control of the
city's affairs at time when the treasury IS
empty and the available resources insufficient
to pay the current expenses until the taxes
assessed this year are collectibe. 1t will
| therefore be necessary to procure temporary
| loan to be paid from this years taxes. In
| order to make this loan small as possible
suggest that the expendi ures in every de-
| partment be reduced to minimum until the
| taxes for this year become available, and that
the collectors OF years previous to 1913 be re-
quired to complete their collections and make
| full settlement with the city treasurer within
such time as the city council may order.
The committee should make careful investi-
cation of the condition and needs OF their
| several departments basis for making the
annual appropriations.
While the appropriations should be sufficient
for the reasonable requirements of every de-
partment, l wish to emphasize the necessity
of rigid economy in the use of the peoples
money to the end that they may receive full
value for every dollar expended
The purposes for which municipalities may
raise money by taxation are fixed by statute
and the funds of the city cannot lawfully be
used for any other purpose.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
! The necessity for modern school building
to take the place of the two buildings on the
| School Comn non has long been recognized, but
I the constitutional limitation of indebtedness
has prevented the city from borrowing money,
and it would be too great burden upon the tax
payers to raise the necessary funds by taxa
tion within the time required for the construc-
ton of the building.
A plan has been devised, which, if carried
| into effect, will result in the construction OF
this building, furnished and ready for occu-
pancy, at cost not exceeding $75OO0, by the
Belfast Public Building Company, Incorporated
during the present year, and Its lease to the
city upon terms by which the city will own
the furnished building at the expiration of
| twenty-five years.
A contract between the city and the COM
pany for supplying "a proper furnished school
DullOlnS aS pTOpOSeu, HAS peeA dolHoiiASo Ny
the city council and the mayor has been in
structed to execute the same, and to convey
the school common to said Belfast Public
Building Company, in accordance with propo-
sition presented to the City Government by
the president of the Building Company. A
vote taken at the election last Monday shows
673 votes in favor of this proposition and l3l
opposed.
The plan seems to offer the only chance of
securing this much needed building in the
near future, and it is hoped that the City
Council, while safeguarding the interests of
the city as far as possible, will cooperate with
the Building Company in the accomplishment
If this purpose.
The North Primary school building was
totally destroyed by fire during the past win
ter and temporary quarters for continuing the
school have been provided at the city rooms in
Memorial Building. The question of provid-
ing suitable building to take The place of the
one destroyed by fire should receive your early
attention.
The trustee under the will of Mrs Lena P.
Frederick, deceased, expects to able to dispose
of the "Hayford Block" and adjacent property
and use the proceeds for the purpose OF buiio-
ing public school house in the city, as pro-
vided by said will, during the coming year.
By the terms of the WILL the trustee and a
committee to be appointed by the City Govern
ment are to decide on the location and plans
of said building and superintend the con-
| EtructlOn ClereO1. 1OuE dtLeItlOu Will again
be called to this matter when the time arrives
for appointment of the committee.
HIGHWAYS.
An act of the legislature which took effect in
July last makes radical change in the laws
relating to the construction and maintenance
uf highways.
| Under this act an interlocking system Of
State highways has been laid out to be con-
structed by the State frcm the proceeds of 8
State bond issue authorized by an amendment
to the constitution adopted by vote of the
people at the September election, 1912.
| This act also provides that municipal officers
shall designate such practicable systems Of
public ways within their jurisdiction ss viii
best serve outlying communities, connect ad'
joining towns and villages, and facilitate
travel in reaching markets, railroad connec-
tions, and State roads. due consideration being
given to cost as well as distance and volume o1
travel When q suitable description of eacf
such way has been presented to, and approved
by, the State highway commission it becomes
an established and known State aid highway.
The State highway commission appointed
under this act has charge of the construction
and maintenance of both State and State ait
highways. Municipalities having the assessed
valuation of Belfast may raise for the building
or permanent improvement of one of its State
aid highways. not exceeding $1,S33 per yeal
and the State highway, commission, from the
State fund for State aid construction will ap'
portion for the same purpose seventy-five
cents for every dollar raised by the city.
This statute provides that on or before thu
thirty first dav of Decemher in the wear nine