The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-08-10
Special Meeting of Freeholders.

special Meeting OF FreeholderS.
Twenty-six of the members of tn,
Board of Freeholders met yesterday pur
suant to call by the Director, thu
reason for the meeting being the con
sideration of the laying of storm sewer
on Water street, Mount Holly.
At the previous meeting the Board
awarded a contract to the parties that
are at work on the streets of this town
F, giving them the contract of putting in g
storm sewer on Water street, at price
of $3,490. After this action had been
taken it was discovered that it would
not be legal to issue bonds for this work
as provided for in the resolution, and as
it was deemed that the work was neces-
sary the Township Committee of this
| township agreed to pay the expense of a
special meeting in order that the matter
might be properly adjusted.
Solicitor Rigg said that when he gave
an opinion providing for bond issue he
did not understand it was for a sewer
but thought it was for culvert The
law, while it does not so specifically
state, leaves the impression that bonds
cannot be issued for anything but new
bridge work and culverts are supposed
to come under that heading while
sewers do not. He thought the resolu-
ton on the books should be reconsidered
and rescinded and that new resolution
should be adopted, taking the money
from the unexpended balance for bridges.
He said the Board of Freeholders had a
right to say they would build the sewer
but could not be compelled to do it. If
such work was done it was not probable
anybody would object On the other
hand the township of Northampton or
any of its citizens might take out
mandamus to compel the county to take
care OF the water that runs from the
county road through Water street, and
he thought such action would be upheld
by the courts.
Auditor MacFarland showed that
there was balance in the bridge account
that might be drawn upon, but Mr..
Russ took exception to this statement,
he being of the opinion that bridge
work already under way would eat up
all of the balance.
DR.. Z. ID. Prickitt, of the Northamp-
ton township committee, spoke in be-
half of the sewer. He called attention
to the Improvements being made to the
roads in the township for which the
county would not be called upon to paw
a cent. 1t would be useless to spend
on Water street unless some
provision was made to carry the water
off and that can be done only by sew
er. He called attention to the fact that
the bridges at the crossings at Water
and Garden streets were not sufficient to
carry off the Water that runs down High
street, and which ought to be diverted
down Grant street, possibly. Some time
ago the county had a sewer across a lot
on High street near the mount, but this
was closed when the lot was purchased
by gentleman who built house on it.
While he agreed with Solicitor Rigg
that there was a possibility that legal
might be taken to compel
the building of the sewer he did not
think any one had such an idea in his
head and he would hesitate long time
before he would make such suggestion. |
Mr.. Esham then moved that the reso-
luton which awarded the contract for
the sewer be rescinded and it was DONE
Then Mr.. Esham offered a resolution
that the director and clerk be authorized
to award the contract to the Kelly-Mac-
Feeley Company, for the sum of SO, 400,
the money to be taken from the bridge
and the director and clerk were
not to be held responsible for any action |
that might result from such awarding.
The question was asked what the last |
part of the resolution meant, and the |
solicitor said it was intended to protect
The two officials in case anybody took |
notion to enter suit in any manner.
Mr.. Jones was heartily in favor of |
the resolution. He had per |
sonal knowledge of the need of the |
sewer, and he said he thought the time |
TO cross the bridge of scarcity of funds
would be when it was reached.
In this idea Mr.. Hart conceded with |
Mr.. Jones and called attention to the |
TACT that the paving of Water street |
meant the connecting link between |
Mount Holly and the territory below,
some of the townships having good |
'oads and Others being at work building |
hem.
Mr.. Russ still opposed the resolution,
as he felt the work should not be done |
now. He would be in favor of it next |
year if he should be returned to the |
board.
The roll was called and all present |
voted in favor of the resolution with the |
of Mr.. Russ, who was record |
I'd in the negative.
DIR. Prickitt thanked the board for the |
action, and then spoke on the subject of |
The road patrol system. He felt much |
good could be accomplished by this, and |
much money saved.
Director Davis said the board is all |
ready experimenting in that direction |
and hoped to show good results. AS no |
other business could be transacted the |
meeting adjourned.