Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-04
SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS
City Attorney Declares They
Can BE Collected.
Mayor Right to suspend n Police
man when Ills Services Arc Not
Needed Discussed Mt Length
by Aldermen.

sition to sell the city's stone crusher
ana another one to make the fire chief s
utomobil more useful by adding some
apparatus to 1t, and also occupied some
time in discussing an amendment to the
city charter about giving the mayor spe-
ciai power to suspend regular policemen.
finally rejecting the amendment As i'm
practicable.
Alderman Lamson was elected as chair.
man pro tenn, the chair now being perma-
henuN vacant owing to the fact that
President Drew becomes the city's act
Ing mayor with the resignation of Mayor
Burke.
The matter of eiectment suits which
were brought some years ago against
people who were occupying property in
the way of Depot street was brought
to the attention of the board by city
Attorney sherman. The suits are pend
ing in county court and the city attor-
ney wanted to be advised as to how
to proceed If the cases were called IN.
particularly the action against George
Saiger which Is set for trial on the court
docket at the coming term. Although, II
was represented. Mr.. Saiger's property
Is somewhat in the street there is plenty
80 StIt't " tThNtI. n
motion was passed to the effect that the
city attorney be authorized to have the
suit against Mr.. Saiger discontinued.
a resolution wns introduced authorizing
the street commissioners to sell the city's
stone crusher at Wizards ledge to Frank
Rafter. the price to be 1000 tons of
crushed stone at 81 per ton. Accom-
panying the resolution was a contract
providing for the manner of payment,
etc. Alderman Reynolds thought that
the city could buy stone cheaper than
q dollar a ton If there was competition
In the open market. Alderman Kieslich
said that the idea of selling the crusher
was to give the city freedom to go into
the open market and buy its stone. AL
derman Grafton thought that the matter
should be further investigated before ac-
ton was taken and he made a motion
that the resolution be referred to n com
mittee of three. The motion was car
ried.
A communication was received from the
fire commissioners to the affect that il
would be advisable to lave che chiefs
automobile equipped with q M-gallon
chemical tank. n steel basket TO carry
hose, and 10 feet Of chemical hose,
which would give the department addi-
tfonal apparatus. This, it was stimatcd.
would cost about 500. \ resolution en-
bodying these suggestions was adopted
after some discussion.
city Attorney A. l.. sherman in a COM
munication relative to the city's claim
against the Burlington Traction com
pany for an amount said to he due for
work done on the highway on North ave
nue. reported that he brought the claim
TO the attention Of the president OF the
Traction company some time ago. He
said further that he was now able to
report that the president would be able
to tell within a week the intention of
the Traction company. The city attor-
ney advised that the hoard delay the
matter for a time, The report was ac-
cepted.
UNCOLLECTED SIDEWALK ASSESS
MENTS.
The city attorney also sent in another
communication on the subject of the UNI
collected sidewalk and other assessments,
in reply to recent Instructions to so
ahead and begin suits for collection. He
said that he had examined the city's
books and had found that about $4,000
was due the city In uncollected side
walk and other assessments, besides a
large amount of uncollected sprinkling
taxes. He gave as his opinion that the
city had a perfect right to make the
assessments, in spite of a rumor which
had gained ground in recent years that
citizens could not be assessed for i'm
p~rovements. He added that there was
hYnhQ hly' M paaynn u.h,. tIo .xtt~
amount now out could not be collected
II the parties against whom the assess
ments were made could be made to un-
derstand that they woul be prosecuted
II they did not pay. He suggested that
the city treasurer send a letter to all the
delinquents in the name of the city at
torney. stating that paymen should be
made in a certain time with the Interest,
waived. otherwise the interest would be
charged and legal steps taken to collect
the assessments, He further suggested
that the city treasurer be authorized to
hire such clerical assistance as was
Necessary. A resolution followed this re-
port embodyinG the city attorneys sug-
gestions and was adopted unanimously.
Alderman Boucher, before the resolution
was adopted. raised the point that some
OF the sidewalk work had not been salts
factory, that the lines of the walks were
not straight in some cases and the walks
encroached on private property in others.
The board considered that this was a
matter between tho property owners and
the street commissioners
HOW TO SUSPEND A POLICEMAN.
Alderman Buell. suggested that perhaps
another amendment to the city charter
would be necessary. He pointed to the
Fnneran case in which n former police
man had just been awarded a large judy
ment against the city. affirming the judg-
ment Of the lower court, the case being
that of a policeman who had been sus.
pended some years ago but not for cause.
and who sued for his pay. Alderman
BuelIs idea was that the mayo should
have some power to suspend policemen
without pay II he saw fit. There might
be occasion to hire many extra police
men who would not be needed the next
year after appointment and there would
be no way to get rid of their services
without paying them as the charter now
stands. according to the Judgment Of the
supreme court. 1t WAS decided to refer
the case to the charter committee and the
board took a short recess while the COM
mittee drew up an amendment.
The amendment was drawn and was
that the mayor would have the right. in
case he deemed It was for the interest OF
the city. to suspend policemen without
pay, the vacancy not to be flled by other
policemen so long as the ones suspended
were willing to work. Alderman Crane