The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-23
CONSOLIDATION PLAN FAILED.
Montpelier Retains Two officials in Wa
ter and Engineer Departments.

ter and Engineer Departments.
Without an exception, the Montpelier
city council at the regular fortnightly
session last night, placed at the head OF
the divers departments the persons who
occupied the positions prior to the usher
ing in of the present council. 1t had
been freely predicted that an effort
would be made to consolidate the posi-
tions of city engineer and water commits
sioner, ousting John j. Chimney from the
latter Office and placing George Reed in
charge of the combined positions. An
effort was made to bring about the
change last evening, economy being the
basis of the argument of Aldermen Kent
and Galleher, who desired to dispense
with Mr.. Glinney's services. After more
or less discussion, no attempt, however,
being made to suggest any other name
than that of the present incumbent,
which had been placed before the council,
the vote resulted in the commissioner
being retained.
Another effort to save the city few
hundred dollars by changing the method
of paying the city attorney from fee
to a salary basis and fixing the salary at
5000 failed to meet with the approval of
the board. Disheartened by the outcome
OF the first two propositions Alderman
Kent protested feebly when his sugges-
ton that listers in many towns and
cities are only paid So instead of $3.50 a
day failed to meet any response what
ever.
The following officials were appointed
for the year; Chief Of police, p. j. Con-
molly; overseer of the poor, George f.
Lackay; street commissioner, c. B. Rob
erts; water commissioner, j. ]. Chimney;
city attorney, George L. Hunt; city en-
gineer, George Reed; Inspector of paints,
James p. Holt; surveyors of wood and
inspectors of lumber, Bert C. Newton,
Arthur A. Emery and Arson Miner;
pound keeper, E. l.. Putney; fence view
ers, Harrison Lombard, Harry s. Tabor
and James c. Finn.
Last year when the curfew ordinance
went into effect the curfew police, one
from each ward, were appointed by the I
council, but on suggestion of Mayor
Boutwell, it was decided to leave the Sc I
lections to the chief of police and alder
manic police committee.
Everything moved smoothly during the |
appointing of departmental heads until
the water commissioner was reached and .
Alderman Kent then gave the council his
views in no uncertain terms, following
the nomination of j, j. Gliney by Alder
ma Standish.
The ward representative said that
considerable pressure had been brought
to bear upon him which was very dis
tasteful that he had been told if he
dared voted to GUST Chimney that he
would fight him; another had informed
him that if he voted to consolidate the
offices that he had no use for him. He
was extremely weary of hearing PROPOSE
tions thrown at him. He believed the I
mayor wants economy practiced and for {
that reason he was in favor of the pro- {
posed consolidation. Alderman Kent ex- K
pressed the belief he was making a big
political mistake but he was not looking
for any office, so that it made little diff
ference.
Alderman Ryan sprang to the defense
of Commissioner Chimney and said that c
he failed to see how the elimination of !
the office would save the city anything t
in the long run. The council would I'M j
spend money in other ways |
that would eat up the amount of Gin Y
news salary. Alderman Ryan also men
toned the conditions at Berlin pond, the f
large amount of property, etc, and said /
that the present water commissioner has |
grown very familiar with conditions
there. Y
Alderman Parker assisted his associate
by remarking that he feared the city 7
engineer would have enough work to do \
to keep him busy for several years and a
he hesitated at burdening him with any
thing more.
Alderman Kent took exception to re.
mark made by Alderman Ryan that
some persons would not hear so much if n
hey were not on the street with pen I