Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-08-08

chamber on Monday evening two petit
lions, one asking modification of the
existing traffic rules and the other
strict enforcement of the rules as they
considerable discussion were laid on
the table.
The meeting was called to order by
His Honor, Mayor Allyn L. Brown at
8.25 o'clock. The minutes of the prev
iOus meeting were accepted and the
reading omitted.
Regarding the printing of the an
nual report of the Board of Fire Com
nisstoners and the enforcement of the
traffic rules Mayor Brown said:
AS called by the resolution passed
at the last council meeting, specifca-
lions for printing the annual report Of
the chief of the fire department were
sent to all of the local printers qauli-
fed for doing the work, for bids. But
two bids were received-One from the
Pullen Publishing Company at the
figure of $1.67 per page, and the other
from Milo r. Waters at $3.50 per
page. AS provided in the resolution,
therefore, I have awarded the con-
tract for this printing to the Pullen
Publishing Company, the lowest bid
der, at the figure stated.
The Traffic Ordinance.
In accordance with the resolution
passed at the last meeting of the
council, the police department. under
the direction of the police committee,
has enforced the traffic ordinance
passed by the Court of Common COun-
ell in the year 1912. While the en-
forcement of these rules, particularly
with relation to the parking of vehi-
cles in lower Broadway and Main
street, between Cliff street and Forest
street has caused more or less dis
cussiOn, I am satisfied that the very
great majority of the cYtfzens are in
favor of enforcing the ordinance as it
stands, While any ordinance which
might be promulgated to cover this
subject would be likely to work more
or less of a hardship in some individ-
ual cases, as any general rule usually
does, I am not yet convinced that any
better regulation than this one which
we found upon the books upon as
Stunning Office, can be passed. It takes
time for the public to become aCcuS-
toned to a new set of rules of this
sort, and we should respect the hon
est, divergent opinions o. the citizens
but [ hope now that all are more ia
niliar with the provisions, all may
become satisfied with the new condi-
tons. l wish to express my thanks
for the cooperation of the police and
many of the citizens IN the enforce
ment of this ordinance.
Two petitions have oeen presented
TO the police committee both Of which
III DG submitted 10 you lOI COISlU-
Grafton at this meeting. The first pc
titiOn, which has some fifteen (15)
SigneTs, asks for certain notifications
in the traffic ordinance and the sec
onG petition, which has some two
hundred and sixty (260) signers, asks
that the present strict enforcement of
the ordinance be continued. In view
Of the expression of sentiment thus
received I would suggest that the
best thing to do would be to lay both
Of these petitions on the table, with
the understanding that should anyone,
desiring the modification of the pres
ent ordinance, wish to have a public
hearing on the matter such a hearing
be held at the regular September meet
ing of the council, if a. request to that
effect is received in writing by the
clerk before that time.
No Wish To Be Unfair
I do not wish to be unfair in the
slightest degree in the enforcement Of
the ordinance. and while it is perhaps
q safe assumption that all of the res
idents of the Town Of Norwich are
now familiar with its provisions, the
same is not true of many from out
side. With the approval of the police
committee, therefore, I have today re-
quested the chief of police to instruct
the patrolmen hereafter not to arrest
any owner of a vehicle who resides
outside of the limits of the Town Of
Norwich, for remaining longer than
fifteen minutes in the prohibited
streets, until and unless after express
notice once given such party, he re-
fuses or fails to comply with the
warning. I believe that this warning
to strangers, together with the signs
which have been placed, and the gen
eral local knowledge of the rules, will
insure fair treatment for all.
have instructed the street COM
=.
the various Instructions which have
heretofore been maintained thereon,
and appreciate the cooperation which
has been shown in most cases by the
merchants and others affected by this
order.
To Restore Streets.
I wish to call to your attention for
walks The sidewalks Of the city,
like the streets. are in many places in
very bad condition. A broken stone
crusher and the consequent impossi-
bility of getting any crushed stone,
has prevented the street commits
sioner from making the much needed
repairs to the macadam streets, and
the plans for the streets which are to
be permanently improved have taken
time, but within the next few days
the public works committee expects to
make definite progress toward restor-
1IIS Tic SLISGtS " pIOpSI COlIulllOIl
recommend that the necessary reso-
Iutions be passed to also insure the
restoration of the sidewalks.
For years past the majority Of the
sidewalks of the city have been in a
disreputable and in many cases dam
gerous condition. Many claims for
damages have had to be paid in con-
sequence thereof. A long time ago It
was che practice of the Court Of Com
mon Council to order the walks in
various parts Of the city put into pro-
per condition and they were so main
tanned, but in later years for various
reasons improvements Of this kind
have not been insisted upon by the
council. and in consequence proper
sida Slks are the exception rather
than the rule at the present time.
While this is something which cannot
be renedied all at once, 7 recommend
that the down town streets be acted
upon first. and the abutting owners
ordered to lay proper sidewalks where
necessary, and to repair existing
walks where that is sufficient. The
city charter authorizes the Court Of
Common Council to order sidewalks
repaired or re-laid fixing a reasonable
time within which to do the work and
upon the failure Of the abutting own
er to carry out the councils order, to
have the work done by the street