New Britain herald., 1916-05-18

l lien; from G. M. Landers amending 1 the building ordinances permitting a l cornice to project three feet over 1 a public street 25 feet above the side walk.
 Bills Approved.
 The report of the finance commit 1 tee covering the payment of current | bills was accepted and the action ap- proved.
 Printing Contracts. 1 The committee on supplies and printing presented a report recom- ! mending that the contracts for print ! ing the municipal record, the city | roster and the reports and minutes ] of the common council be awarded i to the Eastern Printing & Publishing l company, they being the lowest bid | ders. The bids submitted were as 1 follows: municiple record $2 a page; for 1,200 copies, binding $95; roster 400 copies at $1.O5 a page; report:, and minutes of the council 80 copies | at $1.16 a page.
 Summer Closing.
 Through M. Irving Jester a peti- ton was received recommending that the heads of all departments a nd city officers be authorized to close their offices during June, July and August at noon Saturdays.
 Claims Committee.
 The claims committee reported ad- versely on the petition of James Con- ley and Michael Grove for compen- sation resulting from falls on icy sidewalks and recommended that the petitioners be given leave to with draw. On the petition of Mrs. Mary Russell for similar compensation the committee reported progress as a further investigation is to be made in her case. When the new civil service rules were reached Councilman Mueller was ready to move accept ance, Councilman Lenehan asked if the chairman had taken up certain changes with the civil service com mission. MT. Mueller said the changes had been made. Councilman Curtis moved to table temporarily until the council was informed of the proposed changes. This action was taken and later in the evening the rules were taken from the table and after some discussion adopted.
 Health Ordinances.
 Action on amendments and new health ordinances came next This proved a tedious business. Council man Curtis thought some errors existed in the wording of various or d1nances and he proceeded to go through the list, asking for explana- t1ons. Superintendent T. E. Reeks was present and responded to the satisfaction of the gentleman from the third. The repeal of the ordi- nance regulating the testing of i1- illuminating oils was proposed. Coun- cilman Landers asked concerning this ordinance. He said when it was passed tests showed the flash point of oils sold was dangerously low and he inquired if tests were being made TOW. Dr. Reeks said he had no knowledge on the point and said the method of testing oils today is far superior to any method possessed by the city. The section was repealed
 The civil service rules and physical requirement sheet for police and fire men was taken from the table and adopted as ordinances and an old or dinance amended, which simply makes it necessary for new policemen who have passed the civil service tests to take the oath.
 Lafayette Street Paving.
 Corporation Counsel J. E. Cooper furnished a legal opinion on the much discussed Lafayette street pay ing job, finding that the work is finished and therefore subject to as- sessment. The opinion which was accepted, follows:
 On July 15, 1915, the council voted to lay permanent pavement on Lafay- cite street from Main to Grove. On July 21, 1915, the board of public works entered into a contract with the Connecticut Good Roads and Con- struction company for pavement of the street with reinforced concrete for SPA per square yard with five year guarantee. On January 19, 1916, the board reported that the work was completed and the common council accepted the report and referred it to the board of compensation and as- sessment. The charter provisions re- lating to pavements other than ma cadam are contained in Sections 58, 69 and 116 and I do not find that the words permanent pavement or any similar expressions are found in the charter. The city is authorized to lay special assessments for paving or repav1ng with paving material in ad- GitiOn to macadam" or "a better klnd of pavement than the macadam now in use.' These assessments may be made either for paving or re- paving. Repaving does not include repairs to existing pavement and the distinction between repairing and re- paving is one of fact. An entire re- surfacing of Lafayette street with two inches of asphalt or such sub- stance would probably be held to be a repavement and not 8 repair. The facts are as follows: Reinforced concrete being a pavement better than macadam and in addition to