Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-01-19
VILLAGE MEETING,
Committee Appointed 20 Report
on Purchase Of Fire Apparatus.

mluulSpuIy was Htlu III lnc tOWH nan vi
Wednesday evening and was called to
order by Moderator Thad M. Chapman,
Clerk Joseph M, Burke read the warn
ing and Mr.. Chapman was at once re-
elected moderator and Mr.. Burke, clerk,
The meeting was very well attended,
compared with some recent village
meetings here, there being about $50
voters present,
Article 2, "to act upon the reports of
the village officers, submitted by the
auditor" s"-gave rise to some discus
sion. Representative Ira H. La Fleur
stated that he had not yet been able to
get hold of a report and knew of many
others who had not seen copy, He
thought the voters ought to have a
chance to read, digest and discuss the
reports before being called on to act
upon them, and with this purpose moved
that the meeting adjourn to Friday
evening, January 26.
John A. Fletcher said that the delay
in issuing the reports, which We're out
only one day later than usual was due
to the illness of the treasurer, and he
could see no reason for taking an ad-
journment
Dr. p. l.. Dorey moved that the re-
port Of the auditor be accepted. Con-
siderable discussion followed Trustee
Fletcher explained some matters in the
reports and called attention to the large
sum of $S6S paid for legal service in the
so-called dashboard case, the payment
Of which was forced upon the board of
trustees.
Charles f, Rich said that these flash
board expense items had been before
every board of trustees for several
years and that thousands of dollars had
been paid out on this useless lawsuit.
Mr.. Fletcher said the case has now
been in the hands of Judge Darling of
Bennington as master, very able law
yer, for decision, and report from him
might be expected within reasonable
time.
Mr.. La Fleur stated that the brief of
Middlebury's attorney had been before
Judge Darling for nearly a year now
and it was time the case was closed up,
and said that he would offer resolution
on the subject before the dose Of the
meeting.
DR., Dorey's motion to accept the re-
ports as printed amended to include
their adoption, was then put and
carried.
Article was "To see if the village
will vote to purchase a chemical auto
n obile truck or small car, as an aux
iliary to the present chemical engine. y
Fire Chief George F. Kidder stated
the article was in the interest of the
property owners, not of the firemen,
and that the apparatus could be pur-
chased for about $l700. A motion was
offered by Mr.. Kidder, which, after be-
ing amended, was adopted and which
was to the effect that a committee of
three be appointed by the chair to in
vestigate the need of such apparatus
and eport at future special meeting
what could be done at an expense of not
to exceed $l700. The chair appointed
as such committee DR.. Dorey, Chief
Kidder and Judge John E. Weeks. The
motion to adopt the article and amend
ments offered in its final form by Judge
Weeks.
Article a "To vote tax for main
tanning and repairing walks in said vii
lage," came next, and on motion of Mr..
Fletcher the usual tax of 20 cents on
the dollar was voted.
Article "To vote tax to pay the
expenses Of the ensuing year and to pay
outstanding orders and obligations of
the village, and interest" produced
quite discussion. Judge Weeks said
that the auditors suggested SO cents on
the dollar as the tax and that as for
himself he should like the tax to be suf-
ficient to pay the years bills and clean
up the backstanding indebtedness, and
he moved that the tax be SO cents on
the dollar of this years grand list.
Mr.. Fletcher thought that we could
pull through with so per cent tax.
Judge Weeks accepted the amendment
he offered to that effect and a so per
cent tax was voted.
Article "To elect the remaining vii
lage officers" was next in order, and on
motion of DR.. Dorey all of the present
officers were elected unanimously to
serve for another year. They are Will
lis N. Cady, Phelps N. SWEET, Arthur
N. Brown, John A. Fletcher, Philip E.
Melen, Peter j. Hincks and Isaac La
vonche, jr.
George N. Shambo was reelected
water commissioner for three years;
George +. Kidder. chief of the fire de-