Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25
ALDERMEN REJECT
MAYORS PROPOSAL
Resolution Appropriating Bal
ance Remaining in Incidental
Fund for Use of Street Com
missiOners Defeated-Legality
of Action Is Questioned

At a special meeting of the board Of
aldermen, held Friday for the pur-
pose of considering proposal of Mayor
j. Holmes jackson for supplying money
to the street department to help out in
furnishing means TO clear away snow
between now and the first Of January a
resolution appropriating between $500 and
$500, tho balance which remains Of the
incidental fund, was rejected on the
ground that the sum was entirely made
quate. The board afterwards passed a
resolution approprating $1,000 to the de-
partment for this purpose, the money to
come from the unexpended balance of the
incidental fund and the remainder to be
raised by means of a temporary loan.
The meeting was full of spirit and in
some of the tits remarks were made
which verged on the personal. After the
rejection of Mayor Jackson's proposal
Alderman Ladd moved an adjournment.
II was evidently carried by an aye and
nay vote showed disposition Of the al
dermen to remain, just the same. Alder
man Ladd. Bergeron and Dwyer left the
meeting, but seven aldermen remained
and passed the resolution, presented by
Alderman Beecher, appropriating $1,000 to
the department
The street commissioners were on hand
With q full statement to show how the
department stood. They have had trial
balance struck off which shows the de-
partment at this minute to be in debt a
little over 1890. This is the first defin-
ite statement which has been made to
the board showing how the department
stands. The weekly pay roll is stated to
be about 5000, and there are continued
calls being made to clean out stopped
sewers, catch basins and other necessary
work. The commissioners submitted
this statement to show the inadequacy Of
an appropriation of $500 or $500.
MAYOR JACKSON's PROPOSAL
The letter of Mayor jackson to the
board was as follows:
To the Honorable Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen: Those in charge Of the
street department say that there are
not sufficient funds to it's credit to COM
plete the ordinary repairs Of the high
ways during the remainder Of the year,
and have asked for an appropriation under
section 1888 of the General Laws.
There Is likely to be small credit to
the incidental fund. about $500 or 5000,
which can be used for this purpose. 1
have drawn a resolution which l ask you
to adopt and which I think will take
care \of the ordinary repair work for the
few days remaining this year.
That section does not authorize the
appropriation for any other purpose than
ordinary repair work upon the streets
and we must keep within the law.
j. HOLMES JACKSON, Mayor.
Alderman Ladd presented the resolu-
ton authorizing the taking OF the bal
ance of the incidental fund for the street
department The question was asked
City Attorney Hopkins II the commission
erS had any right to use this money for
clearing away snow when 1t is stated
that It was to be used for ordinary
repair work." and he was of the opinion
that It could be so long as It was out
side of the 90 per cent required by the
, State. The vote on the adoption of the
mayors resolution stood according -
the old lines and was defeated, with
Aldermen Hall, Deyette, Mcbride, Pat
rick. Hanbridge and Beecher against II
and Aldermen Ladd, Dwyer, Bergeron and
Caisse voting for It, Aldermen Wood
bury and Bessette were absent. 1t was
following this vote that Alderman Ladd
moved an adjournment. Alderman Hail.
Who was acting as chairman Of the
greeting. declared the meeting adjourned
without taking a nay vote, but Alder
man Beecher called for that vote with
the result that the meeting stayed on
without three Of the aldermen, who de-
clared that IL any action were taken
1t would be illegal.
The passing Of the 5000 appropriation
is really only throwing back to the
mayor the matter as there already is a
similar resolution before him. Alderman
Beecher said. in presenting the resolution
that the amount would come far nearer
the needs than the 500 or $780,