Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-03

Archie Meikle and Cnar1eS lf NAV son, representing the Westerly Sa1,ts " corps. at the meeting of tae Westerly town council Monday, asked # t were not possible to make an appropriation tc aid the ambulance corps, which was composed wholly of volunteers and whe gave their service freely to the ambu- lance service. MT. Meikle told the coun- eil that he believe the service rendered was appreciated by the townspeople, and others and that at the present time the corps owed on account of the ambulance service S340, and without funds to meet the debt. He said the ambulance charge was 25 cents a mile, which was collected for non-residents, but rarely from resi- dents, and added that the regular charge was inadequate and must be increased Snice the 7th of December the anba- lance had responded to 62 calls and had covered 315 miles in siE5le day n a circulation of calls. The discussion went along like this:
 Councilman Campbell MT. Mcik]e would an appropriation of S5e0 meet present demands?
 Mr. Meikle-Yes. sir.
 Councilman Thorp-Where is the money to come from?
 President DItson-t'f6n the nlsce4- laneous fund.
 Clerk Whipple-That su"1 cannot DC spared from the fund.
 Councilman Thorp-An approprlatIon ought to be provided from the regular budget, as it is just as essential as ap- propriaEion for highways. The wonder is how the town ever got along wltAou' ambulance service.
 President Datson--The ambulance ser vice is a public necessity.
 Councilman Thorp-It must cost con
 IT1tn nT Il lf MT. Meikle are not charges made for the use of the ambulance.
 MT. Meikle-We respond to many calls for which there is no pay. These are mostly locals. We try to collect for al other calls
 Councilman Campbell-Would an ap- propriation of $500 be sufficient now?
 Mir. Meikle-It would help very much
 On motion of MT. Campbell $500 was
 aH1fsropriated from the miscellaneous fund.
 Councilman Moore-Mr Meikle, you may call on me for $350 to bridge the sanitary corps over until the time foi the annual budget arrives, when l hope liberal appropriation will be made foi the continuance of the excellent serVicf of the Westerly Sanitary corps.
 An ordinance was adopted providing for the muzzling of all dogs permitted to roam at large from August 1 to Oc' tober l, this year. The penalty is death for the dog and a fine of s5 to the owner. It is proposed to reenact the or dinance at the end, of the year so thai the period of rnuzziing will be earlier A vote was passed urging strict and rigid enforcement of the ordiance.
 Charles J. Butler. chairman of the highway commission, asked the council if there was not some room In the toWn hall that could be assigned to the high way commission. There ought to be 8 place where the business of the commits sion could be transacted, where its books and records could be kept. MT Butler said Clerk Whipple said there was an available room or one that could be made so, in the basement of the building. but to get to it there wouic be necessity Of passing through the pc' lice station or the workshop of the wat CT department.
 Council Campbell asked MT. Butler if the commission could not be accommo- dated in the large room assigned to the town treasurer MT. Butler replied thai Treasurer Pendleton told him he could have no office or desk room there.
 President Datson suggested the use oi the private OF consultation room of the town council MT. Butter repiled the commission would be satisfied with any iuitable place.
 On motion of Councilman Harper t Eas unanimously voted that space be provided in the town treasurers office Tor the use of the highway department.
 PxesideAt Tristan D. BabeOek and Superintendent Thomas Mckenzie of the water and sewer board, laid the plans before the council showing that it is ex- pected to have the main system in work Ing order by the end of the year. MP. Mckenzie explained that the contract tor laying the pipe system began work in August, 1919, and by reason of the ex- sreme cold weather suspended in Janu- ary. Work was resumed April 2, 1920, but was stopped April 22, by reason of The strike. Since then there has been no work on the pipe system. By req son of changed conditions, the contractor has suffered large financial loss, and If compelled to continue under the con- tract would eventually fail and abandon the contract. The contractor could not go on with the work until conditions be- same normal and that meant the pres ent incomplete and unsatisfactory con aition of the sewerage system, carrying with it the road inconveniences. The board decided it was best for the work 10 go forward without delay, and thsre- fore agreed with the contractor on . re-