Norwich bulletin., 1920-09-08

Town Treasurer James M. Pendleton, at the meeting of the Westerly town council Tuesday, told the council that in voting at a previous meeting to assign the highway commissioners to the office of the treasurer in the town hall, that the councilmen did not appreciate the significance of that vote He said the office is under bonds and that the treas urer ought not to have anybody else in the office except his own clerk. There is not room enough there for others and besides there is considerable money handled there and should anything nap pen to go wrong the treasurer would not have trouble in locating the trouble, with outsiders eliminated from the office
 Then followed a general discussion of Are protection for the treasurer's records, and the main question as to quarters for the highway commission in the treasur- CTS office was sidetracked. There was a general debate on the question of safe guarding the records, Councilmen Moore Harper, Thorpe and Datson, met Clerk Whipple and Treasurer Pendleton, as the dispultAnts There were some lively tilts during the discussions. At one point Alderman Thorpe declared it was not good policy not to have all town records properly protected, including those of tbe treasurer. The town pays a premium of Slo0 a year on the treasurer's bond, but will not pay $500 for Insurance. He said there was more danger of the re- cords burning than the treasurer skip ping the town.
 President Datson brought the discus sion to close, or nearly so, when ne asked: How about room for the high way commissioners in the town hail?'
 Councilman Harper said the comn'is- sioners certainly required room, and he supposed the matter was settled. He presumed the objection of the treasurer would prevail, and now the question was where could the commission be located
 Councilman Thorpe suggested giving the commissioners the temporary use oi the private room of the town council said that the commission must have ar office. Perhaps. in due time, the spart space in the basement might be utilized for offices and this could readily be SC cured by entrance to the basement iron Union street.
 On motion of Councilman Moore i was voted to give over the use of the pri vate council room to the highway com missioners.
 Farauahar Smith and Mrs. Franl Greenman, for themselves and oth sr residents of George street, explained t the council their trials and tribuations due to the damage and inconvenience o property owners in that street by tn lack of disposition of the. surface water Cellars contained water. lawns am yards overflowed, contents of cesspool on the ground surface and the flowag Of sewage in the gutters. They aslSe for relief They suggested that drai be constructed to carry off this surfac water and that it be built in connectio with the one to be constructed in Schoc street The property owners understoo they would be required to build drains o their own premises to connect with tn main drain. and would be satisfied bear their share Of the expense, as wa done in Newton avenue.
 Highway Commissioner Butler declare the conditions in George street wei about the same as prevailed in Newto avenue and presumed the cost of in provement could be met in like manne