The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-02
Barre City Council Rejects
Proposal to Put City Clerk
on Salary Basis
ALSO RE-ASSESSMENT
FOR SIDEWALKS
Many Fees Now RI Gived
BY Clerk Not o':ted
With the G Ae


and fees, and 81 the city the right
to re-assess for permanent sidewalks
went up against snag at the meeting
of the Barre city council last night
and were voted down, 4 to 3, on yea
and nay vote. The amendments were
prepared by the legislation committee,
on orders from the hoard of aldermen,
and were presented last night for ac-
ton.
The legislation committees report on
the salary matter was to the effect
that the city clerk and treasurer should
collect and turn over TO the city all
fees collected by him and that he
should be paid such salary as the citi
,ens should fix, should have sufficient
clerical assistance and that the pro-
posed amendment should go before the
voters for approval.
Sentiment in favor of the straight
salary basis for the clerk and treas
urer took a turn in the opposite di-
rection when it developed in the debate
that manv of the fees now received by
the city clerk are not collectible by the
city as they are not fees for recording,
but are fees or charges which might be
made by others, lawyers, for instance,
in the making out of deeds and other
papers. This development did not show
Just what proportion Of the clerks
emoluments at present is in the form
of receipts outside the stated work of
city or town clerk, but the inference
was that the proportion was consider
able. The amount of money coming
from that proportion would not go to
the city treasury because the work is
not in the province of the clerk or
treasurer and a salaried official would
scarcely be expected to perform that
work
The discussion revealed that there
was some doubt about the likelihood of
putting the amendment through the
Il legislature because the legislature is
averse to making special legislation.
1t was also asserted that the city
clerk and treasurer could be placed on
a salary basis by vote of the city
without the proposed amendment Sim
liar doubt was expressed about the
chance of getting through the legis
lature the proposed amendment pre-
vidiug for re-assessment for permanent
sidewalks; that is, the assessment on
a new piece of so-called permanent
sidewalk to replace sidewalk on
which an assessment had already been
made. 1t was proposed to levy one
half the cost on the abutter, as is now
done in the first instance.
! Procedure along this line was re-
ported from the city of Burlington and
from western cities; and it was assert
ed by proponents of the amendment
that in those places the sbutters are
charged for the entire amount. Doubt
on the city's right to reassess, or rath-
er as to the collectihility of second
and subsequent assessment was en-
1 tered: and when il came TO vote the
1 the proposals of amendment were killed
/ together. Aldermen Loranger. keast
and Keefe voting for the amendment
and Aldermen Scott. Shield and Nc
Carthy and Mayor Langley voting
against a motion to send the amend
ments to the legislature.
Auditors Submit Their Report.
The final cleanup of the city re-
ports for the annual printed volume
was made by the auditors, who re-
ported that they had gone over the
accounts of the various officials and
| found them to be correct. They re
ported outstanding city bonds of Sll4,-
| 500. city notes OF sll3,34l.65, waer
bonds of $4,000. rents and other bills
I due Of S7OO.53, assessments due OF
| S5.O45.45. and delinquent tax account
4 OF $50 .6a5. .63. of which SG.i32.66 was for
the period from 1919 to 1919 and So
| 28297 for the year 1920. There was
4 the sum of $3.50 due from the collector,
James w. Sullivan
! Several items of rent and bills due
the city were charged off to profit and
loss by the council, as well as some as
sessments which were considered un-
coIlectihle These items will be elimi-
mated from the city report succeeding
the present report In the same eOnnec-
tion. the city attorney was instructed
| to proceed against~the Town of Barre
for collection of annual charges for
ministerial and school funds. the to-
tai bin now amounting 10 S3S403 City
Clerk Mackay reported that the charges
had been paid each year up to three
wears ago and since the delinquency
started he had received assurances that
the money would be paid but no mon
ev was forthcoming. These are small
items apportioned &c towns from rent
Of lands. and the city's share comes
from the original amount due the old
town OF Barre prior to the separation
Of the city in lsa5 There are none
Of these lands in the city Of Barre. and
hence the city looks 20 the town of
Barre for its share coming out of the
former townships portion.
The park commissioners. J. r san
guipetti and F. q. lee. submitted their
annual report. which Wss read lust
prior II that 81 the auditors. The
commissioners reported cash on hand
~ S7I542. II which S242.02 j. in the
Barre saving Bank 8 Trust Co. They
aid thev had expended sparinriv dur
ing the wear because II the high cost
az labor and other items in their line.
George Z. Bend Wants Damages
f.e0rre = Bond wanted % know
uhat the CITY was going 70 Do about
damage for the raising of the grade