Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-06
CLARK ATTACKS
AUDIT ACTION
Alderman Asks That His
Name be Expunged From
"Aye" Vote on Audit

When the minutes of the meeting
of November 81 were being read by
City Clerk Arthur +. Graham. AL
derman Clark asked that his name
be expunged from the list of those
voting aye in favor of awarding
the audit of the city's books to Smith
a Braverman. The fifth ware alder
man declared he had been led astray
by the city attorneys opinion. He
then read an opinion handed down
by Leo G~oldberger, the city attor-
ney, in September, 1917, In which he
said that according to Article IL of
the Home Rule Act all work for
$500 n owe must be advertised
for.
Alderman Clark then read the lat
est opinion of the city attorney in
the audit matter in whit the attor-
ney said it would be legal to award
the audit contract without advertis-
ing for bids.
The alderman then read the
charge of Judge Gummere to the
Essex county grand jury in which
he said it was illegal to award con-
tracts for NOR, than $500 without
advertising. The people securing
the contracts under such conditions.
Alderman Clark said, cannot force
the city to pay them for their work.
AS the alderman completed his
Ease he added, speaking of Attorney
Goldberger: It's a good thing he
is almost at the end of his rope" To
which the attorney replied: You
are about at the end of your rope,
too"
Alderman Clark maintained that
the price of the work this year
was higher than that of former
years. Alderman Waters explained
that the new assessment maps now
in use added considerably to the
work of the auditors and said that
in former years the firms securing
the contracts had failed to make
any money on the work.
A resolution was adopted transfer
ing $500 from the city plan to the
streets and sewers appropriation and
$500 from the fire alarm to the fire
appropriation.
State Commissioner of Municipal
Accounts Walter r. Darby had a
communication before the board
showing the sinking fund require
ments for the fiscal year beginning
January l, 1922. The figures in the
statement follow: General bonds,
S42, SO3.43; water bonds, $16,9SS.65;
school bonds, $1S,164.44. Total an
nual requirements, $77,956.52. Spe-
cial sinking fund in excess of mini
mum, $~10,121.77. Total require
ments, ~SSS,07S.29. Sinking fund
bonds maturing in 1922 amoun to
s2S7, 900 and serial bonds maturing
in 1922 amount to 5000.
The Board OF Fire Wardens had a
communication before the board, to-
gether with an ordinance to cover
h fire risk situation in this city.
The letter said that the fire wardens
felt certain that the ordinance, if
enforced, would cut down fires fifty
PERCENT. but pointed out that 1t
wouM be necessary for each warden
to give at least two days a month
to this work. This they could not
do without compensation, the letter
stated, and the suggestion was made
that a salary of 5000 per year for
each warden be decided upon if the
ordinance was adopted. The COM
munication and ordinance were re-
ferred to the committee of the
whole.
A communication was received
from the city plan commission urg-
ing the city to DO everything in its
power to have a union station erect
ed in this city. A resolution adopt
ed by the local insurance agents,
which was before the aldermen at
their committee meeting last Fri
day night. was received and referred
to h fire committee. An ordinance
for . paid fire chief was included.
\ motion made by Alderman Clark
was unanimously carried it being for
the city clerk TO communicate with
the fire underwriters and request the
creation of a salvage corps here.
A resolution by Alderman Waters
requesting the freebolders to repair
Amooy emu from Myrtle street to
the city line was unanimously pass
ed. 1t was decided to invite the al
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and four ward
aldermen-elect at the meeting of the
aldermen at which the 1922 budget
will be discussed.