The Penn's Grove record., 1921-01-14
Mayor and Council
Finish Organization
Temporary Repairs Ordered at
Once to State Street and
Railroad Avenue

the Councilmen answered to their
names as follows: Robert NJ. Walker,
George NJ. Pyne, Dennis Fahy, Alfred
ellison, Robert w. Kidd, Charles L.
Smith. Borough Clerk w. a. Hunt was
present and Edw H. Keen, Jr, the
newly elected building inspector.
This is the first time for nearly a
year that all the Councilmen have been
present at any meeting.
There was also a large attendance
of citizens and additional seating ca
pacity had to be provided to accommo-
date them.
The Mayor appointed the following
committees for the current year.:
Streets and Sidewalks-Smith, Wal
ker, Gillison.
Fire-Gillison, Kidd. Fahy.
Finance-Kidd, Pyne. Walker
Ordinances-Fahy, Gillison, Pyne
Property-smith, Fahy, Pyne, Wal
Poor-Walker, Gillison, Kidd.
Lights-Fahy, Kidd, Walker.
Water-Pyne, Gillison, Smith.
Taxes (new committee)-Gillison,
Smith, Fahy.
Building-Mayor and Council.
Walter A. Hunt, Borough Clerk, read
his annual report of all moneys handled
by him for the year ending December
81, 1920. The report was accepted and
ordered published. 1t appears else
where in today's Record. 1t is an in
teresting and comprehensive statement
of the Borough finances and should be
carefully read by every taxpayer.
Recorder Walter Edgar also sub
mitted a unique and interesting report
of the police department for the past
year. This is the first time any such
complete record has been kept of the
work of the Recorders office and the
police department. Mr.. Edgar was
1---, -, - flI he fa1aEinh+ in rNg-
pairing this ~valuablee report. During
the year 1920 there were sly arrests
made for various offenses and the sum
of $1,721.55 was turned into the Bor-
ough treasury by the Recorder for fines
imposed.
Chief of Police Houseworth's report
for December showed that 40 arrests
had been made during the month.
The Finance Committee reported a
balance on hand of $9,165.25.
Two claims for exemption from taxes
were made and allowed. Frank III.
Moore's claim was for honorably dis
charged soldier and Dennis Fahy as a
fireman.
The proposed ordinance for the or
ganization of a municipal fire depart
ment with quarters in the new Bor-
ough hFlI was read for the informa-
ton of the Councilmen and referred to
the ordinance Committee.
A supplement to- the ordinance
lating shelters or permanent sheds
over the streets, height of signs, etc,
was also read for the same purpose
and referred to the Ordinance Com
mittee.
Mayor Hunt stated that recently
there had been several jitney drivers
arrested for driving in a prescribed
zone, on South Broad Street and West
Main Street. They were not carrying
pp1s cO1ioitinO any ma SSenOprS hUt were
driving empty. He wanted to know
if it was right to impose the exact let
ter of the law to this extent. He
thought they should have the right of
way through the streets the same as
drivers of other vehicles when on pri-
vate business.
The question was brought up on &C.
count of the practically impossible con-
dition of State Street and RAILROAD
Avenue
The opinion of the members was that
while the ordinance says jitney drivers
must not use certain zones, a common
sense view of the matter would seem
to be that they should have the same
privilege as others to the use of the
streets when not doing business.
The result of the discussion was that
Mr.. Gillison moved that the Street Com
mittee be empowered to procure Gin
'ders at once and make such temporary
repairs as WulU put the TWO streets III
condition for traffic. The motion pre-
vailed.
East Harmony Street was also in
cluded as it is in bad shape.
A motion to rescind the bonuses. to
the police officers was lost.
Some time last year the men asked
for increased pay. Council at the time
was inclined to grant the request but
could not do SO under the law. They
then gave each man a bonus of a GER
tain sum each month.
A motion to reduce the pay of the
caretaker at the fire house $25 a month
was also lost. He receives $50 a
month for seven days a week and is
,on duty "a hours a day.
Appointments were then proceeded
with by the Mayor.
W. l.. lowell acted as teller.
For Road Supervisor. Joseph Sailor,
William Dalbow and Cooper Sparks
were named. Joseph Sailor was re-
elected.
JOSEPH G.. Harbeson were appointed
Marshals and confirmed.
A. B. Houseworth was named for
Chief Marshal, but he was not con-
-frmed, the vote standing 5 to 1 in op-
position to confirmation.
The matter of appointment of Mar
shals is merely perfunctory. as under
the TENURE of Office act they can
not be removed except for cause. Con-
duct unbecoming an officer must be
proved, although some members were
of the opinion that a desire to reduce
the force or insufficient revenue to nay
the men would be just cause for re-
moVal.
Claude Ward and Henry Blohr were
appointed as special officer without
pay.
Edward Newkirk was appointed
special officer for the Broad Street
theatre.
Councilman Charles L. Smith. who
made his appearance for the first time
{ at the meeting, was appointed Mayor
: c' the Cabbage Patch" and the APP
intment was unanimously confirmed,
even the Mayor and the Records re-
porter voting for him.
Council then adjourned to meet next
Tuesday night.