The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-07-03

at the special town meeting held Sat
uIday afternoon, but much important
business was transacted by the citi-
Zens present. r. T. Patten was elect
ed moderator of the meeting and one
OF the important items considered was
/ the changing of the lighting system
In the business section of the vii
lage Selectman Clyde H. Smith re-
ported for the committee appointed at
the annual town meeting to investi-
gate the proposed system, by which
the Central Maine Power Company
agrees to do away with the overhead
wires on certain streets, the new
proposition to give $4,000 candle
power, i'll place of 2,335 candle pow
er, which is the capacity of the pres
ent lighting system. The only ex-
pense that this change in lighting
will entail will be the additional
charge for increased lighting. 1t
now costs about $500 per year and
the new system will cost about $4,000
per year. The committee have TAX
en- the matter up with the Maine Tel.
K Tel. Co. relative to their poles and
wires and they agree to do away with
their wiring, in much of the business
section where the electric lighting
system will changed. Selectman
Smith commented ON the generosity
of the telephone company, in being
willing to do this at an expense of
about $4,000. a change which will
in no way benefit themselves. The
streets affected will be Main Street
from the junction of East and West
Front street to the South Channel
bridge; Island avenue; Water street
from the North Channel bridge to
North avenue; Madison avenue from
Water Street to Pleasant Street and
Court street from Water street to
High street. After Il thorough ex-
planauon the citizens voted to make
contract with the Central Maine
Power Company for a term of years
TO install this modern lighting sys-
TEN and a committee composed of
D. A. Porter, E. T. Goodrich and W.
B. Moody was appointed to locate
the lights./
The citizens voted to authorize the
selectmen to procure the services of
an attorney for the purpose of col
lecting, if possible, all fuel accounts
now due. Selectman Smith stated
that an erroneous record was made
regarding the fuel department in the
annual report, that accounts had been
accruing for the past eight years and
ne thought it was wise to clean up
the accounts. The citizens voted in
favor of the article.
The matter of voting for the NUM-
cipal officers by the Australian bal
lot system was taken up and discus
sed 1t was explained that each
candidate must file his nomination pa
pers six days before the town meet
ing with sufficient number of sigma
lures. The names are filed with
the town clerk and the ballot is
printed, voters going to the booths as
in the primary election. 1t was vOt
ed to adopt this system for the an
nual town meeting. 1t was voted to
elect all the town officers in this man
ner, with the exception of the tax col
lector.
A committee was appointed to in
vestigate the ACCESSIBILITY OF the en-
pioyment of a town manager. after
considerable discussion, Selectman
Smith said he believed that it would
save the town thousands of dollars
each year. Town manager to work
with committee of twenty citizens
of different vocations and from differ
ent parts of the town. Upon motion
of f. r. Hill, a committee of five for
was named by the chair,
consisting of f. l.. Savage, Miss
Blanch Jewett. William Morrow, f. r.
Hill and w. p Ordway.
1t was voted to repair the railroad
bridge, both planking and railing
having been considered dangerous,
and it was voted to raise $3.50 for
this purpose.
The voters decided it was wise to
sell the fire department horses, and
equipment. Edmund Gilman, local
truckman having offered to keep a T
pair of horses and a man in the fire
department station nights and to have
the horses within a radius of one
half mile of the fire department sta
ton in the day time. Selectman
Smith showed figures which indicated
that this method would save the
town $1088 yearly.
The article relating to the purchas-
ing of a chemical truck for the fire
department was passed over. Select
man Smith, chairman Of the commit
tee to investigate the conditions re-
lating to the same, reported that the
truck had been repaired and that the .
committee recommended that no truck
De purchased 1t was voted to raise
1880 to build sewer on Cedar street
and it was voted to install and main
ain electric lights in different parts