Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-06-26


the date set by Common Council for
a special meeting to act on bids for
I engineering services in connection
with the laying of sidewalks, curbs,
etc. in the City Beverly, will,
from all accounts, mark the open
ing of stiff battle on this tender
subject.
Council, since it's regeneration of a
few years back, has functioned with
more than common smoothness, pro-
badly due to the fact that nothing
of great importance has come before
it for action. But in recent months
distinct change has been noticed
and Council is becoming strongly
divided. The administration of
police affairs has done much to
bring this about and today with the
big problem Of sidewalks to wrestle
with, Council is lined up into two
nearly equal groups.
This presages a real fight when
Council moves to award the con-
tract for engineering services on
Friday evening.
The bone of contention is, whether
the City Surveyor, Mr.. Clement
Anderson can be legally deprived of
the engineering work.
Mr.. Anderson believes not and is
preparing to defend himself in court
if Council awards the contract to one
of the several outside engineering
firms who were requested to bid. He
has the apparent support OF four
members of Council Messrs. Lauinger,
Dessaf1sora, Ikoibeu and bott. On the
other side are four Councilman who
have of late been dubbed "The Big
Four" and who are recognized as
the leaders of the sidewalk move
ment to wit: Messrs. Allen, Steven
son, Parsons and Brown. The one
remaining member of Council, Mr..
Woertz, has taken a position ION
the fence" and there is much specu-
lation as to the side he will join.
The above line up for and against
Mr.. Anderson was indicated at re-
cent council meeting when motion
was adopted to ask for competitive
bids on the sidewalk engineering
services instead of turning the work
over to the city surveyor. AT this
roll call vote Messrs. Lauinger, Kol-
berg and Donaldson, voted No and
Messrs. Stevenson, Brown and Bott
voted Yes. Mr.. Woertz refused to
vote and Mr.. Allen being absent
left tie which compelled President
Parsons to cast the deciding vote
which was Yes.
Since this meeting it is rumored
that Mr.. Bot has, upon further con-
sideration, altered his stand and will
defend the city surveyor. Mr.. Allen
on the other hand is recognized as
the brains" of the sidewalk move
ment and is known to be opposed to
the local engineer, having intimated
on several occasions his doubt as to
Mr.. Anderson's ability to handle the
work.
Some additional feeling has been
injected into the subject by the fact
that Council has taken the sidewalk
proposition entirely out of the hands
of the street committee. This COM
mittee consisting Of Messrs. Lauin-
ger, Kolberg and Donaldson have
resented it, declaring that the matter
rightfully should have been referred
to them. At the council meeting last
week when Bids were opened on
Engineering services,they were re
ferred to a special committee for
comparison and recommendation tc
Council.
This committee consists of Messr
Stevenson and Brown, both of whom
have gone on record in opposition tt
Mr.. Anderson.
Further evidence of the rancor tha
is being created in Council over ths
sidewalks, has been found in the at
tack which Councilman Donaldson
made upon President Parsons at thu
last meetin Of Council Mr.. Parson