Palisadian., 1925-09-18
DRASTIC STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO
CURB The SPEEDING AND RECKLESS
DRIVING OF BUSES IN CLIFFSIDE
Councilman JOS Woodcock Brings Matter Attention of
Mayor and Council; Offenders of Traffic Rules to Be
Hailed Into Court and Fined; To Make Liability
Insurance for Taxicabs Compulsory; Other Business
Transacted.

| Ch1ef OF Police Joseph W00dcOck
brought the local traffic conditions to
the attention of the mayor and council
of Cliffside Park at their meeting on
last Monday evening and condemned
in unmeasured terms the reckless man.
ner in which buses are being driven
over the borough highways, especially
Anderson avenue.
Councilman Woodcock said that the
present traffic force was inadequate
to handle the deplorable situation yet
the limited police appropriation would
not permit him to put on extra men.
He recalled that the heads of couple
of bus companies were brought before
the mayor and council some time ago
but that did not remedy the condition.
He recommended that some drastic ac.
tion be taken for the protection of the
people.
Councilman Henry Dietrich agreed
with the police chief and said that the
drivers of the Independent buses were
the greatest offenders, and that no
trouble was experienced with the Pub
lie Service buses.
Councilman Michaelsen told of see
ing a little child that very morning
who had saved itself from injury and
possible death by falling to the ground
and rolling out of the way of speed
ing bus. The bus did not even stop.
He said also that appeals to the
drivers were of no avail.
When Mayor Joseph Marini sug-
gested that the traffic officer devote his
entire time to the buses and hale law
breaking drivers before the recorder
to be fined, Police Captain Frank Bor-
rel1 said he had but one traffic man
and he had many duties to perform.
Following a general discussion of
the situation it was voted to permit
Police Chief Woodcock to engage one
or two extra men. This will assure
the strict obedience of the local traffic
laws by the bus drivers.
Mayor Marini called attention to the
fact that there was no existing law
compelling local taxicab owners to
carry liability insurance and he
thought it a necessary protection for
the public. He instructed the police
committee to go over the local ordi-
nance governing taxis and to recon-
mend any changes that would be Of
benefit.
A complaint about the heavy truck
ing on Palisade avenue had been
given attention in the afternoon by
the police chief. The complaint had
to do chiefly with the back firing and
unnecessary noise made by many large
trucks now using this thoroughfare.
Mr.. Hubbard, garage proprietor, of
Palisade avenue, Cliffside, in a COM
munication thanked and praised the
local fire department for their prompt
response to a call when a car caught
fire in front of his establishment.
Members of the local election boards
asked the borough to make them some
allowances, as they did not consider
the amount paid them by the county
sufficient compensation for the amount
of work they had to do. Councilman
Meyer said he had been a member of
the election board and thought they
were entitled to more compensation
than the seventy-five dollars paid them
by the county.
1t was suggested that the matter be
taken up with the members of the
Assembly from this county and see if
something could be done toward get
ting them an increase in pay.
| The borough of Fairview asked that
600 candle power lights be placed on
the corners of intersecting streets with
Anderson avenue, between Cliff street
and the Fairview line. Mayor Marini
explained that Anderson avenue vas
the boundary line between the lgo
boroughs and the poles were all on
the Cliffside side. That Fairview had
put lights at every other block and
wanted Cliffside Park to put them on
the alternate streets. The matter was
referred to the street lighting COM
mittee.
Bids for concrete curbs, cutters and
sidewalks on Kearney avenue were re-
ceived and the contract was awarded
to the Bergen Contracting Co., whose
bid of $9,993 was the lowest of the
three submitted.
Residents of Olympia avenue, be-
tween Edgewater road and Green
mount avenue, petitioned for a road
improvement, sewers and sidewalks.
1t was referred to the assessor and
engineer for checking.
Ordinances for the improvement of
Columbia avenue west of Anderson
avenue were given their first reading.
An appropriation of $500 for the ex-
penses of the annual inspection of the
fire department was made.
Residents of Dewey, Olympia and
Greenmount avenues petitioned for
more fire hydrants and more street
lights. A resolution upon the death of
William Reynolds, who was one of the
first councilmen, was passed.
At the suggestion of Councilman
Weiss, it was decided to ask for a
reinspection of the borough by the
Schedule Rating Bureau with the hope
of getting a reduction in the fire in
Isurance rates.