Putnam patriot., 1927-10-20
MAYORS VOTE BREAKS Al TIE AND CITIZENS PETITION IS sTABLED-THoSE OPPOSED WANT MORE TIME-
 COMMITTEES ATTITUDE MORE coNCILiAToRY
Caleb M Seville of Hartford Pc Engaged Expert Opinion On Problem increasing Efficiency Putnams
 Water Supply

personally and WAS highly spoken of by the corporation counsel and hy the city engineer. George W. Perry who sad he Nas n0t acquainted with Mir. Seville but knew him by reputation as an engineer.
 One Member Absent
 The meeting was called to order by the mayor. All members except Al. derman nellsle were present The clerk read the call for the meeting. which was to see what action the coun- ell would take concerning matters concerning the water works system.
 When the clerk finished reading the .all the petition of the citizens and taxpayers requesting the special city meeting was read. The reading was followed by silence. After few min dtes elapsed Mayor Chapdelaine said: " hat Is your pleasure, gentlemen7"
 The resolution calling for a snccial city meeting, which had been prepar- cd by the corporation counsel was then read and this was followed by an other silence, Again Mayor Chapde- laiae said What action will you take. gentlemen2"
 
 short silence, arose and said that the question of water supply for the city of Putnam had been before the voters in city meeting. where the ease was decided by ballot on two occasions. At both the citizens expressed the wish that the commissioners proceed tn con- struct the reservoir and pipe lines east of the Little River, which is in ssszf Ftast hss recommendations of the board of arbi- tration and Mr. Charnock. engineer Of the New England Insurance ex- change.
 Council Not To Blame
 We do not consider the common council 10 blame for any delay in the water works plan" said MT. Rogers. He said there had been developments during the day which looked as if it would be possible for the city commit tee and the water commissioners to get together and perhaps compromise. "The committee has been willing to meet the commissioners nt all times" he said.
 Mr Rogers then went to say that there is no question but the sole power in the matter of water works is in the city council and that 1t has ab- solute control of the situation and that that power can only be changed by another act of the legislature. Hs then read an opinion to that effect in which 1t was set forth that the voters only had power to make the appro- priation. He said that this was the only power vested in special city meeting.
 ''In view of those facts. and in view of the fact that we are willing to work with the water commissioners, and to save the expense of another city meet ing that will lead to others and may go on and on, l move that the petition be refused"
 The motion was seconded by Alder man Ames.
 Can't Cut String
 Alderman Rogers asked the corpor- ation counsel if he was right Mir. Torrey said that he was to certain extent. No power on earth can pre- vent il special eiiy meeting being call ed f properly petitioned for. If it e mes to q special city meeting n vote to reseind would take away the appro- priatieH and then if the $l35. GOO is voted with q string on it, the common council can not cut that string
 br- Torrey explained that what he meant was that the special city meet- ing could Vote to spent Si35.0 to improve the water works system and then the council could spend the money as it saw ft. but that if t was voted to spend Si35, ,000 and the spe- eial purpose named as to build a re- servoir on Richmond Hill. then the council could only use the money for that particular purpose.
 Mir Torrey told the council that it did not have power to refuse to call a special city meeting if duly sign ed petition was presented and that if the petition was refused it would pro- bahly mean mandamus. "The citi- zens have an absolute wight t0 ps3i- ton for q special meeting and the council has got to call 1t" said Mir. Torrey.
 Alderman Rogers said that he un- derstood what Mr. Torrey meant and realized that the citizens could get d mandamus if the petition ] is rsfuscd He said his object was ''stalling for time 10 see if it isn't possible for the water commissioners and the committee to get to- gether." He suggested that Mir. Shamrock has not mentioned a con crete tank and he thought the opi- nion of the insurance exchange should be followed.
 State or Hystersa