Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-01-05
NEW couNcn. RETAINS HEAD
OF ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS



Thank you" said the ex-mayoI
as he left his desk and moved outside
the rail accompanied by retiring
Alderman Rogers. M. chapdelaine,
who no longer wishes title, and Mr..
Rogers, took seats outside with the
:. spectators and remained until the
council went into executive session.
Mayor Richard when asked the al
dermen-elect, including those outside
the rail, to approach before his desk
and he there administered TO them the
oath. A. Macdonald Jr., city tax col
lector, asked to be sworn in, and the
mayor complied with the request.
1 Mayor Richard then read his first
annual message;
Mayors Message
Gentlemen of the Common Council:
In accordance with the time-honored
custom of my very able predecessors,
/ submit this message:
! appreciate the great responsibility
Of my Office, and also appreciate the
fact that without the cooperation of
this body of eouneilmen my efforts as
chief executive of our city will be
greatly hampered.
| hope we shall allow neither per-
sonal nor political feelings to in any
way retard oar efforts as public ser
wants, for it is by eliminating these
differences that we can give the mu-
nicipality an economical and progress
i've administration.
| accept the responsibilities of the
office of mayor of the city of Putnam
with the firm belief that | shall re-
ceive your full cooperation.
| earnestly ask this body 10 adhere
to the policy or strictest economy in
all expenditures, such economy being
consistent with properly guarding
public safety and health, thereby lend
ing our aid in securing a lower tax
rate TO rehabilitate the finances of our
city.
/ am most DESTROYS that this council
retain, by reappointment. the services
Of the present department heads, as
their records show that they have rem
dered this municipality very efficient
services in the past.
Not wishing 70 place additional bur-
dens upon our already heavily bur
/ dened taxpayers. my recommendations
will be few. as ! prefer 10 take up the
problems from time TO time as they
may Of necessity arise.
City Charter and Ordinances
] believe that our city charter is
very good and that it is adequate for a
4 city much larger than ours.
The ordinances should be revised so
as to conform to the general statutes
and having penalties appended that all
may know their meaning. In the past
we have tried TO have this revision
made without cost to the city, but
without result.
There should also be adopted a
I building code that would guide this
body in issuing building permits, there
/ BY eliminating all construction that
might prove hazardous TO public safe
~.
u Great care should be given 10 plumb
ing ordinances, and they should pro-
vide for rigid inspection.
Our ordinances concerning the lay
ing and connecting of sewers should
{ provide more authority for the in
spector and inspection.
earnestly urge this body TO take
the matter Of ordinance revision under
serious and immediate consideration
and | recommend that an appropria-
ton be asked for at the spring meet
ing for special appropriations TO de-
fray the expense of such revision. BY
this accomplishment we can make this
body what it should be-a governing
body rather than body governed.
Sewage and Garbage Disposal
I Sewage disposal is problem that
I is about 10 confront US. How near or
/ remote the time we have no definite
knowledge at present. The State Wa
ter Commission has. on several occa-
sions. made the appeal that we take
steps to remove our sewage from the
Quinebaug river. This will necessi-
tate large expenditure in the build
ing and setting in operation Of filter
beds on land bought few years ago
by the city for this purpose. Action
on these appeals have been deferred,
due "a the finances Of the city.
The State Water Commission has
asked for another conference to take
place in the early part Of this year
which may result in the asking for a
small appropriation 10 be used in max
ing survey of unsewered parts Of
the city and in establishing cribs at
! the outlet of the sewage system to de
tefmina the amount Of sewage dis
charged into the river. This collecting
Of data is the taking Of another step
toward meeting the requirements Of
the state Of Connecticut.
Garbage at present is being collect
ed by Individual collections, which is
more or less satisfactory in the win
ter months, but very unsatisfactory IN
the sumner season, as refuse has TO
stand at times for several days, thus
becoming a source Of menace TO the
public health and its disposal some
what Of I financial burden 70 the
householdfrs.
/ firmly believe that ways and means
can be devised by which garbage can
be cared for in a more satisfactory
manner at a very low cost per capita.
We may not be able to arrive at a So
luton 20 have ii materialize this year.
but let US make a start by collecting
data from surrounding cities with ma
teriai suggestions from the State
Board Of Health. thereby making a
careful study Of the problem so as 70
arrive at a practical conclusion with
solution THAI may be recommended TO
the taxpayers next year.
Water Situation
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