The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-02-16


the City Police Department and
authorized by the Board of Public
Works at their regular meeting on
February z, resulted in a special
meeting being called by Mayor Mills
on Thursday afternoon to discuss
the legality of the boards action.
AS was expected, the Mayor upheld
the awarding of the order for the
purchase of the four cars to the
Hoffman Chevrolet Company.
At the meeting, in addition to the
Mayor, were: the three members of
the Board of Public Works, officers
of the Police Department, the city
attorney, all the dealers who bid on
the cars, and some representatives
of the press and radio. Whatever
else that can be said about the meet
ing, one thing is certain, everyone
took their hair down and got their
gripes out of their system.
One important point that was
brought out at the meeting was that
no one had made any official pro-
test to the Board of Public Works
regarding the awarding of the bid,
this being brought out very clearly
by Ralph Sharrett, president of
Sharrett Motors (the low bidder,
who stated that he had made pro-
test personally to Police Commits
sioner Ellinger and that he had held
a conference with him, during which
they had discussed the matter in de-
tail, and Mr.. Sharrett wound up his
remarks by stating that he wished
to withdraw his protest to Mr.. Ell
linger.
The Police Commissioner, in no
uncertain terms, let it be known
that he was determined to stand by
his action, and in this statement he
was backed up 100 per cent by his
fellow commissioner, Joseph S.
Ward. The chairman of the board,
Aaron Reecher, announced that he
was taking absolutely no part in
the controversy, nor did he take any
part in the discussion that preceded
the awarding of the bid at the reg
ular meeting, disqualifying himself
because of the fact that, in his pri-
vate capacity, he did considerable
business with the successful bidder
Following the statements of the
various bidders, the Police Commits
sioner gave his side of the question
and explained how he and the mem
bers of the Police Department ar
rived at the decision-in the inter
ests of the city-in awarding the bid,
and it was very evident that the
Commissioner, knowing that the
Board of Public Works in awarding
the bid, was acting within the frame
work of the new city charter, would
deeply resent the Boards action be-
ing overruled.
For awhile the idea of throwing
out all the bids and calling for new
bids was kicked around, but Mayor
Mills, following Mr.. Sharrett's state
ment that he was withdrawing any
objections he might have made, an
nounced that he was upholding the
Board of Public Works in their ac-
ton, and following this announce
ment he adjourned the meeting.
AS far as I'm concerned, the best
idea that came out of the meeting
was that Hugh Middlekauff, who sug-
gested that in future the Board of
Public Works work out some plan
of rotation so that eventually more
than one make of car would be used
by the Police Department.
No one questioned the integrity
of the members of the Board of Pub
lie Works in arriving at their decis-
ion, and it was admitted on all sides
that lot of good had come out of
the meeting, since it gave the var
ious dealers a better picture of the
problems of the Police Department
as regards their motor equipment
1 thoroughly enjoyed being pres
ent for little while at meeting
of the Getty administration, held in
the Council chambers on Thursday
afternoon.
Actually what took place was the
meeting of a group of members Of
Explorer Post 2 of the Boy Scouts,
who were sworn in by Mayor H. l..
Mills as part Of the observance of
Boy Scout Week. For those of you
who are not familiar with the various
units of Scouting, an Explorer Post
is Scouting unit for older boys who
have finished the regular Scout
work.
Members of the Post were seated
in the chairs of the officers of the
administration which they were
representing, and they heard a plea