Milford chronicle., 1953-06-05
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN
Milford citizens. hv annrnvinnatnlu .

Milford citizens, by approximately a 2 to
/ vote, defeated the water and sewage i'm
provement program of the Mayor and COun-
Gil at the referendum election last Friday
afternoon Ehe outcome of the referendum
was expected by persons who keep in touch
with public affairs. The straWs in the wind
nave indicated for months past intense Op-
position to the project. Lack of attendance
at the meetings called to discuss the program
was strong indication that the voters gen
orally were In opposition to the plan advo-
Gated by the City government. Vocal oppO-
slLlon was Increasingly strong as the time for
voting neared. The large turnout of voters
is evidence that the problem was near to the
hearts OF Milford residents. Whatever the
reaSOnS-and there were scores advanced
Tor opposition on the part of individual VOt-
ers, the result in the aggregate was over
Whelmlng against the project at this time
we have heard varied comments on the
result and the causes of the defeat. Some
are sound, and the reasoning is logical Some
are in the nature of opposition to individuals
ana personalities are involved. Some per
sons say that the vote was in effect vote of
NO coincidence" In our present City govern
ing body. 1t seems to us that the deciding
factor that influenced most voters was the
general belief that the 100000 program was
TOO ambitious. There seemed to be a general
rear that borrowing to the full extent of
ness and dangerous to the future of our Citv
In conversations with scores of citizens we
nave heard that opinion voiced more than
any other one.
We have found many. peOple.zvho opposed
the plan Which was defeated last Friday who
say that they might support a less ambitious
program Many people feel that the sewage
disposal plant may need enlargement-b
tney say that they could not 90 along with
gne plans which were defeated last Friday
we believe that plan can be formulated
winch Will take care of the necessary ENLARGE
menC OF the disposal plant. 1t is a waste of
Lme Tor Council to pursue the defeated plan
further. Their only hope, it seems to rs Is
TO bring their demands into smaller pronoT-
tlons-one that many people, now opposed
may be persuaded to support We doubt verv
much tnat Milford voters will approve over
$zUO,OOO at the most for the work at this
tllne. Ims figure, we acknowledge, is picked
out OF the air so to speak, We offer If aS q
feeler to see just which way the wind IS
blowing. Our City governing body must get
sampllng OF public opinion in some man
ner. POSSIBLY discussion along these lines
may bring results.
why not get figures on project of these
proportions? Council should be able TO tell
our property owners just what we can get in
the way OF additional sewage disposal facili-
ties Tor this amount. And while they are
studying the possibilities it might be adj
VlsaDle to get information on the cost of
having competent engineering firm super-
wise the work in its entirety. Such a nlan
VIII, we believe, remove strong opposition
from many who fear that local people can
not provide competent supervision Whe-
Iner we like 1t or not, this feeling does exist.
lWhy not explore the matter along these
lines?