NEWS: Proceedings of the New City Council, 1874, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Proceedings of the New Council

  The regular meeting of the City Council was held on last Monday evening.  
Fifteen members were present and President Samuel Lloyd occupied the chair.
  The minutes of the meeting of Council held February 20th, were adopted as 
read.
  President Lloyd announced the committees for 1874 as follows:  On
  City Property - Messrs. Rockett, Clingerman and Sink.
  Water Works - Messrs. Storm, Stokes and Ball.
  Finance - Messrs. John Lloyd, Sink and Crozier.
  Streets and Pavements - Messrs. Heess, McCartney and Markey.
  Permanent Improvements - Messrs. Olmes, J. Lloyd and Rockett.
  City Lamps - Messrs. Beegle, Storm and Stokes.
  City Ordinances - Messrs. Swartz, Ball and Markey.
  Legislation - Messrs. Crozier, Swartz and Heess.
  Sanitary - Messrs. Walker, Olmes and Storm.
  Printing - Messrs. Sink Rockett and Clingerman
  Bills and Accounts - Messrs. Markey, Heess and Swartz.
  Claims and Damages - Messrs. Stokes, Crozier and J. Lloyd.
  Fire Apparatus- Messrs. McCartney, Markey and Beegle.
  Fire Companies - Messrs. Bell, Walker and Olmes.
  Military - Messrs. Clingerman, Beegle and McCartney.
  Mayor Kinch's report for the month of February, accompanied by City Treasurer 
Carr's receipt for $10, received for rent, building permit and fines, was read 
and received.
  Mayor Gilliand presented a communication appointing T. S. Riley as Chief of 
Police.  On motion of Mr. Swartz the appointment was confirmed.
  John H. Carr, City Treasurer elect, presented his bond for $25,000, with James 
Lowther, Jacob Good, Wm. McDowell, John P. Levan and Wm. Murray, as sureties.  
On motion of Mr. Rocket the bond was accepted
  A communication was read from John M. Gibboney, applying for the position of 
City Engineer.  On motion of Mr. Crozier, the communication was received and 
filed.
  The first National Bank reported that J. G. Shollenberg, City Tax Collector 
had deposited to the credit of the coupon account of the 7:30 water loan 
$3,533.85 and to the coupon account of the improvement loan $3,827.04, and that 
there still remained due the coupon account of the water loan $876.50 on the 
January interest.  On motion of Mr. Swartz, the communication was received and 
filed.
  The annual report of City Engineer Lytle was presented and read.  On motion of 
Mr. Rockett the report was received and filed.
  Bills were presented and approved, and orders drawn on the city fund for the 
same, amounting to one thousand fifty-two dollars and fourteen cents.
  Orders drawn on the City Water Fund amounted to two hundred and forty-three 
dollars and thirty-one cents.
  Mr. Swartz offered the following resolution.
  Resolved, That we hereby tender to our retiring Chief-of-Police, Mr. Harnden, 
for the able and efficient manner, in which he performed his duty as Chief-of-
Police, our hearty thanks.
  The resolution was, on motion, adopted.
  Mr. Rockett moved that we adopt for our government, the rules of order as 
adopted by the last Council.  Mr. Ball moved to amend the 18th Rule by inserting 
Cushing's Manuel instead of Mathias'.  Amendment agreed to.
  The rules of order as amended were then adopted.
  Mr. Swartz offered the following resolution:
  Resolved, That the salary of the Mayor be fixed at $60.00 per month and the 
salary of the Chief-of-Police at 50.00 per month.
  Mr. Rockett amended to make the salary of the Mayor $65.00.  Mr. Ball offered 
an amendment to make the salary $70.00 per month.  Mr. Ball's amendment was not 
agreed to.
  The ayes and nays were demanded and called for, on Mr. Rocket's amendment; 
they were,
  Ayes - Messrs. Bell, Beegle, Clingerman, Crozier, Heess, Lloyd, Markey, 
McCartney, Olmes, Rockett, Sink, Stokes, Storm and Sam'l Lloyd, President - 14.
  Nays - Mr. Swartz.  So the amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. Rockett amended to make the salary of the Chief-of-Police $55.00 per 
month.
  Mr. Markey amended farther to make it $60.00 per month.  Mr. Markey's 
amendment was not agreed to.
  The ayes and nays being demanded and called, on Mr. Rockett's amendment, were:
  Ayes - Messrs. Ball, Clingerman, Crozier, Markey, Olmes, Rockett and Storm - 
7.
  Nays - Messrs. Beegle, Heess, Lloyd, McCartney, Sink, Stokes, Swartz and Lloyd 
- President - 8.
  So the amendment was not agreed to.
  The resolution for $50,00 was then adopted.
  On motion of Mr. Rockett, Council then proceeded to the nomination and 
election of two night policemen.
  Mr. Rockett nominated W. T. Howard.
  Mr. Markey nominated H. D. Whitmer.
  Mr. Rockett nominated B. F. Burley.
  Mr. Howard received 16 votes; Mr. Burley, 15, and Mr. Whitmer, 1.
  Messrs. Howard and Burley were declared duly elected.
  On motion of Mr. Swartz, their salary was fixed at $50.00 per month.
  On motion of Mr. Swartz, Mr. John A. Baer was nominated and elected 
Superintendent of Water by acclamation.
  On motion of Mr. Clingerman, Council then proceeded to the nomination and 
election of a Street Commissioner.
  Mr. Clingerman nominated Sampson Taylor.
  Mr. Crozier nominated Mr. Fox.
  Mr. Taylor received 9 votes, and Mr. Fox 6 votes.
  Mr. Taylor was declared elected Street Commissioner.
  Mr. Clingerman moved to defer the election of City Engineer for one month.  
Not agreed to.
  On motion of Mr. McCartney, Council then proceeded to the nomination and 
election of a City Engineer.
  Mr. Crozier nominated Wm. McDonald, Mr. Clingerman nominated John M. Gibboney.  
Mr. McDonald received 13 votes, and Mr. Gibboney 2 votes.  Mr. McDonald was 
declared elected City Engineer.
  Mr. Swartz moved to proceed to the nomination and election of a City Tax 
Collector.  Amended by Mr. Rocket, that it lay over until the first Monday in 
April.  Agreed to.
  The Secretary was instructed to give to Edward Cassiday a receipt in full for 
the payment of $250.00, being the purchase money of the old Vigilant Engine 
House.
  Mr. Swartz stated that the late City Treasurer, Jacob Snyder, had never 
received any commission for acting as Treasurer, and therefore, moved that an 
order be granted Jacob Snyder for the amount of the commission due him, whatever 
it might be.  Not agreed to.
  Mr. Rockett moved that the Finance Committee and the Secretary be instructed 
to settle with Jacob Snyder, late Treasurer, and report to Council.  Agreed to.

Altoona Sun, Friday morning, March 6, 1874