Mayor Won't Sign Warrants

For Work Done on Liberty St. Curbing

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IN VIOLATION OF CHARTER

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He Sends a Message to the Board of Public Works Calling Attention to Charter

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The council Monday evening passed the construction of a gutter and curb on the West Liberty street hill from Ashley to First streets, over the mayor's veto. Some of the aldermen argued that the mayor had been misinformed and that now he was willing that this improvement should be made at the expense of the city and was willing that the resolution should be passed over his veto.

Mayor Brown is not in the habit of writing or saying one thing and meaning another, and that this is the case in this instance is shown by the following vigorous message which he filed to be read to the Board of Public Works at their meeting Wednesday evening:

To the Honorable Board of Public Works of Ann Arbor:

Gentlmen-On May 18th, 1903, the Common Council of said city passed the following resolution:

"Resolved, That an appropriation of $250 be made for the purpose of taking up the cobble stone gutter on both sides of Liberty steret between Ashley and First streets, all surface water of Ashley steret to be connected with the present storm sewer and suitable curbing be provided for so to as to enable the property owners to have the usual lawn extension."

On Sept. 14 the City Engineer reported to the Common Council that bids for doing said curbing and gutter had been received and that it would cost $351 for said work.

On said last date the Common Council adopted the following resolution:

"Moved by Alderman Grose that the Board of Public Works be instructed to go ahead and construct curb and gutter on Liberty street as in their judgement." This motion was adopted.

The last motion was vetoed upon the ground that it was not in accordance with the charter and notwithstanding Section 137 of our charter which provides the manner in which all public improvements shall be made, the Common Council on October 5th at their regular meeting passed said resolution of Alderman Grose, the mayor's veto notwithstanding.

I claim the public money ought not to be used for the purpose of improving private property. But if the Council insist upon spending the money for the purpose of placing a stone or cement curbing in front of private property, I shall insist that every provision of our city charter and particularly Section 137 of said charter be strictly complied with before signing any warrant for such work.

Yours very truly,

ARTHUR BROWN, Mayor.

The provisions of Section 137 have not yet been followed and it will require at least two meetings of the Common Council to carry them out, besides appropriate action on the part of the Board of Public Works and as the Mayor will not sign the warrants until these provisions are carried out, it will be seen that there is but little probability of the Liberty street curbing being constructed at once.