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Kentish Independent, Saturday 1st July 1882.
New Vestry Offices.
The Vestry next considered the question of the removal of the Vestry
offices. They were formerly situated at the Volunteer Drill Hall;
but Mr. Burnett, vestry clerk, had removed the offices to a building
formerly used as the "George Inn," Old Charlton, without consulting
the Vestry, on the ground at the Drill Hall was unsuitable and
unhealthy. Several members considered that the Vestry should have
been consulted before the change was made; and it was ultimately
arranged to accept the new building at a rent of £20 a year. the
same as paid for the part of the Drill Hall. It transpired that the
overseer would have to pay a years rent before the Drill Hall
tenancy could be legally terminated; and Mr. Burnett (who was the
owner of the new building) agreed that no rent need be paid him the
first year.
It was arranged that the overseers should consider and decide upon
equitable arrangements to be made with Mr. Burnett as to the rent,
and for providing an iron safe for the custody and preservation of
the parish books and documents.
An animated discussion ensued on the chairman of objecting to the
reading of a letter from the Charlton Ratepayers' Association. It
referred to the removal of the Vestry office, and the chairman, on
the ground that the association had no locus standi in the Vestry,
had the reading of it postponed until the subject had been discussed
and adjudicated upon.
Mr. Graham is that a letter from any rate payer, addressed to the
Vestry, should be read and considered.
The Chairman said that he was quite willing to hear anyone
personally representing the association; but he maintained that they
could not officially recognise the Charlton Ratepayers' Association,
who had no legal status in the parish. If no Vestryman liked to
become the mouthpiece of the association, he would have no objection
to the letter being taken as coming from the secretary, who was, no
doubt, a ratepayer. he urged that it would be establishing a
dangerous president to take the letter as emanating from an
association.
Mr. Harper said he objected to the letter being taken in that light.
He maintained that the letter should be read, and taken for what it
really was, viz., a formal communication from the Charlton
Ratepayers' Association to the Charlton Vestry. At the previous
Vestry they recognised the association by receiving a deputation
from it.
The chairman said he regarded it as a deputation from the ratepayers
and not from the association.
Mr. Graham moved, and it was duly secondary, that the letter be
read, and after some further objection, Mr. Graham insisted on his
motion being put to the Vestry.
The Chairman, however, did not put it, but agreed that the letter
should be read, and if it turned out to be on a subject not before
the Vestry, he ruled that there should be no discussion upon it, and
that it should be passed over in silence.
The letter was them read. It forwarded a resolution unanimously
passed and a meeting of the Charlton Ratepayers' Association, held
on June 21st, and stated that the secretary had been instructed to
lay ir before the Vestry. The resolution was to the effect that the
meeting regarded the expenditure out of the Poor-rate for the repair
of the churchyard railings as being illegal, and asked the Vestry to
recind the resolution which had the passed sanctioning the same;
also stating that the meeting was of opinion that the late Vestry
offices were sufficient for the requirements of the parish, and
considered that any additional expenditure in providing new offices
would only add to the already heavy burdens of the ratepayers.
Mr. Graham said the letter was a reasonable one, and move that its
receipt be acknowledge.
Mr. Ratcliffe said that the expenses of the churchyard repairs,
which were charge to the Poor-rate, had been laid before the
auditor, who passed the item as legal.
Mr Graham's motion was seconded and duly carried, whereupon Mr.
Graham gave notice of motion for return to be laid before the next
Vestry of the duties and emoluments of the Vestry Clerk, and the
number of his attendances during the past year. |
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