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38 Fire Depart- ment Assessment At 7:35 P.M. the following members of the Board of Fire Engineers met with the Selectmen: Chairman Donnelly, Messrs. Andrews, ,Cook, Fawcett, Hines and Roeder. Mr. Donnelly explained to the Board that the Engineers have received a petition signed by all the firemen requesting a 56 hour work week. The firemen wanted to put this issue on the ballot but the Town Counsel advised the Board that it could not be inserted in the March ballot but must be inserted in the ballot for a state election. The reason for the firemen wanting the subject on the ballot was to relieve the Board bf Select- men, Fire Engineers and the Appropriation Committee. Mr. Donnelly said that he understood the men were satisfied with 72 hours, and the Fire Engineers feel that 56 hours is out of order but that they should have 70 hours instead of 84. He explained that the Engineers feel that either the _auuciliary or call men working nights will not prove satisfactory.. He said they would like six additional men which will not increase the coverage and which will still leave the town undermanned according to the Engineers. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen asked the Engineers if from their experience would they think that there would be any savings to the community, and additional protection if instead of a Board of Fire Engineers there was a Board of public Safety correlating the activities of Fire and Police Departments. This Board would have control of both Fire and Police Depart- ments. Mr. Donnelly replied that this question would require considerable thought and he did not believe any member of the Board of Fire Engineers could give an answer immediately.. After a lengthy discussion on the subject of shorter hours and increased personnel the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen stated that the Board would take the matter under advisement but is not committing itself in any way as being either in favor or against the 84, 70 or 56 hour week. He said that the suggestion has been made that the Fire Engineers submit the original budget with the only change being a 10% increase. The Engineers retired at 9:13 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Paul Bowser relative to the water betterment assessment levied against pro- perty owned by him on Colony Road. Mr. Bowser stated in his letter that his three houses are serviced from Grant Street and he does not know of any benefit he would receive from the Colony Road water main. Mr. DeFoe presented a sketch showing Mr. Bowser's lot #99 on Colony Road and although there is no house on this parcel of land at the present time a house can be erected CC 1 1