The question of changing the name of Railroad Avenue to Madison Avenue will be put before the people in the form of a plebiscite, it was decided by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday evening.
Suggested by Selectman Harry B. Butters as probably the fairest means of settling the issue, opinion on which is sharply divided, the plebiscite will be worked out by Clerk Walter A. Blasenak who is to report to the Selectman on a plan of procedure at next week’s meeting.
Under the tentative plan for the plebiscite, Railroad Avenue property owners and voters living on the street would be allowed to cast ballots either for or against the name change at a special ’‘election” which would take place at a designated date probably in Memorial Hall.
The proposal for the name change was first advanced at a meeting of interested citizens, followed by the presentation of a petition signed by proponents to the Selectmen. A public hearing followed when views pro and con were voiced, and action by the Selectmen was delayed in order to give opponents time to circulate a petition of their own. At Tuesday night’s meeting, a petition signed by 185 citizens requesting that no change be made in the name was presented to the Board.
According to legal advice, if a street name has been in use for 25 years or more there shall be a right of appeal from a change of name to the Department of Public Works. Such appeal could be taken within 30 days after such a change had been ordered and could be made upon the petition of at least 25 inhabitants of the town Procedure would be started by filing a petition with the Town Clerk, which would be followed by a public hearing.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)