Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-19
BOARD OF SAFETY
Had Discussion Over Bill for Baldwin Street Engine House.

I
 in its present existence of few months split yesterday afternoon at the meeting held in the tower room of the Leavenworth street engine house and the subject of difference was the Baldwin street engine house. Mayor | Thoms presided at the meeting, Con- missioners Griffin and Spain favored l the contractors, the Thompson Bros. while Commissioners Minor and phil- lips held against him and Commission CT Lewis stood between, inclining toward the contractor.
 It is peculiar that no fault was found with the building until it was all but completed, though the fault finders had looked it over several times.
 Chief Snagg was called to the meet ing to get his opinion of the building and he said that since the last meet ing no plaster or mason work had been done on it. There was a report he said, that Mir Thompson said he would do no more work on the building until he would be paid for what he had done Commissioner Griffin stated that Mir Thompson told him that he had short job at Brookside home and when that was finished he would resume work on the engine house, and that there was no work held up by his absence Commissioner Griffin said he had the chief of the fire department and the architect of the house, Thomas Freney there and the latter said the work was good. as good job as could be found in the city for the cost There were a few small defects but they were not worth mentioning.
 It was his opinion that the board was hampering the contractor by its holding back what he should have been paid. He favored vote that the board let go it's hold on the money that was legally due the contractor. Commissioner Minor would not favor such vote. He said the job was rotten one. The contractor said he would not do any more work till he had been paid for what he had al- ready done. It would not do to allow any contractor to ride rough shod over the board.
 Commissioner Spain took the view of Commissioner Griffin. adding that it was not right for the board to hold back eighty five per cent of the money due the contractor while it was pro- tected fully by its vote holding fifteen per cent.
 Commissioner Phillips sided with Commissioner Minor and added that he did not think it right that the posi- tion for certain pipes, radiators and other things should be moved Con- missioner Griffin took the commis- sioner to task in this matte> for bring ing in irrelevant subjects, matters for which the contractor was not at all responsible.
 Commissioner Minor moved that Mir Thompson be cited 10 appear be- fore the next meeting of the board. This got Commissioner Spain to re- peat what he had said and saying also that the city should be held to its contract and the contractor should be paid for what is his due.
 Commissioner Lewis agreed with him stating that fifteen per cent of the contract cost is always held suf- ftcient protection for any property owner to make god any deficiency on the part of the contractor.
 Commissioner Minor in some temper repeated his motion and Commission CT Spain amended it by adding that the architect be also cited to appear at the next meeting to be held next Wednesday and both motion and amendment were carried