New Britain herald., 1917-06-20
FIRE BOARD AGAIN
 FAILS TO ORGANIZE
Salary Question Holds Up Choos-
 ing Chairman and Clerk

Many matters. largely of . purely
 routine nature, accumulated during the period intervening between the time the old safety board became in- active as an executive body and the appointment of the present commis- sioners under the amended charter were taken up by the Ire board at last nights session, the second sinc:s it's organization. There was 3 lengthy discussion relative to the pension system and tho best methods of applying 1t, needed repairs in the | department came In for considerable comment while desired ordinance
 changes were talked over prepara-
 tory to recommendations being sub-
 mitted to the common council in
 the near future. Alfred E. MagHell
 was continued as chairman of the
 board upon motion of Commissioners
 Conlon. A motion by Commissioner
 Camp that steps be taken for ee-
 curing bond for the acting chair
 man of the board was passed. A
 vote was passed that the captain of
 each company be considered and held
 responsible as clerk of his company.
 There was no permanent organiza- tion, it being the belief that this ac- tion should be delayed until compen-
 sation for the chairman and clerk
 is fixed by the common council. It
 was reported that the only applica- ton received for the clerkship has been from Howard A. Timbrell, local newspaper man. Because there has
 been no salary fixed for the place and
 no permanent chairman selected, it
 was voted to table the application in-
 definitely.
 The meeting was called at 8 o'clock with Commissioner Magneli acting in the dual capacity of chair- man and clerk. Pensions were taken up as the first item of business re- quiring attention. Because there are contemplated changes pending rel ative to the pension rules, 1t was voted that 1t will be advisable to con- suit with Mayor George A. Quigley before taking definite action. Prior to definite action there will be a con- ference with Mayor Quigley, fire commissioners the pension board and the Firemen's Pension Associa- iton. Five. former members of the department are now on the pension
 list with $1,000 appropriated annu- d1tye G AV0 lAOIS AdV0 AQQ14CAL1Ok1S ! filed to be pensioned and seven more will be eligible for pensions, If the allotment anticipated is allowed by the city.
 The opinion was expressed that some of the pension applications have been made because those mak- ing them have feared being dropped from the department through the changing over of the departments makeup and gradual elimination. i'm so far as possible, of the cal1men. Upon motion of Commissioner Camp, the matter of pensions will be dis cussed with Mayor Quigley by Chair man Magnell. Chairman Magnell called attention to the case of Harry Humphrey. one of the petitioners. as an illustration that immediate action is necessary along these lines. He said that Humphrey Is in no condi- tion to do fire duty. Commissioner Camp expressed a belief that urgent cases should be given immediate at tention and said he Is willing to dis pose of the Humphrey case at once.
 Chief Robert M. Dame reported that Humphrey, who has been in the de- . pertinent for over 30 years with an
 excellent record, Is attacked by pleu- risy frequently. He said that per-
 son suffering from this complaint
 should not do fire duty and is fre- quently unable to. Action was tabled
 until further meeting. !. E Following the disposal of the pen-
 sion matter, Commissioners Magnell
 and Moran left the meeting to appear
 before the salary committee of the
 common council relative to financial
 remuneration for the chairman and clerk of the new fire board. Com
 missioner Moran stated that the ire
 department demanded about three
 fourths of the attention of the for mer safety board and was much heavier in business presented for ac- ton than the police department. It was also explained by htm that the chairman of the fire board is in su- pervision of most of the work of the fire commission and must give more time to the work than other mem- bers of the commission can afford. Chairman Eichstaedt of the salary committee could see no reason why the remuneration of the chairman of the fire board should be placed at a higher figure than that attached to the chairmanship of the old safety board. He called attention to the fact that the chairman of the safety board had supervision over both the
 police and fire departments.
 At a continued sessdon of the ire board, Commissioner Moran explained several items in reports by sub-com- mittees. It was reported that the building at Engine Co. Mo-. 2's house Is in bad shape and needs attention 1. badly. It was estimated about $4OO will be necessary to put 1t In repair. Chief Dame was asked relative to his opinion as to the value of the pro- posed repairs and as to whether the old engine Is worth the expenditure.