New Britain herald., 1919-02-20

The February meeting of the com | mon council was held last night Wl'h Mayor George M. Quigley preSloi'7 . and 22 members of the couiiC'i present. The report of the board ol finance and taxation was rece1Neu 'o gether with a recOmmenda'loli u
 the board The report "l'h
 changing of one minor llelh "'' | cepted and the rccommehi"'ioli r,,1 ordered printed in the mn u'eS
 charter amendments were dl9o "i0 cussed and all but two were d"op'ou without discussion The amount ot water bonds and the llhllI ol fo,rtb mile for the sale of water | outside the city limits were 'lie '"o itens discussed The meeting was na.,.ied on quickly and surprisingly tbere were no lively personal tits during the entire session.
 The petition for macadam on Austin street was referred to the board of public works as was the petition for a concrete sidewalk on the same street. A petition for the abatement of taxes and lien was re- ferred to the mayor and aldermen.
 Slight Cut Is Voted.
 The report of the finance and taxa tion committee was then brought up. Alderman A. F. Spencer moved it's adoption. Alderman Curtis made an amendment saying that the item for lead cable work is cared for in an- other way. He explained that the department had been particularly anxious to secure money to be spent for pneumatic tires and in striking the item of $2,000 for lead cable work from the appropriations he amended the movement of adoption that the item of pneumatic tires and the amount of s1,OO0 for the same be written in it's place. The amend nent was adopted. Thus the appro- priations for the coming year will be cut $1,o0o and be s1,46O,787.24 in stead of $1,461,787.24
 Calls Tax Rate Too High.
 Councilman Gorbach spoke on the l budget and did not want to criticize ! the work of the finance and taxation, l but expressed himself as thinking the tax rate too high. He favored some ] movement for the equalization of taxation. Alderman Paonessa thought ! the council should put no hooks in | the report from the committee. He favored it going through to the city meeting but he did say that he thought some of the departm ents could be more economical. He cited the board of health as going lover the top" and expenses were going up fast, Mayor Quigley interrupted to remind the alderman that this year the larger salaries of the health de- partment are all included in the ap- propriation for that board and are not on the salary list as before. Assessors Rapped Again. Alderman Paonessa told the mayor ! that he k'~'' r-r~thing should be i done regarding assessments where upon the mayor reminded the alder man that if he (the alderman) would recollect in his (the mayo-'sN tArC~ last annual messages he had recon mended q change in the method ot taxation and assessment. Alderman Paonessa replied. I've must admit the assessors are not up to their job.' He also questioned the water boards use of $460 for auto hire and ended by saying that he would oppose the boards in the future if they don't do better. The report of the finance and taxation committee was then % cepted and the 25 mill tax rate y~as referred, to the city meeting
 The committee on finance submitted bill for s11$.50 to be paid Dr. Black ridge who helped hnre during the re. cent influenza epidemic. Alderman Curtis moved it be accepted and the
 
 ment mo-~~
 Report on Charity Board.
 Corporation Counsel J. F. Cooper in an opinion presented reported tha- the powers of the charity board arg independent of the common counci and ill the absence of ordinances which right is given to the counci by the legislature, the board may fi3 6aiaries. The opinion was given a' the request of the council and em
 bodied recommendation that the corporation counsel be authorized tc pay salaries previously fixed Follow Ing is the corporation counsel's opin ion:
 II have been asked to give an opin ion as to the respective powers O. the charity board and the common council in fixing the salaries of tht employees of the charity departm ent
 Tn most respects, the charity board is independent of the common coun cil. It is the agent of the State O ! Connecticut, rather than the agent O. : the common council. These inde pendent powers of the charity board give that board the power to fix sal aries in the absence of an ordinance by the common council. The imme l diate question is this: When thu common council has passed an or dinance fixing the salaries of certain employees, of the charity board, is thi ordinance binding upon the charit,