New Britain herald., 1919-02-20
COMMON COUNCIL PASSES BUDGET
 WITH BUT Sl,000 SLICE CUT OFF
Appropriations to Come Be fore City Meeting Ask For S1,46O,7 S724-Assessors Come in For
 Usual Council Knocks

, being then no ordinance on the sub- ! feet The charity board, prior to February, 1918, entered into a tenta- i tive agreement both with the city doc 1 tor and with the investigator, to the 1 effect that if appropriations granted 1 in the spring of 1918 were sufficient their salaries would be increased The charity board at the time of making these tentative agreements had the authority and power to do it, because the common council had not vet passed the salary ordinance in uues- ton. The charity board then proceed ed in pursuance of these tentative agreements to raise the salary $2OO, sn each case, notwithstanding the or dinance. It is my opinion that they should not have done this, but never- 1 theless I do not think it can be con- strued as entire disregard of the counci's action, for the reason that what the charity board did. was in pursuance to a prior arrangement. Tt is my opinion that the council ! would act wisely in authorizing the comptroller to pay the investigator and the city doctor in accordance with the pre-existing arrangement and at the same time, the charity board should take notice that in the future they must act in accordance with the ordinances on salaries"
 The following communication was received from the charity board re- 1 lating to the number of employees and the wages paid:
 ''The full complement of employees required by our departm ent for the proper conduct of the Town Home and Farm consists of a superintendent and matron in charge, a farmer and wife who occupy a tenement in the annex building a nurse, cook, domes- tic and night watchman. Salaries | paid superintendent, matron, farmer and wife include rent, fuel, light and
 reasonable food supply and salary
 paid is for services of both man and woman in each case. Salary paid nurse, cook and domestic includes board Salary paid nightWatchman is without board.
 MT. and Mrs. George F. Kibbe and Mrs. J. A. Staubus, superintendent,
 matron and nurse, respectively, re- signed their positions and left the employ of the city on January 31, 1919. In compliance with city ordi- nance, these vacancies were duly re- ported to the city comptroller. It be- ing absolutely necessary to fill these vacancies without delay, the farmer and wife MT. and Mrs. G. w. Palmer, were appointed superintendent and matron, respectively, for the uneX- pired term of MT. and Mrs. kibbe and were promised the same salary, namely $1,200 per annum. "A trained nurse was engaged to enter our employ on February P and it was necessary for us to promise her a salary of $45 per month, in 1 stead of $40 a month paid to Mrs. l Staubus. who was expecting an in l crease of wages had she remained in l our employ The present domestic is 1 receiving $25 month and board. l Vacancies in this position occur often 1 and also a change of wages. The po- ! sitiOn of farmer and wife made va
 cant by the prom OtiOn of MT. and 1 Mrs. Palmer must soon be filled and l it may be necessary to also employ l cook and night Watchman. The ! position of paid cook has been vacant { since November 15, 1915, and that Of ! paid watchman has been vacant since l October 1, 1916, which has been a
 saving to the city of about $3,5O0 in
 wages and board.
 ''In filling vacancies we are con- | ] nance which prevents us from fixing l the wages or salary to be paid and
 as a result we will be unable to en-
 gage anybody to fill these vacancies. l Soldiers returning from the service 1 will be considered in filling the posi- l tions. Regarding the salaries prom ised the superintendent and nurse, we 1 would request passage of accompany ing resolution.
 Respectfully submitted,
 BOARD OF PUBLIC ' CHARITIES.
 "By A. J. HART, Superintendent" Mir. Hart offered the following reso- ] lution
 Resolved: That the action of the
 board of public charities in fixing the
 salary of the new superintendent and 1 matron of the Town Home at the rate
 of S1,200 per annum, as previously
 paid. and the salary of new nurse at
 the rate of s45 per month, instead of
 $40 per month, as previously paid, be
 approved"
 ! Tn accepting the report, the board
 of charity comm missioners was 1n-
 structed to comply with the ordl-
 nances.
 I The comptroller was ordered to
 draw his order for $275 in favor or
 Morris witkin and also In favor of
 James and Kate Long for $175, be- ing for the abandonment of building
 lines on Elm street resulting in dam
 age to their property.
 Report On Bills Payable.
 The comptroller reported the pay
 ment of bills to the amount or
 $S2O.59 for sewer pipe to take ad-
 vantage of discounts. He also report
 cd that he had not paid the extra
 $20O to two members of the charity