New Britain herald., 1921-08-15
Chairman Macomber AL ready Dropped and Premier of City Hall Threatens to Fire Others
Deposed Commissioner Says Curtis is Against hstalIa4 ton of Two-P Platoon Sys- tenn at Present.

Discussing the discharge of Chair. man F. w. Macomber from the board Of fire commissioners following a dis. agreement over the installation of sth6 two-platoon system in the fire depart lnent and the persistent report that Commissions John Tomazewski and William J. Donahue were, conten. plating resigning from the boards Mayor o. F. Curtis attacked the mem. bers of commission this morning for alleged discourtesy and poor city business policy. Sf-f
 Entitled To Know, Mayor Says.
 As mayor and q member of thes fire board, 1.-the mayor said. T am en- titled to know what is going on and. to have a voice in the business of thats or any other commission. To meet fnr secret session and to discuss. rnatteiA of such great importance as thos4 taken up Saturday afternoon is any. thing but courteous to me.
 Changes Are Coming.
 ''But there's going to b. q ciangA n the organization of the fire com. mission If the remaining members
 
 duce any two-platoon plan to the common council. whether it is a plan, which meets with my approval or not, without first consulting me, I'll drop the whole bunch from the board. And have an entirely new commission"
 No Redsnations YeG
 Asked if he anticipsk%d that such or<S <xs <4v, 1~S sary. the mayor replied that he did not Despite the reports that the res- .gnatfons of Commissioner Donahue and Tomazewski were to De present ed this morning. such action was not A conference had been held with the said or done which would indicate of surrendering his commissfonership Mayor Curtis explained.
 Macomher Dismissed.
 Chairman Macomber's disnissaf from the board came late Saturday afternoon after the mayor had been in- formed that members of the board were in secret session and discussing installation of the two-platoon system in the fire department The chairman and the mayor had a telephone con- versation shortly afterward in which the latter informed the former that he was not in favor of deferring the. inauguration of the plan after October 1. the date set by the city meeting. The possibilities of starting with q modified plan was discussed but the proposals of the fire chairman were not Tn arror3 wffh fho {doo q ox,x iy, <<5 the subject by the mayor. When Mr.5 Macomber informed the mayor that he could not conscientiously change his views, the chief executive notfneds him that his services as fire board chairman were no longer desired Written notification to that effect wasa promptly forwarded to the now ex. chairman.
 Donahue's Statement
 Shortly after Commissioner Dona.- hue, who was present when Mr. Ma 1 comber received his discharge, issued :; a statement that he could not change l his stand in the matter and would feel I; it necessary to resign. MT. Tomazewski arranged for a conference with the mayor which was held this morning.
 Special Session Likely
 The modified two-platoon plan 1 which is in the hands of the commis- sion will hever go to the common ] council for ratification since the Mayor has announced his intention of dis--s charging the commissioners as rapidly as is necessary to prevent any such step. The regular session of the coun- cil will be held Wednesday evening l of this week. In view of the apparent of drafting recommends tions in the matter for action by that body. the mayor intimates that a special session be called before Octo- Der 1 for final disposition of the mat ter.
 Just what plan would meet with hdD approval. the mayor was unable to state today. He did not fel that some Macomber's ides for the appointment of part of the extra force with the retention of the call force was feasible l; since he was of the belief that some i of the companies would not be proper [ ly manned, he said.
 Too Expensive
 With the proposed system, the {. mayor pointed out, a new fixed charge !. of $100,000 would be added to the 1 city's expenses and an increase of 75 {. cents on every thousand dollars worth i of property would be worked. The | mayor remarked that he could see no l justification in such action when the i members of the department are re- ceivin 10 per cent more money than most departments in the state and as much or more than any department | in Connecticut while other. taxpayers are earning in a week what the fire | men receive in a day.
 Commissioner Fred Parsons is out |