New Britain herald., 1923-08-14
POLITICS CHARGED
IN PAVING WRANGLE
Mayor Accused Both Council and
Public Works Board
WILL PROCEED WITH WORK
Heated Conference at Mayors Office
This Afternoon Fails To Sway Com
mission--Crowe Hints Mayor Want
ed to "Get Fifth Ward"

Grove Hill will be paved this week,
objections on the part of Mayor A.
NJ. Paonessa Notwithstanding, the
executive was informed this afternoon
in a. conference with Chairman
Thomas W. Grove of the board OF
public works and after a heated dis
cussion in which the mayor charged
that the common council had been
dictated to by politicians and that
some were in fear of loss of their
Jobs when they overrode his veto. and
that the board of public works had
fallen in line with the other pol1tl-
clans" The conference adjourned,
the mayor announcing that he would
weigh matters in the balance and de-
termine what his course would be.
NIayor Paonessa declined to say
whether members of the board would
be dropped from office. He said his
meeting this afternoon with Chairman
Grove had convinced him what k1nd
of timber the board was composed OF
and that an important question OF pol
lev has been brought up in the wran-.
gle which has been going on for more
than a month. AS to the paving or
Grove Hill, the mayor will offer no
further objection being powerless. he
explains.
Question of Finances Discussed
At the opening of the conference,
the mayor asked Mr. Grove If he
planned to proceed with the work at
once The chairman replied In the
affirmative. The mayor asked if an
overdraft would result, or of the
board would be in position to make
other needed repairs without going
before the city meeting board next
year with an overdraft. Mr.. Grove
said it would be possible to live with
in the appropriation if no work not
now anticipated was made necessary.
Mayor Paonessa asked If 1t did not
appear singular that a proposal was
made to pave Grove Hill at the same
meeting of the common council at
which it was proposed to delay the
paving of South Main street and
Broad streets. Mr.. Grove said there
was no connection between the two
recommendations, Mayor Paonessa
afttrwards said he was convinced that
1t was expected Broad street and
South Main street pavements would
be tabled and there would be suff-
cient money to proceed with Grove
Hill. Mr.. Grove assured the mayor
that Grove Hill was not singled out
and that he would work Just as hard
to have the work done even if it was
not the street upon which the Grove
residence is located.
Mayor and Grove
When the mayor charged that the
veto was overridden in a political
move in which the board of public !
works had fallen in line, Mr.. Grove |
answered that there was no politics on !
his side of the fence, but that he had !
suspected the mayor of playing poll |
tics to rush through Broad street |
pavement and get the fifth ward"
The mayor asked if there were not !
other streets badly in need of repairs, |
in fact more so than Grove hill The |
public works head replied that North |
and Spring streets and Pennington |
avenue were in bad shape, but were |
not used as much as Grove hill which |
runs to the office of the Stanley |
Works. When Mayor Paonessa charg-
ed Mr.. Grove with disregarding the /
wishes of the mayor. the chairman re-
piled that the common council was
supreme and that his board would .
follow that body's order. The chair
man admitted that he had worked .
hard to have Grove hill paved even
after the veto had been decided upon,
but said he had not been two faced"
about it, but had warned the mayor
because he thought the executive had
double crossed" him.
The Hall Construction Co. will be-
gin work on the paving job tomorrow
or Thursday, Chairman Grove said in
the course of the conference.
Public Works Boards Eetter
Following is the boards letter to
Mayor Paonessa. which was received
n this mornings mail:
Dear Sir:
Your letter of August relative to