New Britain herald., 1925-02-11
MAYOR ASKS LIGHT.
 0N CHARTER VIEWS
Writes Letter of Inquiry to
 Alling and Rackli6e
ZONING ACT DISPLEASES HIM
Paonessa Expresses Belief Chief Executive should Not Have Arbi- trary Authority to Dismiss Mem bers of Board of Adjustment.

Tn a letter received today by Rep resentatives B. w. filling and Fred erick 0. Rackliffe, Mayor A. NJ. Pa onessa inquires whether they con template suggesting changes to the city charter at the session of the legislature and asks them to inform him regarding the date and place of any hearing on charter amendments scheduled to be held before the committee on cities and boroughs of the general assembly.
 Mayor Paonessa also makes his stand plain on the question of re- moving members of the board of ad- iustment, who will be appointed in connection with the adoption of the zoning enabling act. He expresses the opinion that removal should not be made by the mayor. Explaining this belief, he says:
 If the present amendment pre- vails, the whole system of zoning is placed virtually under the control of the city's chief executive and I seri- ously doubt if it will be conductive to a spirit of willingness to serve on the part of men whose services on the board of adjustment would be invaluable to the city.%
 The Mayors Letter
 Mayor Paonessa's letter, which was not given out by his office, follows:
 As you are aware, the report of the committee on charter revision has been ratified by the common council and will soon go to the legis- lative committee on cities and bor- oughs for approval.
 "The charter revision committee has devoted much time to 0 study of the need for changes in the basic law of our city and has made im- portant recommendations. It may be that you, as a member of the as- sembly, are considering changes in the committees report, and if so I would be interested to know what form your amendments will take. I trust 1t will be possible for you to advise the city at least one week before the hearing before the legis- slative, committee, tas to the time and place Of hearing and also furnish us with copy of the changes you pro- pose to offer.
 T might say at this time that in my opinion one change should be made in that part of the amend ments which pertain to zoning enabling act, governing removal of members of the board of adjust ment. l regret to say that l was not in a position to attend a meet ing of the charter revision commit tee which took action on the en- abling act and made a change in the commissions recommendation which I believe should be changed.
 AS recommended by the zoning commission. removals from the board would be governed by char ter revision reading as follows:
 Removals from the board shall be made only after proper impcach- ment proceedings inaugurated by the appointing authority and only upon due cause shown and upon written charges and a public hear ing.
 "'The mayor is authorized to re- move for cause any member of any board or commission appointed by the mayor or any other officer ap- pointed by the mayor, and the mayor shall be the sole judge of such cause of removal and his order of removal shall state the reason therefor
 "A study of the provisions of the enabling act setting forth the duties and the powers of the board of ad justment show that this body is not an ordinary city board or cOmmis- sion. but a quasi judicial body, and believe it should be so regarded. InteHerence in judicial or quasi judicial bodies is contrary to the best interest of all concerned and should be carefully avoided,
 q believe a group of men charged with the responsibilities and clothed with the powers of a board of ad- justment should not be held ac- countaDle to one official, and if re- view of its work is found advisable, the review should be held by, a non-p partisan body and at a public hearing.
 If the present amendment pre-
 Continued op Page Thirtecn)