New Britain herald., 1925-02-21
THE MAYOR AND THE JUDGE
 SHARPEN THEIR TOOLS

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 Two forward-looking, keen-witted and eagle-eyed leaders of political parties in New Britain are already fashioning selling points for the next mayoralty election.
 The two gentlemen who have turned to the whetstone to sharpen their political tools are Mayor A. M. Paonessa and Judge B. W, AL ling. Both know each other from 2 previous encounter and have a high respect for each others ability to extract the last atom of interest from the watchful voter.
 The first dialectics proffered to the public having possible bearing upon the future political constella- tion has to do with the powers that should be conferred upon the board of adjustment, which is to be a part of the zoning law. The mayor has moved to curb the proposed riveting of power upon any future mayor to remove any member of this board flor cause" thus eliminating the possibilities that politics may be the determining factor in such removal.
 Comes Judge Alling and says he is pleased to note that the mayor is following his suggestion.
 The mayor opines he has followed nobody's suggestion, but personally originated it.
 Some voters will believe the mayor is right; others will think the judge is right. To get at the bot tom of the little controversy re- quires a review of the situation that preceded it.
 When the zoning agitation had reached a point where action was deemed likely, the Technical Ad- yisory Corporation of New York was employed to prepare zoning maps and an ordinance for the city, and submit an "enabling act" to the Zoning Commission. The enabling act was identical with those used in other zoned cities, the only changes made being those needed to con- form with local conditions.
 Ono cf the clauses of the en- sbling act provided for the creation of board of adjustment, whose members could be removed "only after the proper impeachment pro- ceedings naugurated by the ap- pointing authority, and a public hearing" The enabling act, when presented to the Coming Commission, was approved, and was then sub mitted to the Charter Revision com mittee.
 The latter committee believed that all commissions should be put on the same basis and so changed the wording of the act so that it was made possible for the mayor to re- move members flor cause"
 Chairman Thomas Linder of the Zoning Commission opposed the change, declaring that it would throw the board of adjustment into politics. Judge filling, although a member of the Charter Revision committee, was not present at the meeting. Mayor Paoneesa. was pres ent, but took no part in the discus sion.
 The enabling act went to the Common Council with the clause concerning removals as changed by the charter revisers. But on the day after the council session, the mayor conferred with members of the city government and announced his intention of asking the repre- sentatives in the Legislature to change the wording of the clause so as to take the board out of poli- ties" A letter to the legislative representatives from New Britain followed.
 Judge Alling, one of the city's representatives in the Legislature, replied in a letter to the mayor: T am particularly pleased to see that you have acceded to my suggestion which was conveyed to you, l pre- sume, through members of the Zon- ing Commission. that the adjust ment board so-called. as provided for in the zoning system, be re- moved from politics"
 When Mayor Paonessa recovered from his surprise he said he had re- leived no word, directly or indirect h, that Judge Allihs s-d favored this change. l
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