New Britain herald., 1926-02-16
Banker And Two 0th- CTS Disqualify Selves To Act On Fidelity Finance Corp. Peti- ton.
Adjustment Commission, Reduced in Numbers, Unable to Pass on West Main Street Building Request.

Request.
 Secretary William E. EossUrrs O. 'he Fidelity Finance Corporation precipitatcI daaIlock in the zininr board of adjustm.n, las. night when he questioned inc propriety uG Wl'- lam II. Auwooj's chairmmship during a hearing on petition in which the tuanc, company Was au interested pary
 His remarks brought anout q r,. tHsal on the part os Jud-. IjGmull Y. Gatfney 70 ar5 as u mcmblr o. the board in the ljuaure compuuy'e pctition inc jud2r's stand being ur. companicd by ceusuriug rcmarEs both during and after tho meeting
 Judge Gaitncy declined to act b.. rHusr Of his membership on th, board of directors of another bank. Chairman Atwood i~ also chairman of the board or directors Of the New Britain Trust Company and it was this fact that prompted Mr. Ross berg to interrupt the meeting 10 It. mark:
 Tn organizing a financial insGitu- tion it is a delicate matter to have man connected with another bank as chairman ol this meciing,"
 We All Have Our Prjudices."
 When his remark had brought several comments not favorable to the idea, he arose as if to explain his previous statements. but his sec ond comment brought on u deadlock when he said:
 Tn politics and business we all have our prtjudices, know"
 Commissioner George T. kimOau a member Of two bank boards. then declined to sit as q mem ber O. tbv commission and he called to the af- tention Of Commissioner r. r. Me Donough that his membership ou inc commission was also being uurs- toned in the statement or Mir. Ross berg, as Mr. McDonough too, is q member Of banking board Of di- rectors.
 Of the six members attending th, meeting, four are bank directors. They are Chairman Atwood. Con- missiouers Gaftnoy, Kimball and Me Donough. Commissioners George E. Dobson and samuel Davidson did no,
 
 tion, and fl was not made public whether either or both are bank dj- rectors,
 The disqualification or Mcssrs At wood, Galfney and kimball by their own wishes made it impossible for the board 10 take any action on the matter pending, which was an ap- plication under which the finance company hoped 10 secure a special exception which would have per mitted it to erect a banking house on West Main street in an area now exclusively residential,
 Rossbcrg Outlines Plans
 The Fidelity Finance Corporation controls under a bond for deed the Reach property on tho south side of West Main street, two lots west of South High street. In Con- temptation of the erection of bank ing house on this plot the company made application for relief from zoning restrictions under which only q residence could he placed on the property. Secretary Rossberg was the first representative of the com. pany to address the meeting. H. outlined In detail what it planned and then resumed his seat.
 A short discussion pro and con. during which witnesses for and against were examined, followed. During the general review that fol lowed MT. Rossberg arose and com mented on Commissioner Attwood's ,chairmanship
 NIT. Atwood al once made known his willingness 10 relinquish thc chairmanship during the discussion. and Judge Gafney stated vitl emphasis that he would not act as a commissioner during the pend cncy of the action. This was fol lowed by Commissioner Kimhalls declaration Mir. Kimhall remarked that since tho disuualifcations left lthe board with fewer commissioners than is required 10 pass a special exception on 10 the common Coun cil for approval the application must automatically be dismissed.
 Judge GaGney Expresses Attitude
 Judge Gaffney repeated his re fusal 10 serve. "Now that the ques- ton is raised, must absolutely re fuse to act. I am a bank director and I don't want to vote" he told Chairman Atwood.
 Commissioner McDonough took the Rossherg declaration lightly and said it would not interfere with his service as member of the commis- sion. asserting he was prepared to take vote whenever the question was presented,
 William II. Caldwell who has lived on the property adjoining the pro- posed bank site for Ss years, said he would not interfere with tho pro- gress of the city provided the cont mission felt it was timely 10 open up this section Of West Main street to business, but he would prefer 10 see it remain residenliaL
 President John c. Loomis Of the Commercial Trust Co. appeared as disinterested witness but favored