New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-08
CITY HALL IS TO
Be DISPOSED OF
Recommendations Contained in
Report to City Council
BUILDING Is TOO SMALL
Veteran Constable Resigns After
Many Years of Ser,ice-,Iudge
Malone Files Rcport-Citys Aid
Requested. Other Items.

Following out a prediction made
in the Herald about six weeks ago,
the city council last night announced
its intention of disposing of the pres
emit city hall on North Main street,
the old city hall on Main street, thu
old dumping grounds on King street,
and a section of land at the corner
of School and Church streets. pro-
vided the total amount offered for
the four properties will furnish ade-
quate funds for the erection of a
new city hall.
Recommendations that such ac-
ton be taken were contained in the
report of the special committee con-
sisting OF Councilmen Charles r.,
Anderson. W. L. Hough, and Will
liam 4. Hayes.
The old city hall, which is now
occupied by the Boys club and is
also used as a polling place during
city, state and national elections,
will become vacant just as soon as
the new Boys club on Laurel street
is completed. 1t is located in sec
ton of the city which is being rapid
| ly built up for business purposes and
while the building is in such condl-
ton that it has been condemned by
city officials the land itself is of con-
siderable value.
The present city hall on North
Main has for the past two years been
entirely Inadequate for the various
city departments. Two Of the stores
on the ground floor are under lease
to merchants and the center store Is
occupied as headquarters for the po-
lice department. Not only city onl-
Gals, but the public in general has
remarked on the poor facilities
available for the police department
Under the present arrangement, no
privacy is afforded the officials OF
the department and the prosecuting
attorneys office is so located that all
consultations held therein are audi
BILE to persons passing along the cor
ridor. The locker room assigned 70
the officers is without windows and
ventilation and the cells in the rear
mart of the building are worse II
such a. thing is possible. The root
in the womens detention room is IN
such condition that it cannot be used
during transform.
The departments on the second
floor of the building have also beer
badly cramped for room. Addltlon
a, vault space is needed for the cit,
records the tax collector has insult
tcient room, and the mayors private
office is simply hole In the wall
About a year ago it was proposed
to make a number of changes VIII
view of providing more room fol
the various departments but at ina
time it was found that the cos
would be exorbitant.
The old dumping ground on klnl
street, which it is proposed TO sell
contains seventeen acres OF lane
and is located nearby to several re
Gently developed real estate tracts.
The land at the corner of Church
and School streets is located IN the
heart of the city and could be usee
to advantage for business purposes.
Offered To Buy
About two years ago, Joseph F
O'Connell. local attorney. appear
. ed before the city council and
that time offered to purchase tn
present city hall provided the cit,
would he interested in disposing o
it. At that time Former Mayo
-. John F Wade stated that the cit
would sell any of its holdings. pro
vided the price was high enough
Nothing further developed at tina
thine, however. and the matter wa
l not considered again until about 81
weeks ago.
Reserve Right Of Rejection
All bids for any or all of tn
properties must be accompanied b
a certified check for $1,000. TIL
l. city council. however. reserves tn
> rights to accept or reject any or
. bids.
Veteran Resigns
Following almost a quarter of
centurys service as constable. Alhel
IP. Stark. 81 year old Civil War ve'
-, cram. presented his resignation
y the city council last night. Cor
tinued i'll health was given by NJ
II Stark in his letter announcing h
resignation. which was accepted T
the city fathers with regret.
Mr.. Stark has for many yea
been a familiar figure about the cit
G For a. number of years he served ;
y local correspondent for the Waite
y bury American and during that tin
!. made many friends. Until fe
II months ago he had performed h
% duties as constable. walking betwes
y his home on Queen street and h
lie office on Riverside avenue each da
N Recently. however. he has been col