New Britain herald., 1928-02-08
Object to Being Rubber Stamps" for Public Works Board-Battey's
 Salary Cut to $36 Weekly

Public Works Commissioners Thomas W. Grove and John L. Pagan engaged Chairman Reginald E. Towers in spirited repartee at.last nights meeting when they openly expressed displeasure at the manner in which Thomas Kearney was dis charged as superintendent of the street department.
 Charges were made by the com missioners that they had been ignor- ed and it was declared the action of Chairman Towers and City Engineer Joseph D. Williams had put them in the position of rubber stamps"
 After the chairman had several times requested commissioners to make a motion to ratify the action taken in the discharge of Kearney, Commissioner John A. Anderson did so and the motion was carried 3 to 2.
 Dismissal Is Final
 Commissioners Grove and Pagan voted in opposition to it and Con- missioners John A. Anderson, Joseph Mlynarsky, and John F.. Moore voted in favor. This was enough to make the dismissal final. The matter came up just before the close of the board meeting.
 After routine business had been disposed of, the question of ad- journment was brought up. At this point. Commissioner Grove said: What is this l have been reading in the newspapers in regard to the dis missal of supt. Kearney?"
 His answer from Chairman Tow CTS was a mumbled: Hes dismissed, that's all"
 What Is the reason for the change? Hasn't the board of public works something to say about this matter?" Grove asked.
 Towers explained that the board had not hired Kearney and there was nothing in the charter to give it any power to fire" him. Commis- sioner Pagan interrupted at this point to explain that the board which had preceded the present commission had to give its sanction to the hiring of MT. Kearney. The actual hiring was done by ex- Chairman Frank P. Conlon and City Engineer Williams with the approv- al of the board, Mir. Pagan said. He was the only member of the other board left.
 Depends on Press for News
 'We don't know what happens in this department unless We pick up a newspaper. It's good thing we have busy reporters in City Hall or we would not be aware of anything that is going on." Commissioner Grove declarcd.
 He then asked who fired" the street superintendent and why this person did it without the sanction of the board. If we cannot be con- suited in such matters I can see no reason for board" Mir. Grove said
 MT. Towers answer was that he was responsible but he would make
 
 no charges against Mir. kearney and would advance no reason for the action He said he felt he was within his rights.
 Mir. Crowe's rejoinder to this was that the chairman and engineer had exceeded their rights and that an opinion from the corporation coun- sel would show the superintendent would still have the right to draw his salary because he was not legally discharged by the board.
 During the discussion Chairman Towers kept saying "We'll leave it to the vote of the board" At one time he asked Commissioner Mlynarsky if he would make motion to back up the action of the chairman and engineer, but the commissioner evaded the issue. He then asked Commissioner Anderson who seemed to be willing to make the motion, but