New Britain herald., 1929-01-16
10000 BUDGET
FOR PUBLIC WORKS
Allowance Last Y.lr inadequate,
Commission Members Claim


allowed the department last year by
the common council are proving to
be greatly inadequate. the board of
public works discussed . tentative
budget that will probably amount to
nearly a half million dollars last
night. 1t was claimed by City En-
gineer Philip Merriam that the de-
partment was subjected to far great
er expense in important items dur
ing the past year than the amount
allowed. This discussion of the pro-
posed budget lasted more than two
hours.
Among the appropriations discuss
ed for the proposed budget was at
least one new steam roller. a road
scraper, a two ton truck. new sur
faces on West Main street where the
brick section is located and also on
Lafayette and Commercial streets.
new car for the engineering depart
ment was also considered. The
budget as tentatively outlined will
call for nearly 100000. Last year
the department was granted $780,
100.
Black Rock Bridge
During the discussion OF the
budget, Commissioner John Pagan
asked why an item for a new Black
Rock bridge should not be included.
He claimed that the board had let
the matter slide from year to year
without any action. City Engineer
Merriam suggested that a move be
made to learn whether the New
Haven road would be willing to erect
a new structure over its tracks. The
Corbin avenue bridge was also
brought up.
The lack of street signs in the city
vas described as "deplorable' and 1t
was decided to ask for $4,000 at
least for new signs or for signs IN
addition to those now in use. One
II mber stated that the doctors are
handicapped in calling on their pa
tients because of the lack of street
signs.
Each item in the proposed budget
was discussed separately by the
board and City Engineer Merriam.
For cars and maintenance which IN
cludes a new car. it was decided to
ask for $4,000. Bridge maintenance
was left at $500.
1t was voted to request $4,000 Tor
trees which includes spraying, cut
ting and trimming. Discussing the
tree problem. Mr.. Merriam recon-
mended that a contract for the
wears work be given to some COM
pany because the work was danger
Gus and could be done more reason
ably by a private concern.
An amount of $500 will be asked
for use In cleaning catch basins. 1t
was explained to the board that
there are 1902 basins in the city.
The budget for cleaning streets was
placed at $4,000. compensation S1,-
900, maintenance of dumps So.ooe'
engineering department expenses
$1,000 and engineering office serv-
ices and salaries 100000.
$500 for Street Repairs
After a long discussion it was
voted to ask for $50, 900 for the gen.
eral repair OF streets Last year the
board asked for $35. 900 and received
$4,000. So far during the past year
the department has spent $4,000 or
about $4,000 more than the budget
allows for.
The budget for macadam repairs
was placed at $4,000. Last year the
hoard asked for $4,000 and re-
ceived $4,000. Up to January l the
department had spent $4,000 in
this work or $4,000 more than pro-
vided in the budget. City Engineer
Merriam stated that there are num-
berless streets in the city which need
grading and the budget for this work
was placed at $4,000.
Some Of the other items discussed
and the amount to be asked In the
proposed budget are as follows: OIL
ing streets, $4,000: office expenses
and equipment. $1,000; rails, $3.50:
estimate of salaries $500: semi
permanent pavement repairs. about
$4,000; snow and ice removal, $10,-
900; storehouse and yards. $4,000:
school and street signs. $4,000: new
tools, gas-roller $500, road scrap
er, $4,000; two ton truck, $4,000;
tool repairs. $4,000; street monu-
nents $1,000.
Important Requirements
Some OF the figures set for the