New Britain herald., 1929-01-11
MAYOR DECLARES
JOHNSON MUST GO
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ment in many years.
q johnson Clerk For Eight Years
was away from his desk In City hall
today. but is expected back tomor-
row. He has held the position of
clerk in the department for the
past eight years and his work has
been the subject OF laudatory COM
'nent at almost every annual session
OF the salary committee of the COM
mon council. Last Tuesday night,
the committee recommended that
> his salary OF $4,000 be increased to
$1,000. Mayor Paonessa's statement
OF today indicates that johnson will
he off the payroll long before the
!, new salary list goes into effect,
April I.
1t is claimed that the assessments
referred to the board OF public
works for collection over a period Of
five or more years we're entered In
Johnson's own books, and that he
was personally charged with the
obligation Of bringing the money
into the city treasury. Thomas +.
McGrath. special clerk in the de-
partment who has rooted out the
accounts has prepared his state
ments from the books kept by
johnson.
Audit Obtained After Long Effort
The audit being conducted by Nc
Grath was urged by Mayor Paones-
sa four years ago and request for
authority to proceed has been made
in every annual message he has
presented since being elected for his
second term. He carried his pro-
posal to the board OF finance and
taxation last spring but without sue
cess, and shortly thereafter seized
the bull by the horns" and installed
McGrath as special clerk with au-
thority to proceed. His action was
severely criticized by Comptroller
Curtis, and at later meeting Of the
board Of finance the two officials
engaged in fiery repartee. At that
time. the mayor publicly charged
Curtis with having neglected his
. duty, by allowing these accounts to
remain OIL the records in the face OF
claimed regular audits. The result
OF this meeting was authorization
for regular audits and preliminary
surveys are now being made in city
hali to this end.
Former City Engineer Williams is
nit ho
he fact that he was the recognized
head OF the department during the
years that the unpaid assessments
were being accumulated.
McGratf May Succeed johnson
Although no action has yet been
taken by the board. it. is believed
that Special Clerk McGrath will be
recommended for appointment As
Johnson's successor.
Mayor Paonessa appeared more
fncensed over the situation today
than he has been at any other time
when it was discussed. City En-
gineer Philip A. Merriam had been In
conference with the executive, men,
tIoning the fact that work In his
office is crippled by the steady
! stream Of property owners who are
coming to learn the reason for bills
for improvements made before they
took possession of the realty and
about which they knew nothing.
Because no bills were sent and no
Hens placed against tho properties.
they purchased without knowledge
OF the prospective encumbrances, |
and many OF them have defied the
city to collect under those condi- |
lions.
Aged Woman Owes 3132
A particularly pathetic case was
reported today when an aged wom-
an Of foreign birth came to the office
with bill for $13c for an improve
ment worked before she and her |
husband placed their life savings in |
their dwelling. She pleaded inabili-
ty to pay the bill and expressed |
grave fear that she will be dispos-
sessed. Half way through her plea
she broke down and cried bitterly, |
attracting the attention OF passersby
who stepped into the Office to learn
what the difficulty was. Mayor Pa
onessa instructed that she be ad-
vised no foreclosure proceedings will
be brought In any Of these cases un-
III every other means OF settlement
has been exhausted. deferred pay
ments being accepted in cases where
inability to settle is proved.
Today the department is prepar-
ing two lists OF properties. one in
Guiding all who admit their liability,
and the other those who absolutely
refuse to pay. The department has
vet to hear from debtor who prom
ised willingly to square his account.
Compromise ~, Assessment
\ recommendation which is ex-
rrcted to serve as an important
precedent in compromising assess
mrnts levied by the city will be
made to the common council next
week. when Corporation Counsel ].
II. Kirkham will recommend that
Amelia Clark be instructed to pay
4 Thornley, street sewer assessment.
without interest, and that the ques-
ton OF interest abatement remain
open until the legislature creates a
body with lcsal right to compro.
mise.
The case involves a highway i'm
proyement assessed against the land
before Amelia CLARK became the
owner. The situation Is similar 10
many OF those now before the
special committee OF the common
council studying overdue assess-
ments. II the procedure recommend
ed in the Clark case IL made a
standing rule. persons now billed for
work done before they took over the
reality will ho