New Britain herald., 1929-01-16
UndI0 Alst
KIRkHAM RULES ON
bills IN DISPUTE
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A explained to the corporation
counsel, the board Of public works
may hear property owners who re-
fuse to pay and II It u found that
tho bill 10 Inaccurate or the charge
exorbitant 4 recommendation may
be forwarded, to the common council
to change the amount or abate COM
pletely.
Mayor Paonessa expressed . view
that the committee to be appointed
on assessment hearings should be
composed Of private citisens and
that 1t should DO named by the
board Of finance and taxation since
that board u charged with the city's
financial problems.
AldcsuaaaIc Coasnllttoo FSv0ecd
Judge Nrkham who. last night.
was inclined to favor q COMMITTEES
other than the mayor and alderman,
today expressed q belief that the
latter group. being moro experienced
In affairs Of government and a.
ready operating ~ . committee on
attachments would probably handle
the question more satisfactorily.
Alderman D. L. Nair earlier In
the day had informed the mayor
that he was Of tho same opinion a.
the corporation counsel and In ad-
dition believes that the report OF
this committee should be made to
the common council where = check
could be established.
During the discussion. Mayor Pa
onessa asked Judge Kirkham II he
did not agree that the comptroller
has been, In part, responsible for
the condition that has arisen, but
the corporation counsel replied that
he did not share the mayors view
in this respect. He quoted from
tho charter to show that 4 general
supervision over accounts and prac-
tees Of conducting business constt-
tutes the duties Of the comptroller.
Tonight's meeting 10 expected to
adopt the charter amendment ~
proposed by Judge Kirkham after
settling the question ~ to how the
committee ID to be appointed and
who will constitute it, membership.
90 Per Cent Dead Loss
Attorney David L. NAir. chairman
of the board Of aldermen. today
ventufed an opinion that 30 per
cent Of the bills remaining on the
books of the public works depart
ment would be found to be collect
tble. He bases this prediction ON
the fact that approximately that
amount represent assessments for
operations performed in he past
two years. AFFECTING properties which
still stand In the name Of tho own
er OF record At the time the jobs
were completed. ".. o. o.
o. 100 Attend Meeting
While nearly 100 property owners
waited in the spectators section OF
the council chamber last night, the
aldermen, Mayor Paonessa and Cor
poration Counsel John H. Kirkham
discussed the problem and agreed
they were without authority to make
Attachments or compromise claima
excepting In case Of poverty.
Judge Kirkham outlined the sys-
item used In Hartford in the 1bate-
ment Of erroneous assessments. The
Capital City. he said, has CON-
mittee Of four private citizens and
the corporation counsel appointed
under IN authorization Of the general
assembly for q term OF two years.
| The mayor told Of callers at hil
office, many Of them in tears who
pleaded they were without funds tt
pay charges made against their pro-
perty for work done before they be.
came the owners. He urged that
something be done to make the col.
lection from the owner OF record al
the time the improvement wal
made. that interest be abated on &C
counts up to this year, and that nj
haste be made in the collection
from those who are poor. 1t wal
agreed that the city was without au'
thority. at present, to abate interes
or postpone payments, but that thes,
matters could be handled by = com
mitee a. proposed.
On motion Of Alderman J. Gustav,
johnson, seconded by Alderman VIII
liam H. Judd. 1t was voted to ash
legislative authority to proceed will
appointment OF 4 committee. It wa
first suggested that the mayor. col
lector, corporation counsel and tw,
private citizens be named, but 1t wa
later decided that the mayor ant
collector should not be asked to bur
den themselves with the extra duty
A suggestion that two aldermen b.
appointed was answered with the or
Eument that 1t would introduce poll
tics into the work.
After the decision was made
Mayor Faonessa spoke to the as
sembly OF taxpayers informing then
OF the action taken. Bills will con
tinue to 60 out. he advised, and col
lections will be made in account
where there in no DISPUTE, Other