New Britain herald., 1929-05-16

ley tract, the expansive plot of land in Stanley Quarter set aside for municipal uses through the gener- osity of MT. and Mrs. Stanley. l favor appointment of . committee to make . study of this plot, with reference to its possibilities as an airport.
 Municipal Golf Course
 "Unquestionably, there is . de- mand for . municipal golf course The interest in that form of sport has advanced to point where every progressive community should fur- nish . course. However. there are many important improvements which we must face. and I regret to say that I cannot zee how . city can undertake the financing of this project. It has been sugsestsd that financing be arranged by means other than taxation or bond issues, and . movement is now on foot ts this end. It is to be hoped that the scheme will work out successfully.
 Navigation
 Many years ago there was agita- ton for . canal for this city's pur- poses, extending from the Connecti- cut river, near Middletown. to the foot of South Main street. It will be remembered by followers of munici- pal events at that time, that an ap. propriation was made and the en. gineering firm of Hall | Bacon was engaged to make . survey. They re- ported the plan to be a feasible one. Owing to the high water level Of the Connecticut river, as indicated in the backing up of water as far as East Berlin, 1t can be seen that the scheme is . workable one.
 'I do not include these statements in the form of . recommendation, but merely to record for future gen. erations the fact that the possibility of waterway and shipping point. terminating at South Main street, has advanced 10 . point of engineer ing survey at least.
 Council Memberahip
 Much has been said on the ad- visibility os reducing the numerical strength of the common council. Several years ago, charter revision committee 70 recommended, but the common council voted negatively. giving the impression that such . plan will never meet the approval of that body.
 "The argument has been advanced that larger council gives more citi- zens an opportunity to take . hand in the management of public af- fairs. The theory of this is correct, but past experience has shown that, after election day. about two thirds of tho membership takes little or no interest. This can be illustrated by the fact that I was not acquaint. cd with more than 20 of the 90 members who made up the common council for the past year.
 T still believe that the city char ter should provide for a full-time mayor and that the common council should consist of IF members, meet ing twice a month. believe no bill should be paid out of the city treas- ury until 1t has been examined by the finance committee and approved by the common council. The present charter makes 1t possible to dis. count invoices to secure cash dis. counts. Although we save . few hun. dred dollars yearly, feel this prac. tice should be discontinued. At pres. ent, discounted bills are formally re. ported to the common council b, the comptroller. but I know from experience that council member, Fay little attention to bills reported
 "1n the event that this. or some future council should install a full. time mayor. l would recommend that he open all mail and receiv. all bills directed to the city depart ments, and that all answers to of ficial communication 70 to him fo approval before being sent out. Municipal Building
 ! "AEain. wish to record my sen timents in favor of construction o . new city hall. Sale of the presen building would probably be produc tive of sufficient funds with whicl to construct the new municipa structure. There is no question bu that the present city hall serves it purpose as we'll as any building no designed primarily for such servic might. It must be remembere, that the objects sought when tn architects planned this buildina were not those which make for good administration building for city government.
 When a new city hall is built. should bring all departments unde one roof. this including police head quarters
 Unemployment
 "For the past year, conditions i our industrial city have been fai from a standpoint of employment and nearly everyone with me chanical inclination has been ker busy. Our problem of unemploy ment has been. and is. chiefly wit unskilled workers. Many of the,