New Britain herald., 1929-01-30
Smith ADVOCATES
CHARTER Changes
Proposes Additions to Slate
DRAFTED BY City Committee

DcCAaTlH& tn3t THO CueItc1 Ee-
vision COMMITTEES has proposed moth
ing that IL benefit to tho city Of
New Britain. Henry A. Smith Of ~
South High street. for = time can
didate for tho republican mayoralty
nomination last spring. has written
Senator Ernest W. Christ proposing
q new slate Of amendments to the
city charter.
He includes tho recommendations
bearing upon city audits. monthly
deposits by the tax collector with
the city treasurer, and fixing OF sal
aries by the common council. which
are = part of the revision commit
tees report.
Would Abolish Council
Mr.. Smith suggests that the COM
mon council be abolished and that
a board Of aldermen. to consist OF
is members. be created. member
ship to be apportioned on ,the pres
ent voting list, n follows: First
ward, 1850 voters, three aldermen;
CecOuO WaIus $500 SVtCiss WV
aldermen: Third ward. S.95s voters.
three aldermen: Fourth ward, 2.s4s
voters. two aldermen; Fifth ward.
$500 voters. two aldermen: Sixth
ward, 4,546 voters. three aldermen.
He suggests that this system be
put in effect In April, 1880 and
that the aldermen serve for two
years. Under the Smith plan. the
board Of aldermen would elect q
president to serve for period of
two years, and each member would
receive a salary Of $500 year. The
president Of the board would act
as mayor in the absence Of the
mayor, Ind would preside at meet
ings to be held semi-monthly. ex-
cepting during the months Of July,
August and September. when they
would meet ounce a month.
One Man Commissions
One-man commissions for police,
fire. building and public works de-
partments are urged, with the pro-
vision that each of these commits
sioners would have a deputy to
eerve in his absence, and each
would be provided with a secretary.
A city auditor to be elected by the
public for terms Of two years Is pro-
posed. this official to be charged
with the auditing of all accounts and
records.
The action of the ordinance COM
mittee in refusing the fire boards re-
quest that the position of assistant
master mechanic be created, does not
meet Mr.. Smiths approval. and he
asks that the Office be created by the
legislature. as absolutely necessary"
With reference to police and fire
department pensions. he approves
the present system of retiring on
half pay. those incapacitated while
In the performance Of duty. Men Of
either departments killed In duty
will entitie their widows to half pay
during life. and II they are single.
the same compensation Is to be paid
their mothers, provided they are de-
pendent widows.
Weekly Removal OF Ashes
Removal OF ashes and rubbish
weekly, ny department VI street
cleaning. which Is to include this
duty with the task Of keeping the
highways clean. Is suggested. This
department would be under the d.
rection Of a superintendent of street
cleaning.
With reference to purchases. he
asks that bids be advertised for
whenever the amount Is In excess Of
$3.50. and that bond be required Of
the successful bidder to guarantee
execution Of the agreement.
Increase in the personnel of the
police department to make possible
a three platoon system, creation of