New Britain herald., 1930-12-06
Opposition to Annexation of Part of Newington Expressed - No Action On City Meeting Board Substitute - TwO-PrOse- cutor System Up Next Week.

danger of being reduced at last nights meeting Of the charter re- vision committee, there being a de- 1 cided sentiment in favor of it and
 Representative-el Samuel S. Goo gel declared that if the committee decided to recommend it and the council turned it down, he would take it to the legislature, which body has the final vote,
 Representative elect Lucian Ma ciora introduced the proposal and
 explained that a council or board of aldermen of about one-half the numerical size Of the present body
 would function better than the lat , ter. He favored paying salaries to i the members, mentioning $500 or 1 $500 per year. but said he wonld
 not insist on that feature of the change
 President William II. Judd of the board of finance and taxation, who served as alderman for a few years, said he doubted that the council would approve the change. Every previous attempt to bring it about has failed and 1t would probably fail again, he said. He believed board of aldermen of three mem- bers from each of the six wards would be an improvement over the present council of four coancilmen and one alderman from each ward.
 Falk Favors salary
 Alderman Walter F. Talk spoke in favor of the salary feature. Many council members are employed in factories and if they take time off to look after city business they lose their pay, he said. There are many matters which demand attention during the day and conscientious members are confronted with the loss of wages. which would not be serious if they received $50 or s1oO a year from the city.
 Alderman David L. Nair, presi- dent pro tenn of the council said s5o or s10o would not begin to compensate members for their services. but he felt that election to inc council should be considered an honor. He said he found the mem- bers willing, as rule, to attend to the business or the body by being
 present at meetings and in other ways.
 Councilman W. D. Boyle was strongly in favor of the change. 1Io said the work of the council is done ! by about 10 members although the membership is 30. He agreed with Judge E. r. Gaffney, committee chairman. that in addition to ward representation, there should be a few members at-large. As it is at present, the councilman pointed out, Mr. Judd could not have been elected alderman in the third ward had he been democrat fnd there are other good men who are de- prived of the opportunity 10 serve the city in the council because the political party to which they belong is outnumbered in the particular section Of the city in which they live.
 Judge Gafincy Opposes Pay
 Judge Gaffney favored q smaller council but did not agree that the members should be compensated fir their services. He asked .Ir. Maciorl if he believed council members would do better work if they were paid and the representatives elect replied that he believed so because paid members would feel obligated to attend to their duties.
 Martin J. Kelly, representing the Citizens Property Owners associa- ton. scored the idea Of paying the members of tho council. The mem- bers of the legislature receive $500 for five or six months work and the council members who attend meet ing a month want the same pay, he declared. but he was checked by AL derman Nair, who wanted to know who he referred to when he said we believc.' The matter was re- ferred to the corporation counsel 10 prepare a draft of the proposed amendment and it will be acted upon at the meeting next Friday night.
 l. was voted, on suggestion Of Judge Gaffney, 10 meet in the city court room at that time and invite | the public to attend in order that all matter which may be considered as charter amendments may be dis Cussed by all who are interested.
 Annexation Project Discussed
 Mayor Quigley and City Engineer Merriam presented maps showing the proposed new lines pertaining to the annexation program and Mir. | Googel asked the mayor what bene | fits would accrue to New Britain by annexing Maple Hill and Elm Hill. l Th1 mayor said it would expand the | city and give it an extensive front | age on the main railroad line. be- l sides bringing S2,000,Q00 worth of rea' estate into the city and adding ! "a fine class of people" to New Brit | aims population.
 Mir. Googel said the people of New | Britain should have the opportunity | of voting on the question, to which | Mayor Quiglev agreed, and a dis | cussion of the financial side of the !, question ensucd. Ex-Mayor O. r. | Curtis presented figures showing that | the town of Newington has 8 grand | list Of approximately s6,0O0,000 and l a debt of $25S,00O. The area which | it is proposed to annex covers about 1 9,20O acres. There are three state i roads. three macadam roads and five dirt roads included. also one school. $50 school children and one fire house equipped with bumper
 MT. Judd said debt of 150,00O on the Maple Hill district has al