New Britain herald., 1930-12-06
Reduction of Common Council
 Finds Support at Meeting of
 Committee Revamping Charter
Sub- Committee Named

.. Quigley remarked that the commit tee might reject the entire program or parts of it, but he believed it would be well first to name a sub- ! committee to go into all phases of it as it applies to Berlin, Southing- ton, Newington and Plainville and report back to the full committee at a later meeting. A descriptive survey | will be prepared by the city engineer in time for next weeks meeting. Judge Gaffney named MT. Judd, MT
 Bassford, Mir. Vibberts Attorney Sexton and ex-Mayor Curtis to serve on the sub committee, Mayor | Quigley asking that MT. Curtis and MT. Vibberts be included.
 Representative elect Googel's pro- posal that the fire department pen sion regulations be amended to pro- vide retirement on half-pay for regular fremen after they have served 30 years was tabled until the next meeting. when representatives of the firemen will be present. City Meeting Board Substituted Representative-ele Googel with drew his proposal for the return of the city meeting board and the committee discussed the Citizens Property Owners association rec ommendation for a substitute for the board. Judge Gaffney called It a super government" because the proposed board would have author | ity over the common council and board of finance and taxation in matters of appropriating money, but MT. Kelly said it was not such d government but was something the city needed, as there has been no check on the common council and the board of finance and taxation since the former board was legisla:- ed out of existence. He and Mr. Curtis spoke on conditions as they existed under the old board and MT. Kelly asked if it was not a fact that the reasons the board was done away with were it's refusal to sane ton a s75O,000 bond issue and an appropriation for the World War memorial. He said the taxpayers should have a voice in the govern ment and It was not practical 10 confer with common council mem- bers every month. MT. Curtis re- minded him that several years ago when the budget Of the Taxpayers Association was chosen at referen- dunn, over a budget calling for a forced to borrow approximately S5O0,000 to make up the deficit.
 It was natural that the voters should have preferred the low tax rate but the fact remained that the city government could not be oper- ated without sufficient money and it had to be raised eventually, he said. The city meeting board, MT Curtis said, was found unwieldy because of it's large membership but MT. Kelly was positive that the two req sons given were the real cause of the elimination of the board.
 The committee voted to defer ac- ton on the substitute for the city meeting board, until the meeting next week, on motion of Mr. Googel, seconded by Senator elect Hagearty. No Change In Salary Adjusting The proposed change to give the board Of finance and taxation the authority to fix salaries of city of riat r1n to in definitely. the sentiment being that it would merely have the effect Of substituting the board for the salary committee of the council.
 MT. Kelly expressed the view that the voters at the polls should elect the judges, corporation counsel and prosecuting attorneys, but was told that the statutes specified the man. ner of naming judges.
 Mir. Judd moved to adopt the pro- posed amendment to create an ad- ditional office of prosecuting attor- ncy. Prosecuting Attorney J, z. Woods asked that the matter De laid over until the next meeting, as there would probably be others who would want to express their opinion. Alderman Nair favored deferrins action for one week and it was voted to do so.
 The proposed elimination of the off year" election was tabled until the next meeting because Mayor Quigley had left tho meeting and II, +e ok lo ;- views before acting.
 The proposed provision for pen sioning city officials after 3n years service was sent back to the cor poration counsel for another draft and will be acted on at the neXt meeting.
 Action was deferred for one week on the proposed amendment to re- leve the city from liability for icy and defective sidewalks.
 Referendum On Appropriations
 Representative Elect Maciora in troduced the matter Of providing for a referendum on all special appria- lions of more than s50,000 and ac- ton was deferred for one week.
 A request from the police depart ment for d hearing on proposed charter changes relating 10 the pen sion system was received and the hearing will be given at the next meeting.
 A proposal by MT. Googel that the mayor be empowered to appoint the corporation counsel was iaid over for one week
 The Citizens Property Owners as sociation recommendation that a city manager plan of government be set up was rejected on motion of Alderman Nair, seconded by Mir. Judd.
 X proposal that an old age pension system pe set up. another for uncm- pioyment insurance, and one for not more than 6 per cent penalty charge on unpaid taxes, were referred to