New Britain herald., 1930-01-21
PARE DOWN BUDGET
 FOR PUBLIC WORKS
Commissioners Respond to Mayors Appeal for Economy

VI AAFf""A ioA Ao0h0AJ
 "Cut if you must" the board of public works chanted last night in answer 10 Mayor Paonessa's letter that budgets be pared down to the minimum, but at least spare old 1ronsdes.' For 30 years this old steamroller has done duty for the board. 1t has smoothed down count less streets. has seen work in parks and in groves. and in the 50 years it has been in the employ of the city is has used up two sets of wheels. This year it must have it's third set
 Following the principal of econo- my advocated by Mayor Paonessa the board last night scrimped and strived and finally managed to cut down it's budget 10 mere $633,500, or an almost even S10O,0OO under the amount asked for last year. All possible reductions were made, items were cut from last years items in almost every case. the mater of street grading, brought to the atten- ton of the board by the common council, was relcgated to q more prosperous future and a whole Sheaf of yellow papers advocating repairs here and there, and grading of this and that street, were merely held up 10 view l,y the city engineer so that all could sec the extent of necessary repairs, and finally placed aside.
 
 .Acco7uiag to Alr. Mcrian, an in- tensiye study was made of the items before the cuts were made and he ''hopcd that the common council "ould use the same proportion in applying the aX before advocating the final cuts. According to the fig uTes Su5rntted by him the amount in this years budget is $S0,o00 lower than tie unusual low of 1926, and is 1le lowest figure reached by the beard in the past five years.
 Street Repairs and Construction
 Over one-half of the entire amount, S337, 900, asked by the board, will be devoted to street and highway repair and construction, a study of the figures reveals. Under these headings come general street repair, $50.N00; street oiling. $22,- GOO: macadam repair, $35,000; per manent paving repairs, $25,000; semi permanent pavement repairs, $f5.000: grading, S40,000; new mac adam. s75,O00; stone travel ways, s75,000.
 The project of building a pcrma- nent pavement on West Main street. from Liberty street as far as rail- road bridge, will not be included in the usual street repairs figure this year but will form an independent item, according to Engineer Merriam. If the council or the finance board really wants that street paved it will have to vote money of it's own ac- cord and we will not have to utilize other funds for that" he said. Tho paving of this street, which includes possibly 2, quarter of a mile, will cost at the most $l9,560. If only part Of it is repaired, that is, if the en- tire road docs not have to be rebuilt, the cost will amount to S11,71S.
 The city's street lighting bill amounts to sJ,50G every month. In the budget for the coming year the board asks for S70.000 ina&much as 1here are more lights this year than last and last years bill amounted to s67,500.
 Two More Trucks Needed
 Two small trucks will be asked for In the budget and if this isn't grant cd, sighed Mr. Merriam pessimistical ly, 'it will mean that much more work for the truck men, The trucks would be included in the budget for tools as would also the request for money to buy another set of wheels for "old faithful" the Stcamroller. One new car at an estimated cost of S1,300 for the street department will be asked for in the budget. The snow budget remains the same, the board asking for 5000. Streets must be kept as clean as possible averred the board. checking off this item, amounting to $30,O00, similar to last years. Sewer maintenance will cost at least s32,O0O.
 Black Rock bridge will cost sl6,500 and this figure was put in the bud get. There was some discussion re- >Garding the Glen street dump, the board finally deciding to turn a deaf ear to complaints for the time at least. In spring the members claim ed, the dump will he closed of ne- cessty for it will be full at that lime. Some suggestion of what might o,1; tl,c dump was mentioned by Engineer Merriam when he said that if the dump were properly filled in by the addition of soil it would make an ideal place for a playground,
 Consideration of the budget was given the right Of way, practically all other matters being shuntcd to one side.
 No one appeared for or against the construction of a sewer asked for Wightman road between Virgin ia and Steele streets, but the board recognizing the need of it voted to recommend it's construction to the council.
 Comparative Paving Data
 A communication from the coun- cil asking a report on the compara- tive wearing qualities Of the amiesite and asphalt pavements on West Main street was tabled as was the propo- sition to extend Myrtle street to Cor bin avenue. City Engineer Merriam was in doubt as to what was meant regarding this matter.
 A communication from the coun- cil regarding what could be done on the matter of making Washington place, extending from Main to Wash ington street, passable. requesting data as to the agreement with the railroad, etc, was also tabled. City Engineer Merian stated that the city