New Britain herald., 1930-01-25
Is Publicity Desirable At Relief Board Meetings!


 At Relief Board Meetings"
 Whether sessions of the board of i relief are open to the general public or arc confidential conferences be- tween that board and the protesting property owner. is a question on which many officials and property owners have been pondering for the past two wees.
 A sharp difference of opinion arose at the initial meeting of the board. J. E. Alec, who has Sained prominence in the past few years by his political and civic activities, was ordered to discontinue taking notes on the proceedings. Chairman l.. r. Mangan demanding that he put his pencil and note book out of sight if he wished to remain q the meetings. After vehemently objeCtin2 10 the order, Alice obeyed, but he has not yet admitted Mangan's authority to make such a ruling. Property own CTS have had food for thought in the discussion reported at that meeting.
 Alice is conceded to be close stu dent Of municipal law and activity, particularly as it relates to realty. He rarely misses q meeting Of im- portancc at city hall and usually has a loose leaf notebook on hand, into which he writes Noluminous notes. Occasionally an article to the press gives a hint Of the purpose of these memoranda.
 Alice insisted that sessions of the board of relief arc open to the pub lie. He claimed to be in possession Of legal background for his argument that not only agricNed property own CTS, but also any taxpayer has | right to come before this commis- sion and protest against any assess ment, either on the ground that it is ! excessive or too low. It is a public { matter, this business of taxation. AL 1 lee continued, and the operations of this elective board are subject to re- | view. both as to decisions arrived at i and methods by which these dccis- , ions were reached, he argued. Chairman Managan countered with a claim that property owners are en- titled to all equitable relief and i should be permitted to present their | facts without jeopardizing their own ] interests. For example. the chairman 1 pointed out, a man who feels justi- i fled in asking for a reduction should not be required to warn prospective | buyers that the income from his 1 property is not satisfactory, that the ! house was not constructed along the most modern lines, or that repairs | will soon he needed. The same condi- i tions, it is pointed out, might be found in other properties in the same market, but the owner who docs not come to the board Of re- | lief is pla accd in a better position to { sell. Those who agree with Mangan's policy say that any other stand would put the board of relief in the position Of real estate spies, gather 1 ing information to be used against the interests Of tho very people for whose benefit this board was crcat- cd.
 On the general proposition that
 
 of the public. conducted by the tax payers through agents delegated on election day. it would seem that Al Ice has good ground for argument.
 From the standpoint of the lndlNld . ual taxpayer who feels he has a just complaint, but who docs not care to present the seamy side of his realty |
 man Mangan is in the right.
 There is an important phase of the
 duties and powers of the board Of
 relief which might be considered in
 this connection. Although few ever
 take the trouble to inquire into the
 powers of this board. and thousands
 Of taxpayers probably do not even
 know how many men serve on thls
 commission. it is the most important
 body in the city government as far
 as taxation and tax revenues arc
 concerned. The board of relief can
 reject the entire budget prepared bA
 the board of assessors if it sees fit; it can alter any appraisal. raising ol
 lowering it without the necessity oi
 accepting dictates from any othcl branch of the government. In the
 courts. alone. can rerersals Of the board Of relief be had.
 This extraordinary power is neVei employed. fortunately. The power though held in check, is nevertheless
 ever present and can be invoked , Considering from this angle. 1t WoulG
 seem that municipal prudence "oulG
 dictate that all of the facts entering into the deliberations of the board of relief be made available for pun licatior. even though justice 10 the
 nroncr,v owner might ineure then l,.r;n,, rrnna 11Ahlit .rnIc.