New Britain herald., 1930-07-09
Discusses Breaking Con- tract With Battaglia Be- cause Work Has Not Progressed as Expected Dispute Slows Up Me moriaI Entrance Con- struction. ~


 opinion of the board of park com n1issioners who met last evening. AS result Chairman Donald l.. Bartlett has been instructed to write 3. letter 10 Mr. Battaglia tell ing him that fact.
 Battaglla has been the storm center of several controversies. Re- gently when the park department recommended giving him the con- tract for constructing the wadinG pool because he was the lowest bidder. a protest went up from council members. Councilman Frank l. Conlon, former chairman Of the board of public works. led rh. uprising and the council re- iected the recommendation that he be given the job.
 The park board following con- ference with Mayor Quigley, stood pat and again sent it's recommen- dation to the council with the add ed compromise that q full time in- spector would be on the joh 1T all times The contract was then awarded 10 Battaglla.
 Park officials then went to the trouble ot advising Battaglia that this was the job which would either vlndiCate or finish him so far as city contracts were concern ed It is said that he was told flank ly that this was his last chance to satisfy the city that he could do a rood job and stay within the terms of his agreement.
 The contractor agreed to have th. work finished within a monS The month is ended and the work is slightly more than half finished. The park board claims, that he agreed 10 use q larger concrete mixer than the small one on the job and has not done it. He failed 10 provide enough lumber for con- crete forms so that the job would proceed without delay 1t is alleged. Instead Of doing that, the board vas informed last night that he IS souabbling with the city inspector who insists that forms remain on poured concrete until it has thoroughly set.
 Chairman Bartlett and Superin- tendent Clyde Ellingwood instruct ed Battaglia to submit a bill for partial payment of s1200. He sent in q bill for S1,50Q.
 The park board discussed the possibility Of breaking the contract, put no action was taken. The board changed the bill from sl,500 to s1.200 and ordered that amount paid. Then a vote was passed in structins the chairman to notify Battaslia that his work was not satisfactory and to bring pressure to have the job completed as early as possible.
 Would Honor Von Steuben
 A delegation headed by Council man Joseph Landwehr was present in behalf Of the Won Steuben so- the intersection Of East, Jubilee and Dwight streets be named Non Steu- ben park in honor of Baron Won Steuben, who came to this country during the Colonial days and helped train the American militia. They also asked permission to take steps towards beautifying that triangle.
 The delegation vas informed that the common council is the only body with authority to name parks, but that the park department was will ing to have the request granted. The Won Steuoen society was granted permission to plant trees and shrub bery under the supervision of the park uperintendent. Mir. Bartlett and Councilman Landwehr also will call upon officials of the Connecticut company with view to having the territory north Of the park owned by that company improved. The delegation was advised 10 petition rh. council for the privilege Of nam- ing the park.
 Jacob Birnbaum Of 64 Grand street was present and asked that sidewalks be laid on the north sde Of Grand street between High and Hawkins streets. He said a danger ous condition exists there due to lack Of walks The commissioners were not convinced that a danger ous condition does exist but voted to investigate before the next meet ing.
 Memorial Entrance Delay
 There was considerable discussion of delay in completing the stone steps for the new memorial en- trance to Walnut Hill par on West Main street It was pointed out that there Is 2, dispute between the architect H. Van Buren Masonigle of New York, and the India Lime stone Co, which is furnishing the stone. A representative Of the ar chitect has condemned many of the stones as not satisfactory
 The board is satisfied that the Hayes Construction Co, is not to blame for the delay. The matter will be taken up with the architect.
 Superintendent Ellingwood re- ported that the municipal golf course Is almost ready for use.
 A spring has been discovered or Washington park. It was voted 10 permit the chairman and superin- tendent to take what action is advis- able to preserve the spring.
 Battaglfa Expresses Surprise
 Criticism aimed by the park board at Contractor Joseph Battaglia on the claim that work on the Wash ington park wading pool is not pro- gressing as speedily as desired sur prised the contractor and brought him to city hall today for explana- ton.