The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-06

etage as far as discussion of public Improvements and property changes Is concerned yesterday. Eary yes- terday afternoon the board of works at a meeting held following tour of the city, voted not to remove the parklet in Mill Plain in front of the Henry Chase school. And last
 night before the board of zoning appeals one of the bitterest fights in the history of Waterbury's zoning law took place when hearing was held on the petition of Antoinette Archambault for permission to erect q gasoline station at Southmayd and Meriden roads, across the street from the Mill Plain Union church. Decision was reserved on the latter proposition.
 The board of works decision to retain the Mill Plain Parklet came after . series of hearings on the matter during the past year and half. Many favored the removal or the parklet while others opposed it. Rev Joseph o. Todd of the NH Plain Union church opposed its re- ncyal and last night opposed the granting of petition for gasoline station across from his church.
 Attorney Thomas F. McGrath ap- peared for the petitioner and throughout the hearing engaged in bitter clashes with Rev MT Todd: Charles J. DeBisschop, a trustee Of inc Mil Plain Union church, War ren B. Hitchcock and Edson w. Hitchcock.
 Rev MT Tood presented a vote taken 1t the annual meeting of his church in which CAT members were shown as opposing the gas station permit. Attorney McGrath present. ed lengthy petition with names fayorinS the permit. Under the law no gas station can be erected within 200 feet of a church unless an ex- emption is allowed by the zoning board.
 Attorney McGrath claimed that Rev MT Todd's petition was not properly obtained from the people of the church. Rev MT Todd ana Mir DeBisschop retorted that 1t was and claimed that it contained the names of more property owners than did the one offered by Attorney Mc- Grath. <.
 Incensed because Attorney Mo Grath doubted the reliability of the netition he offered, Rev MT Todd told him that he did not believe he would call his Catholic pastor a liar. Attorney McGrath replied that uohpdv would find a Catholic pas- for opposing a petition for gas station and pointed to the fact that Rev Thomas Mulcahy of Sts Peter and Paups church signed the peti- ton favoring the granting, Of the permit.
 The main battle of the evening was between Attorney McGrath ana MT DeBisschop and it developed into a vocal test. with the latter hnaiiy declaring that he could "hoiier Just Fl loud as you can." Attorney Mc- Grath replied that the people in the East End don't need anyone from "A Hamilton avenue trout farm" to come out and tell them how to run things.
 Through the entire hearing Attor- ney McGrath kept interrupting the various speakers and finally when he had halted Rev MT Todd a few times the latter asked the zoning board if . policeman could be gotten to keen the lawyer quiet. Attorney Mo- Grath replied that Rev MT Todd would be a policeman for himself before he was through.
 MT DeBisschop denied that he was coming from East Mountain to die tate things in the Mill Plain section. He explained that he is trustee of the Mill Plain Union church and owns a plot in the adjoining Pine Grove cemetery.
 Charges that no objections were raised to gas stations near the Sec ond Congregational church were made by Attorney McGrath but Rev MT Todd explained that these sta- tions were installed before the zon- ing law went into effect. Attorney McGrath, replying to the argument that the gas station would bring too much noise to the neighborhood, criticised the noise from the Grange hall across the street when dances take place. He added that the Arch ambault family could erect stores on it's land without going to the trouble of asking the board of appeals for a permit. A gasoline station would be much more slightly, he claimed.
 Rev MT Todd, answering Attorney McGrath's statement that no Catholic pastor would interfere with the peti- ton. stated that the proposed station is across the street from the Mill Plain church and 2,300 feet away