The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-12

Naugatuck,' Dec. 12-The EZRA ] board could not see last night why $2,0OO damages should be paid for property to which, using the as- sessed value of the property as a standard, it considered less than $20O worth of damage was done. The property in question was that belonging to Mrs Joanne Curtin on Johnson street, which has been the cause of considerable controversy in the last year.
 John Curtin, son of Mrs Curtin and building inspector under the republican administration last year, was spokesman for Mrs Curtin and members took so long that the meeting which began at 4;15 did not end until about 6 o'clock. Warden John Sheridan was con- stantly inquiring why no damage claim was made when the last ad- ministration was in office, instead of a claim being put in when new administration took charge. He got no definite answer to this. The warden once during the talk characterized the work on Johnson street as "the biggest joke the town ever was confronted with"
 The matter centered around dumping of land when the CWA undertook work there last winter. The Curtin property is lower in grade than the street grade so when work of grading part of the street occurred, naturally some of the dirt went on Mrs Curtin's land. MT Curtin claimed that two lots are completely ruined, being good for neither building purposes nor for use as gardens.
 Nine other lots he contends, are partially damaged.
 Didn't Agree
 Borough Engineer, Robert D. Beardsley did not agree with Mir Curtin about the damage. He said that the grade would have had to be filled in sometime anyway.
 Borough Engineer Charles Cur tiss had charge of the job last year, according to Charles Groh and former Street Supt. Victor Ander- son. C. F. Bloom. EZRA engin- ger, who was not in this territory at the time the job was done and the warden agreed that a mistake was made in not securing right of way for work done there from Mrs Curtin.
 However, board members were generally agreed that the price de- manded was much too high. Atty. Joseph Talbot, member of the board, went about the process of trying to arrive at settlement in an orderly manner. He first tried to ascertain MT Curtin's claims, then to find out what Borough En- gineer Beardsley had to say con- cerning these claims. and then tried to arrive at an idea of the dam age done.
 The lots are assessed at $42.50 each. This is 70 percent of fair market value for them. Nine of them have about 10 feet ruined. Each of these nine is about 140 feet deep. Two others. it is claimed by MT Curtin, are totally ruined. The fair value would be about $60 ac- cording to this estimate per lot. That would mean, it was said. the total value of the entire lots could not be more than $700. Atty. Tal- bot told MT Curtin damages would not be 10 per cent of the $2,000 asked.
 Claims Increased Value
 MT Curtin claimed that because of Installation of gas there recent ly and other improvements, Mrs Curtin and he considered each lot worth much more than formerly. However when he mentioned the $2,O00 he said he was talking only as representative for Mrs Curtin and not expressing his own views one way or the other on the amount. MT Curtin said there had been an opportunity for building within year or two before the al- legged damage was done. It was pointed out to him that there is little or no market for building lots now.
 MT Beardsley told the board the grade on the road was established in 1904. The Curtin land was bought in 1917 and it had not changed in value since that time, according to borough figures. al- though it was revalued in 1922 and 1930. When discussing whom Mrs Curtin would sue if she decided to. Mir Bloom told MT Curtin she could not sue the government. according to law. He said all CWA work was hither approved by the borough board or the borough and the en- gineer. Warden Sheridan said this kind of work had not been ap proved by the borough board.