The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-13

The Gem theater, long Q subject of controversy in recent years, ap- peared headed today to be again the topic of discussion, following a meeting of the board ot welfare last night. It developed at the session that an insurance company inspector ordered repairs on the top steps of the staircases leading down from the Gem lobby, claiming dangerous condition is in exist ence there now.
 It was indicated at the meeting that the present company which holds the liability insurance on the stairs will revoke it unless the con- dition is corrected. Although there is only a 7-8 inch slope on the top step of each staircase yet it will be necessary to equalize the other stairs tc correct the situation.
 The problem seems to be whether the town or the Gem theater lessee, Ralph Pasho, is responsible. It is possible that 8 suggestion of Richard Durkin, member of the board, may be followed. This was that the town and MT. Pasho split the cost of the job.
 Oddly enough, at the actual board meeting, this suggestion re- ceived little consideration, the gen. eral idea being that the town was responsible for the repair and therefore must pay the cost of it. However, after the session, the war den and superintendent scrutinized the lease and gained the impression from terms of the lease that the lessee Is responsible.
 Gradual Slope
 Frank E. Eaton, board member, presented the finding of the in. surance company inspector, MT German, to the board. The in- spector found a gradual slope in the top step of each of the stair cases leading from the theater lobby and also in the top step of the stairs leading from the actual hall of the town hall near the borough courtroom end down to the police station.
 There was a little mention of re- pairs on the latter staircase, the theater lobby stairs being generally dissussed. Warden Sheridan said he had a competent WPA worker who could fix the theater lobby stairs at a low cost to the town.
 Discussion brought out that if the top stairs are fixed, other stairs would have to be altered to equalize 1t. The condition was caused, it was stated, when a new floor was put on top of the old one and the stairs were not fixed to correS- pond. It is scarcely noticeable un- less one were looking for it.
 The town hall committee of the board, Richard Durkin and MT. Eaton, recommended the repair to be made. It is necessary to put new treads on the top flight and make stairs of the same height, MT. Eaton said in explaining that now three or four steps are of dif- ferent heights and that the town would be liable in case an accident occurred.
 Many Use Stairs
 It was pointed out one accident occurred some time ago on the stairs but not on the top steps, in the warden's opinion. MT. Dur kin questioned the ability of the WPA worker to do it saying it is a job for stair-builder, pointing out that the best thing to do would be to have man draw up plans for the set of stairs, make them outside of the building and then install them. so as not to interfere with the business of the theater.
 The warden said the man in ques- tion is a good carpenter and ex- pressed the opinion the town should not go to the expense os getting ' regular contractor to do the