The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-31
Controllers Staff
 Remains In Office
Pending Court Decision Present Democratic Alp. pOintees to Carry On-Rowland Names Accountant

While Corporation Counsel Charles s. O'Connor went forward with filing of his appeal to the supreme court today in last recourse to up- set the superior court ruling giving Controller-elect Sherwood L. Row. land dominion over his office per- sonnel beyond the powers of Mayor Frank Hayes, the latter announced that he would not make his appoint ments, pending outcome of the ap- peal.
 Temporary Setup
 MT. Rowland will appoint" the incumbent eleven members of the controllers ofiice staff from week to week." he said, but will not go 30 far as to be ''undignifled" in creating two sets of employees in the once during the legal proceedings. He will, however, name an ac- countant of his own employ who will keep personal set of books for him. Edward Cohen and, Harold Post have been suggested as his possible choice. but MT. Rowland would not confirm either guess.
 He said he will inform the eleven incumbent employees Monday that their terms of employment are at an end" but that he will appoint them temporarily until the appeal has been decided"
 The procedure, which was changed by the mayors appeal, originally was intended by J. Warren Upson, Republican town chairman, to throw out the incumbent veterans in the ofiice as of next Monday, per MT. Rowland, of course. Next, 1t was thought possible that the Republi- can controller r-elect might go ahead with his appointments and create two sets of employees.
 Formal Statement
 The controller-elect statement regarding the final decision in the matter follows:
 "The city of Waterbury does @ business of about 6 million dollars Q year. and the controller Is its chief financial oft1cer. If anything goes wrong 1t is his responsibility and that of his bondsmen.
 Because of this the controller should appoint his own ofiice force and clerical staff. l am advised that under the charter have au- thority to do so. Unfortunately, the mayor is not of the same opinion, although the superior court agrees with my contention.
 ''This issue is apparently to be appealed. and for two or three months the question will remain in doubt. However. my legal advisers appear to be quite confident that the final decision vii: be in my fa- vor.
 "In the meantime the business of the city must go on.
 "The interests of the city must be safeguarded and my bondsmen must be protected against any liability that is not properly theirs.
 Pending Decision
 "It would be very undignified proceeding and reflect no credit on the city if two sets of employees were installed in the city controllers of. Ace. Consequently I have decided not Go appoint any assistants at the present time. Each of the present einployes of the city controllers of- Ice will receive a formal notice on Monday morning stating that in my opinion their terms of employment are at an end, but that l am ap- pointing them temporarily to per- form their present duties under my direction. This temporary employ ment will be on a week to week basis until the court action Is de- ciaed. At present l am not deciding to discharge all of them, to retain all of them or to discharge some and retain others. am simply as- serting that it is necessarily the right of the controller to appoint and remove his own assistats in or der that he may be assured that they perform the duties according to his views and his instructions inc stead of observing policies laid down for them by some person outside the controllers ofilce. not selected by the voters to take charge of the cofi- troller,s ofice and not primarily re- spcnsible for what is done in the controllers ofiice. It may Dc m the end that it will be desirable in the citys interests to retain one or more Of the present employees. l am fllak- inR no commitment as to this. l am making no commitment as to who win be appointed to any position when I decide Q change Is advail- tageoms. This matter is to be post pOned until the court gives its ai1- s.....s .,e 11.a x,.ats. nssMmklnsa aa kn