The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-04

NODcs Il G1lAAAh WO NO'
 He added that he wanted to be sure that the bonds were properly arranged, telling of an instance when he served on state board and a technicality resulted in the bonding company being proved right in the claim that it was not liable.
 Blanket Bond
 Blanket bond for the controller office employees, with $5,000 for Pur- cell, $1,000 for the others, was ex- plained by the controller under ques- tioning by MT. Judge who took issue with Controller Rowland on the lat ter's assertion that $5 per $1,000 per year was standard rate" It was determined that the Hartford h. demnity company had issued the bonds. After questioning about ob- taining lower rates, the controller ad- mitted that manufacturing com panies obtained better prices.
 Rowland: I suppose there's no harm in searching the market for them.
 Judge: I should look into the mat ter of rates. I know there are rates very much lower.
 Reports of park department prop critics and the tax collector, George R. Guilfoile, were presented.
 Goss: In connection with the city taking over so much property, I'd like to see list.
 Mayor: There was list in Sep tember But there should be a new one for the records.
 This was voted.
 Setting up of petty cash funds, considered by the board earlier, had not been done, the controller said and this was voted.
 New Haven Co. Bond
 Communication from the city en- gineering department through the corporation counsel sought return of S5,044.21 to the New Haven Con- struction company, with bond for $6,000 substituted. This caused long discussion and the controller said that he hadn't placed the payment on the current warrant sheets, al- though he had brought the com- munication with him.
 The return of the money was vot- ed but the controller said that he couldn't make the payment until the board approved his sheets at the next meeting. The president of the construction firm had pleaded for payment at once, Femarking that work on the Merritt Parkway was causing him heavy employment ex- pense and that he needed the money The board of public works, the city engineer and the corporation coun- sel supported immediate payment. O'Connor: This matter is urgent don't see how you can raise any objection.
 Consults Armstrong
 This to Controller Rowland. Final ly, after the controller had repeated his frequent aside conversations with William J. Armstrong, the per- sonal accountant who acted as spokesman for MT. Rowland numer- ous times during the meeting. City Engineer Root arrived and agreed to cerClIy the WOrK.
 Question of the surety bond found MT. Rowland commenting on pro- cedure.
 Rowland: Not a difficult matter to check it. Will take time to check up and see if the money is avail able. (Talks to Armstrong;.
 Cess: AS regards rushing the matter, the contractor just will have to take it. We must investigate the bond
 Overdrafts against the police pen sion fund, due to refusal of the con- troller to arrange transfers were re- ported and discussed in detail.
 Grand Jury Coming
 (Note: The Democrat has just learned that States Attorney Law renee L. Lewis will go before the court at 3 o'clock today to ask for a grand jury to investigate the con- troller's office affairs. Thus, the pro- gram of Controller Rowland which saw hours of controversial attack at the board of finance meeting last night, fades to futility which does not warrant the foregoing, or the complete report planned of the meeting)
 WPA Workers Pay
 Further matters at the board of finance meeting, in brief, included encouragement of payments to WPA workers, fund of $2,000 being made available to the controller at once, to prevent stoppage of work which might see hundreds losing jobs. The controller had not paid numerous claims due since Dec. 27.
 The controller called attention to a red-inked line at the bottom of