The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-17

Blanket grouping of WPA park projects was recommended for ap- proval by the board of finance "be- cause the controller (S. L. RoWland desires it." City Engineer Root told the board. (The controller earlier this year sought and obtained sep arate listings of WPA projects and persuaded the board of finance to formulate this procedure, contrary to current governmental requisites which now find most WPA-city projects grouped under blanket list ing). Supt. of Streets Thomas J. Fleming sought transfers of 5000 in the water department budget item for equipment repair of three items. chlorine for sterilizing water, water
 pipe purchase, meters; and $200 from motor vehicle repairs in the street deartment to telephone costs, the latters haing a balance of only Is cents, he reported. The board recommended these transfers to the finance board.
 The superintendent explained that the Baldwin and South Main street jobs, currently part of the state paving program, had exhausted wa ter extension money.
 "The underground work was charged to us and the controllers office ordered me to do it this way" he said. "The controller won't al- low us to use paving money at all"
 This matter derived from submis- sion of a list of water extension petitions from various citizens who are building homes in several sec- tions of the city. The superintend- ent, on motion of Commissioner James A. Phelan, seconded by Com missioner Robert Mccormack, was directed to submit estimates for pro- viding water to the householders, these to be referred to the board of finance for consideration wheth- CT the controller should hold up water extension to the tax payers.
 Basis of part of the controversy was the opinion of Corporation Counsel Charles s. O'Connor that Clough road is an accepted city street and that petitions by resi- dents for 1000 feet of water main provided the city with reason to put through the job This matter had been referred to the corporation counsel by the board for ruling.
 Reports of Claims Attorney Vim cent A. Scully on three claims for repairs of property impaired by construction work by the city rec commended such action by the city, This was referred to the street com- mittee and the superintendent.
 The superintendent was directed to investigate report from Joseph J. Whelan that a tree on the side walk in front of the property of the late Michael J. Whelan, 37 Nelson street, had raised the sidewalk four or five inches, creating a dangerous condition; Michael McGrath asked that Media avenue be oiled, or as- phalt be laid, and was told that the avenue is not an accepted street, thus the petitioners living on &C., cepted streets had preference but should oil be available, the work will be done.
 Mrs. Wilhelmina Brown, 20 Herk- inner street, complained that curb had not been built by a neighbor on an adjacent corner, thus allowing water to flow from the street over her property. The board of alder men will be asked to hold a public hearing on the matter.
 Francis street property owners sought a drainage system, with Michael R. Russo as spokesman, but the superintendent explained that as the low-lying property on the street is in the course of Brewery brook it would require work by the engineering department to remedy the overflow.
 The water petitions, held up be- cause the controller refused to allow billing for extensions of this work to the paving item were received from the following: Sidney Matzkin, Collins street, 300 feet; Joseph Cap aldo. Berkley street, 100 feet; Alfred L. West, Park road; Joseph Calo, Stillson road; and Peter Spokas, Hewey street, 200 feet.
 MT. Capaldo told of the situation when he appeared at the public hearing last night, decided to pur- chase the pipe, about 100 feet at B cents foot, so that the work may go forward at once in spite of the delay indicated by future board action to concur with the control ler's ideas. The petitioner is build- ing a house and expected to take occupancy Sept. 15.
 Because the roof of the present court room leaks, Brighouse. Eng land, court will be held in St. Pauls