The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-02

"JuSt routine matter. contracts not received at office '. ... board of works to blame"
 "Feud" at Climax
 The controllers "feud" with the
 Board of Works, which has seen refusal of the city's financial econ omist to treat with the Public Works Commissioners until ordered todo so by the Finance Commissioners, reached climax yesterday.
 Criticized by several of the com missioners for failure to follow pro- cedure as outlined by the board to see to it that city employees are paid at least once every two weeks. Con- troller Rowland, for the second time in several weeks, caused the Finance Commissioners to decide on special meeting next week so that the gar bake collectors may be paid. Wlth=. out knowledge of the board, the controller had been holding up pay ments to truckmen and equipment renters, some due since last Decem- Der, until few weeks ago when a delegation of the truckmen apepared before the board in protest.
 The affair of the unpaid garbage collectors came to a head after Commissioner John H. Goss queS- toned the controller about the matter of submitting only loose vouchers to the public works board, instead of warrant sheets listing these bills. The controller had re- fused to do this and the public works board had refused to sign the vouchers. The finance board or dered the controller two weeks ago to see the Griffenhagen & Asso- ciates employees who have been en- gagged in a survey of city affairs for the past two months at city hall, working in the aldermanlc chamber, visiting all city offices, the controllers frequently.
 GosS Questions
 Goss: Have you taken up the matter with Griffenhagen & Asso- ciateS?
 Rowland: No, I haven't seen them.
 Goss: Have you tried to see them? Rowland: Well, didn't think it was important.
 The works board approved the bills today.
 Here Corporation Counsel Charles s. O'Connor asked to be heard. He informed the board that the board of works had held a special meet ing at noon yesterday in order to hear a recommendation from his office on whether it was legal to approve the bills.
 Unpaid For Months O'Connor: The board of works knows that these garbage collec- tors haven't been paid for months. At least four of them have been to me to tell me that they have been attached for non-payment of fuel bills and other accounts.
 He informed the board that Dr.. Edward J. Godfrey, city health of ficer, had been told the men were threatening to quit and that the health department faced crisis should the city's garbage collection be stopped.
 The corporation counsel said that he had recommended that the pub lie works board approve the bills so that the garbage collectors would be paid, pending decision by Grif- fenhagen & Associates, as ordered sought by the finance board from the controller, about procedure. Not Written Contracts Rowland: The checks were held up because there were not written contracts. These were just received But it would have been the same thing. The board just approved the bills today. (Turns to James P. Purcell, first-run accountant in the controllers office) Weren't they?
 Purcell; Received only short time ago. That's why they aren't on the sheets today. (Produces contracts, some showing dates of Aug. "A, some Aug. 29.)
 Board members commented that the controller had not brought the matter of the contracts to the pub lie works boards attention; re- called that Controller Rowland had