The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-25
CITIZENS GOVT
 AWAITS AUDIT
(Continued from Page D

citation has not yet been fully es- tablished, it is not fitting to make any definite statement at this time that would commit the or ganization to any rigid program. With this qualification the follow ing points may be mentioned.
 1. A meeting of about 40 citi- zens was held Friday, January IA, at which temporary officers were elected and three motions passed as follows:
 A. To effect a permanent
 organization.
 B. To demand an inde-
 pendent audit of the city's fi-
 nanceS.
 c. To officially wait upon
 the states attorney with a de-
 mand for action.
 2. States attorney, Lawrence L. Lewis, received our committee and made a statement that has been published in full in the press. We were gratified with his insistence on an Independent audit, and his selection of the firm of Griffen- hagen & Associates to perform the auditing task. We regard his statement of policy and his &C., tions as highly commendable and assure him of our vigorous sup port in any situation where we can be helpful. We heartily agree with him that under the circum- stances the audit should be under his supervision and not under the controller as we had requested.
 3. A second meeting of 100 citi- zens was held Tuesday, January 18, which received the report of progress and approved the certiti- cate of incorporation of the asso- citation and also approved its by laws. It passed resolution in favor of publicity of city finan- cial matters.
 4. A permanent board of man. agers has been elected as follows:
 George Ayotte, E. A. Anderson, Mrs. Mabel Bachmann, Raymond E. Bassett, Bonnet Bronson, Fred erick Beardsley, Alexander Bryan, Orton Camp, Irving Chase, w. B. Corbett, E. J. Daly, Mrs. T. I. DriggS, Frederick French, Hugo Gustafierri, Frank Hess, John F. McLinden, Theodore Nuhn, Ellis Phelan, Mrs. J. H. Root, Earl Se- gur, James B. Griffin, Robert Lowell.
 5. Many citizens have reported that they regretted the passing of the old Municipal Register and feel that if it had been continued throughout the years that the city would have been saved many times its cost. Monthly, weekly, and even daily bulletins of all ex- penditures made by the control lers office have been suggested. In line with these proposals we will give thought and study to some orderly manner of enabling the public to obtain a thorough un- derstanding of the details of the city's finances. At a later date after a study of the subject, the association will make its attitude known on this matter.
 6. It has been suggested that our association interest itself in the matter of revising the City Charter. Many have claimed that the charter is far from being workable document and has re- suited in considerable litigation and confusion during the past year. The board of managers is considering the appointment of a legal committee to study this mat ter.
 2. It has also been suggested that this association use its influence to install a Merit System in our city government. This suggestion will also receive consideration.
 8. The matter of renting an of- flee and employing a permanent secretary is also pending. Many citizens think that this would be a very desirable thing and feel olldU O AulA CAlAlC CACCuO4tC dI4O TS~ search secretary could do much constructive work.
 g. A membership committee will be appointed, and membership cards are now available for all who desire to join the association. There will be no dues, although voluntary contributions will be welcome. A large membership will lend encouragement to the off, cers and directors of the associa- tion. About 1000 have sent in memberships on newspaper clip pings.
 10. Many other suggestions have been made. among them that the association institute civil suits against city officials who may have violated the law. We feel that any such action should await the re- port of the independent auditors and the board of managers has deferred any consideration of the matter until the audit report is available. Hasty and ill-considered actiors- is both unnecessary and in- advisable. The association should not act in any spirit of persecu-