The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-21
Commission Studying
 City's Appropriations
Reduction of All Expenses Aim of Aldermen, Finance
 Comnlissioners-Views Expressed By Members

mayor recommendations concerning possible economies throughout the entire makeup of the city govern ment.
 Main contention was over the proposition of whether Griffen- hagen & Associates should be en- ployed at once to attempt specific reorganization of city affairs by a special survey. AS indicated in The Democrat last week and again yes terday, this matter has had tn sanction of the Republican men bers of the aldermanic sub-commi tee and Chairman Judge favore such move.
 Added to this group is Controller Sherwood L. Rowland who, last night, attempted to introduce a motion providing for employment of the firm at an estimated initial cost (two months work of $6,000. The motion never was seconded and Finance Commissioner John H. Goss declared that he, for one, would not vote on such propasal, adding, however, that he had an open mind on the subject and was willing to be won over if constructive argu- ments for the expending of money in this manner were presented. Acting as Units
 Chairman Judge, at this juncture explained to the controller and tC the board members that the con- mittees were acting as units from their respective boards and that the power of the joint committees did not include action of the sort the controller had proposed. The finance board has such power and all that the committees may do is to report their findings to respective boards as a whole for effectuation.
 With the controller attempting frequently to keep before the meet ing the possible employment of Griffenhagen & Associates, present. ing estimates to indicate that the city will face a deficit of between i $350,OO0 and $400,00O unless econo- mics are devised or special revenues found, the meeting went into shirt sleeve consideration of ways and means to adjust city affairs, balance the budget.
 Here are few of the findings upon which most members Of the committee agreed:
 That the surplus resource sinking fund will yield about $600,000, o1 about $18O,000 more than the con- troller had estimated.
 That should the audit firm be en- ployed, the findings would affect only the latter months of the year and timely treatment of Waterbury's depression would fail of fruition by this method.
 That Mayor Hayes and depart mental heads have shown fine CO., operation" and this latter considera- ton assumed vital proportion in the plan to arrange economies. That when Mayor Hayes reports to the finance board Thursday on proposals agreed upon by depart ments to cut costs, this step be con- sidered only the start of an inten- sive program of searching for econ- omieS.
 That drastic measures be taken with the support of action by the finance board, to back up the tax collectors in collection of more than $1,5OO,O00 owed the city in back taxes.
 Tax Collections
 In relation to this last matter, Tax Collector William A. Ennis and Old-Age Tax Collector George A. Stokes appeared before the commit tees to report on the tax situation. Asked about current tax collections by Commissioner GoSS, Collector Ennis remarked:
 "The present payments are bet ter than they were at this time last year." And here's a consensus of the eX- pressions of those attending the meeting, allowing for liberal treat ment of their remarks concerning the action impending to obviate a special tax levy and, at the same time, to keep the city solvent, pre- vent deficit and balance budget sadly impaired by over-expendi- lures last year, the illegally-placed surplus resource sinking fund ($300,- O0O) in the budget estimate, and the unanticipated call for more funds by the welfare department:
 Mayor Hayes: If you want the Griffenhagen people to do the work you won't need me. You haven't heard what I'm going to report at the finance board meeting. The Grif- enhagen firm wanted to close half the fire houses, sell paupers' corpses to Yale Medical school to get money for the city.
 Alderman Burton H. Walker (R) of the committee from the alder men: I wouldn't agree to any cuts in the fire department. AS for mer member of the board of educa- ton, I'm familiar with their needa too
 Relief Expenses Controller Rowland: Don't know what the city is going to do. The