The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-12

SSSA$SAAy board of finance, at three-hour conference last night with Senator George T. Culhane, failed to reach any agreement with the senator on his sewer assessment bill. AS the stalemate failed of solution, Senator Culhane said he would file at the legislature in Hartford today an amended assessment bill, allowing property owners to pay assess ments in two installments, the first coming due 150 days after com- pletion of the sewer and the second 150 days later. As in the original bill, the amendment provides that pro- perty owners shall receive propor- tional reduction in their assess ments in the amount of WPA aid given the city in sewer construction
 Claims and counter-claims filled the air as the conferees engaged in the lengthy discussion. Commits sioner Major Judge, chairman of the economy committee, declared that the bill would cost the city a loss of $15O,000 in revenue this year, and with consequent depletion of the revolving sewer fund would make 1t necessary to lay off as many as HOO WPA workers now engaged in sewer work.
 Effective In 1940
 Commissioner John H. Goss re- commended that the bill be made effective Jan. 1, 1940, in order that the city might plan ahead but Senator Culhane said this would not offer any relief to property owners already assessed and declined to accept the suggestion. Commission CT Goss said he seriously doubted the legality of Senator Culhane's s bill, since it would nullify the budget adopted for the year by removing A resource which had been counted on.
 Taking part in the conference were Commissioners Judge, Goss, John A. Hayden and Harley Tripp of the finance board, Senators Cul- hane and Edward P. Egan, Con- troller Sherwood Rowland, Auditor James P. Purcell, Alderman c. Arthur Dubois and Fenton Niver, Works Commissioners Albert Loef- fler and Joseph Stanley, Thomas Moran, local contractor, and Chris Owens, of 65 Hinsdale avenue, one of the property owners in the East End now facing sewer assessments.
 Senator Culhane insisted that col lection of money due the city In back sewer assessments would bring in enough funds to make possible continuance of the WPA sewer con- struction program.
 Much of the debate was on the costs of sewer installation in Wa terbury, which Senator Culhane charged are too high. Commission CTS Goss and Judge admitted this, but contended that use of WPA labor gave employment to men who would otherwise be on the city relief rolls.
 Commissioner Goss and Works Commissioner Loeffler told Senator Culhane that many persons are now failing to pay sewer assess ments, waiting to see what happens to his moratorium bill.
 Same Argument
 "That's the same argument they used in 1885," retorted the senator, referring to his bill of that year which would have waived the inter est on back taxes if the principal were paid. The bill was defeated at Hartford.
 Senator Culhane declared that an audit of the tax collectors books is vitally necessary at present, and was told that plans for such an audit are now underway. A new card index file is being set up by the tax collector, Commissioner Goss said, and a whole new system of collecting back taxes and assess ments is to be established.
 We faced the same situation in the early years of the Guilfoile ad- ministration," said Commissioner Goss, with large amounts due the city. But I daresay collections now are better than they have been In many years. The tax collector has been working hard and is doing a fine job"
 MT Moran said that perhaps the problem could be solved by re- ducing the sewer assessment from the present figure of $2.50 per foot, This plan met with no approval from Senator Culhane, though Senator Egan also said it might be a solution.
 Senator Culhane charged verbally as he did in g letter to the finance board a, week ago, that accurate costs of sewer construction have not been furnished by the city engineers office. In his letter he claimed that the figures were intended as camouflage."
 The engineering department was defended by Commissioners Goss and Judge, who praised its work. Commissioner Goss suggested that senator take up the question of costs with City Engineer Charles A. Root personally.
 MT. Owen Speaks
 The case for the East End pro- perty owners was advsnced by MT Ownes. They can pay part of the assessments, he said, but not all. He said his assessment. of $l37 50. is due