The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-01-06

on this board and any mayor
could, had he wished, chosen only
members Of his own party. The
police and fire boards are reduced
70 I'VE members, one Of whom
must be en- alderman.
All special funds OF the city,
except those required by existing
bond issues, are eliminated, and
ell money goes into one general
fund. The surplus resource sink
ing fund 70 wiped out.
A department Of purchases Is
created, with the director having
broad powers over oil city pur-
ChAses and contract awards. No
goods can be paid for unless or
dered by the purchasing direc-
ter. No contract can be entered
iatO until the board Of finance
has given notice that sufficient
funds are available for that pur-
pose. The purchasing director, In
buying anything, must secure ut
least three bids whenever this ID
practicable.
Petty cash funds allowed any
city department cannot exceed
800. The controller must keep
Q separate account for each Of the
hundreds Of specific appropria-
tions In the budget, and In max
ing O requisition each department
must cite the specific item against
which II Is TO be charged.
The name OF the board OF re-
lief u changed to the board Of
tax review. The position OF tax
attorney Is eliminated. The tax
collector must report 10 the alder
men by Feb. IS each year the
names and addresses OF those ow-
ing taxes for six months or more,
as we'll as the amounts OF the
taxes.
The board Of aldermen II
given the power TO decide the
number Of lleutenants, SER
geants and patrOlmen In the
police department The maxi
mum number Of supernumer-
aries ID fixed NJ 80 irstead Of
the previous 100. The superin-
tendent must be o policeman
Of Ut least eight years expert
ence. Any policeman can be
promoted or denoted, with pro-
motions 20 be on the basis Of ex-
perlence or qualifications. Police
men can be removed only for
cause and have the right OF
appeal TO the superior court.
Policemen may be retired by the
police board at the age Of 66 and
after 26 years OF service. The
superintendent may be retired on
request after 20 years.
Tremen may be retired at the
age Of 90 and after Is years OF
service. Either police or fire
board may reinstate any police
man or fireman II such action Is
deemed advisable.
IL will be understandable n
there Il confusion for o time be-
cause Of the number and variety
a the changes In the charter.
In addition to the lengthy re-
vision act, there were o number
Of other charter changes whose
passage was secured by Senator
Culhane, as well as others
backed by Senator Edward p.
Egan.
As II ID now, one must have
several volumes on hand 10
make certain Of charter pro-
visions. There Ia the original
charter passed by the legislature
In 1891, there are the changes
made by special act In 1888, 1885
and 1887, and finally there are
the scores Of changes made this
year. The ~ charter has been
80 altered that Is hardly recog-
mizable.
Almost every department In the
city government has been touch
Cd IN the various charter reviSions.
The Cuihane revision alone made
changes IN approximately one
third OF the sections In the whole
ciiaster.
90 complicated has the charter
situation become that II Is q brave
city ofilcial who takes any impor-
tant action without first porting
fI1rcugil the several volumes 10
make sure that he's not violating
nesae clause or other. II Is TO be
Iloued that sometime In the not
to6- distant future oil the charter
escfions still effective Will be COM
niIed "a one volume. The Gull
hano act directs that the city clerk
uake such q compilation every
|sso years, but one copy, ct the
EIiay Hall, will not help 0 great
xs charter confusion can be.
a9msn eska0mB. The entire 1880
36Ssi sams .near being Welded
1900 ~ enc melieed that the
e. ~. 40 "a ia &3amk n