The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-20
STREET DEPT. IS
 BLAMED BY WPA

Continued from Page D and negligence of the WPA in filling in trenches after sewer i1stalla tions. Streets had to be closed and repairs made by the strees department, he said.
 "Mr. Scott-Snith is evidently un- aware of certain fundamental prac- tices of the WPA organization and equally unfamiliar with the practices of private contracting firms, said MT. Sullivan in his reply today. The duty of main- taining streets is not assumed by the WPA, but remains with the street department, he said.
 Serious Charges
 MT. Sullivan stated that he does not ordinarily reply to criticisms, but that he was inpelled to answer MT. Scott-Snith's allegations be- cause they are "of such a serious nature that they cannot pass un- challenged"
 The WPA administrator declared that qualified engineer" local WPA supervisor, William E. Ken nedy, reported to him that MT. Scott-Smith's charges of filling sewer trenches with more. fee than earth are without foundation, in fact.
 If the city or the street depart- ment is flax in drawing up project proposals, MT. Sullivan said, "there is no one to blame but the City of Waterbury, or MT. Scott-Smith's s street department.
 Sullivan Statement
 MT. Sullivan's statement to The Democrat in reply to MT. Scott- Smiths charges follows in full
 While it Is not my usual practice to take cognizanoe of all criticisms directed against the WPA, the charges made by MT. Scott-Smith are of such serious nature that they cannot pass unchallenged.
 MT. Scott-Smith is evidently un- aware of certain fundamental prac- tices of the WPA organization and on the basis of this evidence 1t would appear that he was equally unfamiliar with the practices of private contracting firms. He cl,arg- es negligence on the part of WPA for not maintaining those streets in which this agency has laid sew- CTS because, during the severe win- ter months, trenches which were back-filled settled as the frost left the ground.
 Not Responsible
 What Mir. Scott-Smith apparent ly does not know-or chooses to ignore-iS the fact that the WpA has assumed no responsibility for the maintenance of these streets in which sewers have been laid beyond that of back-1llling to the street level, That responsibility rests entirely with the City of Waterbury and its highway department, or its department of public works. Ample testimony to this statement may be found in the official project appli- cations submitted by the City of Waterbury and duly signed by the responsible city authorities.
 "I believe that even Mfr. Scott- Smith will agree that private con tractors will not assume such re- sponSibility unless 1t is specifically included in the contract. And 1t happens that contracts made by municipalities with the WPA are no different in this regard from those entered into with private firms.
 If the City of Waterbury would apply the common sense business employed by such cities as Bristol, New Britain, Hartford, Meri- den, New Haven. Bridgeport and others, in the operation of such projects and provide for the recon- struction of streets torn up for sew CTS, the inconvenience to residents as cited by MT. Scott Smith could be avoided. All of these cities. realizing what happens when new sewers are laid, prepare for these eventualities by submitting proposals for such street reconstruction se- parately, or include them in their proposals.
 Blames City Supt.
 Mir. Sullivan added: If the City of Waterbury, or MT. Scott-Smiths street department, is lax in draw ing up project proposals there is no one to blame but the City of Waterbury or MT. Scott Smiths street department.
 "I might add that so far I am aware, there is no supporting evi- dence to Mir. Scott Smiths rather loose charges of negligence and in- efficiency. The WPA has qualified engineer in charge of Waterbury projects in the person of MT. Will liam E. Kennedy, and he reports to me that MT. Scott-Smith's charges aP A1lSS4a, aA4r,a,. kroVnnfNAa xrsikf1 aS1nnrA