The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-26
Flare-up Features
 Long Board Meeting
Borough Attorneys Opinion to Be Sought on Street
 Department Problem -Wranglng Lasts Hours

be 3 payroll deficit of approximately | supt. Murtha contended howevre
 that all credits were not figured in this. He said the town gets for labor and equipment from the state oining program, not including materials credits, $8,000. Mir. Muthra said that hsi general budget would not be overSpent at the end of the fiscal year if the increase were granted, and the mechanical shovel item used instead for the increase, with no shovel being purchased.
 The warden felt that the amount intended for payrolls should have been listed in the budget for pay rools and not for something else.
 He cited the fire department for comparison purposes asking what If the firemen decided thew should get more of Q wage increase than they will get and the board used the $8,- 900 provided for the new bumper In the fire department budget, to give the increase in wages instead, what would the taxpayers think, the warden Queried. He felt the hgura- tive situation would be similar to the one in the street department now.
 Flare.Up Occurs
 As the meeting continued with no agreement, Q flare.up occurred when Burgess Dinneny suggested calling the board Into formal session. saying he would propose acceptance of the i0-cent increase and get c vote on 1t.
 When the warden asked him If he would show whether the money was there, MT. Dinneny said to the warden, Why don't you tell them you don't want them to have 1t and have 1t over with" The warden said 1t was up to the entire board to decide.
 It was brought out that the pres- ent members of the last board had thought & 6.cent.an. .hour increase was provided in the last budget, but the warden again contended 1t was not in the payroll figures.
 He compared wages paid street department workers In Waterbury and Torrington, saying that Nauga. tuck pays better than these larger communities and saying he had fig- ures to show Naugatuek ranks high CT than most other communities of the state In the price 1t pays street department help.
 The warden pointed out In Tor- rington laborerS get 30 cents an hour as compared to 66 cents here and 6S cents asked. He said the borough Is the only town in the state that he knows of which will give its street department workers two weeks va. cation with pay this year. Water- bury is just starting to give one week vacation with pay this year, he said.
 The commute from the street de- partnlent consisted of Raymond Dolan, Charles O'Connor and Al. bert Chiswell. They stayed for most of the meeting but left about half an.hour before 1t ended.
 Murtha Talks
 Superintendent Murtha said that Tor many years the payroll egti- mates have been exceeded and money from other items in the budget have been used for payrolls. fe said two years ago although the payroll item was oyer.spent by D6 500, there was no deficit in the general budget.
 The warden pointed out that the payroll budget is $22,400 and there E about 5000 credit due for labor rom the oiling work, making 6 total ,f 426 400. At present Se,300 has ,een spent, leaving approximately |i7, 900 for the remaining 40 weeks.
 Burgess Dinneny indicated there would be sewer assessments revenue rom sewers on Spencer and Lewis streets and the warden indicated on 1 ,he former street it would only be $i 6 foot because 1t i6 unoccupied and.
 The warden cited figures to show he present local pay g more than hat of state highway workers but Charles O'Conror said the latter york longer and get 6 number of lays of for sickness.
 Emphasizes Responsibility
 The warden emphasized that he ias Q responsibility to the residents o keep within the budget and said the burgeEseS could show him LOW to do this ard still give an in- rease, "go ahead" He expressed the ,elief that the $B,000 Item for capi. al outlay, even If 1t could be trails- erred to payrolls, would not be Inough in view of the indicated Ieficit in payrollg,
 He said the board should con. tantly take an interest in budgets Inder It's control to see that they ,ere not being over-sperlt He ointed out again that if the present ' 'ayroll iS maintained, there would @ an over.cxpendlture of $6,000 in ayrolls. {
 Others Could Do It b The warden asked what was to c reyent other municipal employees t rom coming to the board and V threatening 10 call special rneet- b 1g of the freemen If their wages D ere not increased. |" Eupt. Murtha favored using part f the capital outlay item for ar lcreage. He asked the warden if H ne street repairs item should be b xhausted, should he, tthe superin. V sndent) us0 money from another q em or should he make no further c rect repairs. Hc indicated it c as always been the practice to I lterchange items when necessary. 6 The warden asked then what IS 10 6se of setting Up budget. V Iharles O'Conilor asked if the il resent budget Is not illegal iii sl lew of tho fact that the past board ? intended to provide ari n ,araaaa Tian ManAAia aaid thn