The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-18
City Opposes Local
Bills At Hartford
Only Two Exceptions Made to Pension Claims; Char
ter Amendments, Retirements Protested

Yesterday was Waterbury Day
and the bills affecting this city
were heard and debated upon be.
fore the cities and boroughs com.
mittee Of the General Assembly
Mayor John s. Monagan was &C.
companied by Controller Cornelius
F. Maloney, Corp. Counsel Maurice
T. Healey and Budget Director T. e
Olsen.
The city administration strongly
opposed the bills which provided fol
three assessors to hold life tenure
Of Office and freezing in" the
present Waterbury director of pur.
chases on the grounds 1t woul6
place this office In the hands Of
politics. Mayor Monagan pointed
out that the purchasing bill was
purely q personal attempt to freeze
in O man who shouldn't be treated
differently from any other city
employee"
The bill authorizing o second
deputy chief for the Waterbury
fire department met with no oppo'
sition. Atty. John D. Thoms SPOKE
favorably for 1t and representative!
Of the city administration were II
favor Of 1t. However, the bill pro.
viding permanent payment Of
bonuses now being paid to police
and 1lremen, also the bill providing
refunds Of fire and police pension
payments after five years were
strongly opposed by the city admin
istration.
Scully Pension Bill
All but two Of the pension bills
heard, were opposed by the city ad.
ministration. The first pension bill
to be introduced provided $1,000
yearly for is years to the widow Of
the late Mayor Scully. and was
introduced jointly by Sen. Francis
Summa (R), Sen. Tobin, CD, Reps
Daniel j. Mahaney Cd and John
Membrino Cd. Sen. Summa said
III this was in peace time I would
oppose this bill, but think ali
agree that the extra load Mayor
Scully took on himself In connec-
ton with civilian defense killed
him. He really died In the service
Of his country, state and city,
Mayor Monagan did not oppose this
bill because he felt that the bill
should not be termed a pension bill
but a memorial" and will be used
for the education Of the late Mayor
Scully's children.
The school pension bill was OPP
posed by Mayor Monagan on the
grounds that the bill 'is q purely
local problem and the city through
the board Of aldermen can solve
1t without coming to the legis-
lature." The bill referred to pro-
videS for O retirement system for
maintenance employees Of the edu-
cation department.
Chatfleld Bill
The bill which provides that the
person in charge Of the police cleo
trical and radio systems hold the
same rank Of captaincy as that held
BY the fire department, was opposed
by the city administration on the
ground that 1t would "sew one man
into that particular job" Sen.
Frank Summa (R), favoring the bill
indicated that the man who does
exactly the same work In the fire
department has the rank Of q cap
tain, and for that reason the per-
son doing the same work In the
police department hold the same
title. The bill Is intended to pro-
mote Sergt. George Chatfield, q vet
eran member Of the police depart
ment.
There was no opposition to the
bill providing iFremansJohn j. Cor
coran with retirement and penson
at full pay. Fireman Corcoran ap-
peared and told about his injury in
q fire truck collision two years ago
from which he was permanently dis
abled. He submitted medical affida.
Wits proving that he was not able
to work again.
However, Corp. Counsel Healey
opposed the bill which provided a
pension at full pay for Fireman
Bartholomew Buckley who was in
jured In the same accident. Buck
ley Is capable Of doing "selective'
work and has been kept on the fire
departments payroll. said DR.. Finn
the IRE department surgeon.
Lynch Bill
Corp. Counsel Healey opposed the
bill supported by william T. Far
rington which provided for an In.
crease from $500 to 4l.500 the pen
sion now being paid Katherine
Lynch. harrington pointed out thai
Lynch, widow Of the late Fire Chiei
Chief Lynch had been In the service
for SO years, was injured many
times and that the medical reports
prove that he was entitled to com.
pensation. He added that his widow
nid mot annlp To the cnYlananGakinr