The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-11

CONTINUED from Page II
Appointment Of Robert M. Helm.
niger, New York City, as full-timG
professional director of the Council
of Social Agencies was among the
first steps toward carrying out the
survey recommendations to CO.
ordinate community services anc
improve social planning.
More Members Wanted
Among other recommendation
already or underway are the in
creased membership in the board
Of directors Of Boys Club, organ
ization of a YWCA with a head
quarters separate from the YMCA
building, and transfer from the
YMCA building of at least part Of
the University of Connecticut Ex-
tension Center through the pro-
jected plan to repair Begnal School
to house daytime university classes
The surrey staff, headed by
Thomas Devine, director of the So
cial Protection Division of the Fed
eral Security Agency, credited the
high caliber of its civic leader
ship" as a major asset of Water
bury.
Despite the informal under
standing and keen sense of social
responsibility of that civic leader
ship, however, the survey experts
reported they were puzzled by
the strange inconsistencies and
wide variations in the quality OF
the communitys services"
More Faith Needed
Lack of such a system, provid-
ing tenure rights for staff and as
surfing selection on the basis OF
education and professional expert
ence, Is principle reason why tax
payers have not been willing to
finance the public agencies in a
measure required to meet the needs
Of Waterbury citizens" the survey
summarized.
Failure to activate a plan for
community use of splendid school
facilities was also a target of the
survey findings. Editors note:
Since this survey was made, in
creased use Of school facilities has
been made through cooperation OF
school and park Department.
The low per capita municipal ex-
penditure for health and welfare
services was another problem cited
In the survey. Waterburys net per
capita expenditure, in spite OF
good Community Chest campaign
records" are five to nine dollars
below those of comparable New
England cities, and three dollars
and Seventy-flve cents below the
average of 80 cities, including a
number in the South with much
lower per capita incomes than Wa
terbury'S, the survey reported
Enough Not Spent
Local tax expenditures reveal an
even greater discrepancy, with Wa
terbury spending only "a to 40 per
cent as much as other cities. Total
net expenditures are at least a half
million dollars below the normal
expectancy" Editors note: In
creased appropriations for the
health and recreation departments
were provided in 1916 budget
In contrast with these dehcien-
cies, the survey praised the juvenile
court as lone of the best in the
country" the veterans information
center which lis considered in many
ways MODEL" school system with
exceptionally fine gymnasium and
swimming facilities
In relation to financing COM
munity Tervices, the report in
dicated that The average citizen is
contributing generously TO the Wa
terbury Community Chest.
Additional Funds Asked
If Waterbury is to have a more
nearly adequate program, addi-
tional money must be provided
whether 1t comes from taxes, con-
trlbutions or both, the report added.
With a warning that loose budget
procedures have been the most FREE
quent cause of Community Chests
getting into difficulty, the survey
recommended that Waterbury care
fully consider its practices in re-
gard TO budgeting
Observing that every new Chest
has its honeymoon period, the SUI
very pointed out that Waterbury's
Embarrassing organization had the
added advantage OF having its first
campaign In period Of easy money
and II did not have 10 break down
a standard OF giving developed dur
ing the depression years,
BOrOughs Need Help
The survey stan based It's recon-
on the assumption that
all OF the area including WATERFOWL
which Is now IN the War Fund will
become part OF the Community
Chest area Some Of the agencies
already serve that area, OakYille
has great need for services proposed
IN the survey for the Family and
Center, II was pointed
out, Small communities cannot az
ford 10 duplicate such services not
70 develop independent efficient
money raising campaigns"
Next IN importance 10 adequate
financing Is the welding Of the
many agencies and services into a
community program with clearly
defined responsibility assumed by
each agency and with inter- agency
eo-ope FatlYely de-
Veloped, The survey continued
In order b. profit from the IN
VeslmeDt already made IN the sur
yey and develop q sensible, lnle'
grated and truly economical social
program Tor the community, II Is
considered essential that the fol-
lowing recommendations DO carried
out
~ me Council Of Social Agen'
plss should incorporate as an inder
pendent agency recognized BY the
Community Chest and the city gov