Partly cloudy 1 today, Saturday — See page 2 iHanrl|?Btrr Hrralb Town to chop $2m Main St.: new plan? By Alex Girelll million, some sacrifices apparently Herald City Editor would have to be made. Weiss men­ tioned not repaving parking lots WETHERSFIELD - Town of­ along the proposed access road as ficials were taken by surprise one of those possible sacrifices. Thursday when the state Depart­ ELI.VIIN.ATING new off-street ment of Transportation apparently parking at Pearl Street and at Birch dropped its objection to angle Street has also been mentioned. And parking on Main Street. the possibility emerged that a The indication that a plan in­ planned access road behind Main cluding some angle parking not Street might also be a victim of the separated from traffic lanes would economy. be worthy of federal funding came Weiss yesterday said some saving from J. William Burns, the could be realized in eliminating what transportation commissioner, and he felt was a double contingency from Robert Gubala, the fund, one provided for in the town's department's chief engineer. calculations and another imposed by While the meeting appeared to the state. open up the possibility of a plan with And in the talk Thursday Gubala some angle parking included, it acknowledged that the 15 percent in­ almost made it clear the town would flation allowance allowed by the have to cut down the cost of the state to adjust to 1985 dollars may project from the current $8.3 million be high. Zinsser argued that the rate construction estimate. is unrealistically high for current in­ Town General Manager Robert B. flation rates. Gubala said construc­ Weiss said this morning of the tion inflation is higher than general meeting, “I thought I was in Disney inflation, but that 15 percent may be World" He was referring to the too high. DOT'S change of stance on angle Several members of the town parking. delegation were critical that the “I’m delighted the state will now town was allowed to proceed all the consider angle parking.” Weiss said way to the public hearing with the this morning. He had told critics of $8.3 million-construction cost figure the current plans he would ask before the state raised objection. Burns about that possibility. They have said that the DOT and The meeting was held at Burns'' the town were in touch at each step offices in Wethersfield. of the way and the state could have rilE TOWN was represented at objected earlier. the meeting by Weiss, Mayor At one point Mayor Penny asked ■Stephen T. Penny, Public Works Burns if cost was the only problem Director George A. Kandra, Betty and if questions about community Mishap at the pumps Petricca and Warren Howland of the support could be laid to rest. Burns * Downtown Coordinating Com­ indicated community support was The X-Tra Mart convenience store on Hartford Road has had trouble mittee, and State Sen. Carl Zinsser. still a question. keeping itp gas pumps standing recently. About a month ago, a local Walter Fuss, of Fuss and O'Neill, "It isn't unanimous opinion out man was arrested after he drove his car Into one and knocked It over. designers of the $8.3 million plan, there, " Burns said. At 1 p.m, Thursday, Michael Powers, 18, of 151 Love Lane, (left center) was also at the meeting. IN MIS comment on the role of stopped In for a flll-up and forgot to remove the hose from his gas tank The upshot of the meeting was to angle parking in the scheme, Gubala when he drove away. Result; the hose pulled the gas pump (a different drive the town back to the drawing said cars are getting smaller and board to save some money, perhaps one from that Involved In the previous Incident) off the Island. A small $2 million, and also to devise a plan fire resulted (top) when electrical wires Ignited gasoline in the pump that Burns feels would answer the turn l<i pupe 8 and hose, town fire officials said.: The fire was put out quickly with a criticisms he indicated he has chemical extinguisher, they said. Powers wasn’t charged In the Incident. received. Those criticisms apparently hinge on the geometry of the plan, with parking modules some have felt Inside would be too hard to maneuver in and difficult to maintain. Herald to file FOI complaint But town officials were frankly Today puzzled by the exchange and have not determined exactly what the 24 pages, 4 sections illegal executive sessions this sion today suggested such action in so sensitive to the community — its next step is. One key is an earlier By Richard Cody school system — is being withheld il­ Herald Reporter month. light of the facts. plan drawn by Fuss and O’Neill and Advice ............ .17 legally. The public has the right to turned aside by DOT. That plan Area towns . .19 Each person found in violation can The paper, because it believes the know what its elected and appointed provides angle parking on some of Business.......... .21. 24 The Manchester Herald decided be fined up to |S00 for each offense, violation is seriously flagrant, is officials are planning for the future the west side of the street, four Classified . 22-23 today to file a freedom of informa­ the attorney said. tion complaint against the Bolton considering seeking the imposition of the school system, and we believe moving lanes of traffic, and a me­ Com ics............ .18 Board of Education. The newspaper of fines. Editor Dan Fitts said “We regret taking the action,” that right is t^ing undermined.” dian divider. Entertainment . .14 is alleging that the board members today. An attorney from the state Fitts said today. “But we believe Efforts to resolve the situation It provides 174 spaces for parking Lottery............ ......2 and school superintendent held two Freedom of Information Commis­ vital information concerning a topic outside of formal action failed this on street, exactly the same number Obituaries . morning when board Chairman as the $8.3 million plan, on which a Opinion............ Joseph J. Haloburdo Jr. said he public DOT hearing was held Oct. 6. Peopletalk . .. would remain firm in his contention It provides for fewer angle parking ■ Sports.............. that the board has not acted illegal­ spaces than the plan with modules. Television . .. Jobs measure is debated ly, and would not release It also carries about the same W eather.......... requested documents. probable cost for road construction. In the complaint, the paper will Fuss said. In order to save $2 argue that an executive session Dec. 9, and another one the following as Senate goes to the wire week, were illegal. The sessions 7 were called under the label “staf­ fing projections.” A lonely, anxious WASHINGTON (UPI) - A weary American people,” Sen. Harry of unemployment in another sector From comments different board Senate today debated a 9425.8 billion Byrd, I-Va., said, noting Just one in return for anything they can members have made recently, the omnibus funding measure needed to amendment to the resolution con­ create, and they don’t usually get discussion in the executive session keep the government running past tained 911.5 billion. started and under way until some of concerned future staffing for the Christmas, unless midnight. 'The legislation includes a White House aides hinted all week the problem is over.” schools. This included general dis­ public-works Jobs provision opposed the president would veto the new House Speaker Thomas O’Neill, cussion about moving different staff D-Mass., revealed he met The Manchester Area Conference It has also been a strain on a tight by President Reagan. measure if it contained a Jobs positions to different areas of the of Churches hopes to help more than budget. Her rent is too much for her The Senate took up the measure package. A presidential veto would Wednesday night with Baker and school system, and the impact of White House chief of staff James 250 families during the holidays meager income and utility costs for late Thursday night and worked into ensure a technical government shut­ these moves on the quality of educa­ through its annual Seasonal Sharing her not-too-well-kept-up apartment the early morning hours, nfsbing to down at midnight. Baker to discuss pending legislation. tion as a whole. ' O'Neill said he pointed out many Appeal.. are painfully high in the colder complete action so it could negotiate Adding to the pressure on Capitol It is also apparent from com­ One of these cases cited by MACC months. a compromise with the House later Hill was lawmakers’ desire to wrap members of his party had suggested ments that the board also discussed Reagan engage in a “quid pro quo” is a 70-year-old woman and her MACC would like to give this to ^ y , then enact a final version. up the lameduck session and head specific personnel. daughter. The daughter has been in on Jobs with Democrats for giving woman a hot meal on Christmas, a Tlw House-passed measure con­ home for the holidays. Under state FOI laws, executive him the courtesy of bringing up his intensive care in the hospital for basket of fruit, special gifts for her tains a 99.4 billion publlcworks Jobs The Senate got a late start on the sessions can be held to discuss Caribbean Basin Initiative and other more than a month. At times, it and her daughter and a card con­ package. The price tag of the jobs • continuing resolution, because evaluation of specific personnel or looked as though she wouldn’t make requested legislation.