Tax Break for Homart Close to OK

I Mixed: Elegance W orried: CPEC looking to next budget / page 4 and sadness at the r' 41i Olympics / page life , Business: Underground economy grows / page 9 Mmxdmtn Manchnster ~ A Cily of Village Charm HrralJi Monday. Feb. IS, 1968 30 C ents Retirement Tax break won’t stifle i » - ‘love affair' for Homart Bv Nancy Concelman Manchester Herald close to OK From a window in his office. Savings Bank of Manchester President Wiiliam Johnson can see Main Street and everyone By Andrew Yurkovsky selves, would not be taken into on it — the merchants, the business people, Manchester Herald consideration if the mall were to the shoppers, the kids. be sold. If more than 50 percent of It's a perfect view for Johnson, who once A $9.5 million tax break for the the mall were to be sold, the tax said that the best thing about Manchester is developer of the proposed Mall at abatement would be terminated. the people. Buckland Hills moved one step Penny said. He should know. closer to reality today when Weinberg had raised objections Johnson, 65, is a resident of Glastonbury, Democratic Director Mary Ann to the continuation of the tax but admits to having a "very large love Handley said she was leaning in break if the mall were to be sold affair” with Manchester and its people in favor of the agreement. before the seven-year period of the 33 years he has been with the bank. I2‘/! Democratic Director Barbara the abatement ran out. as president. He will retire March I. B. Weinberg, meanwhile, said "From hearing it. it sounds as if His involvement in the community has there would be no other obstacles it could be acceptable,” Wein allowed him to meet, work with and touch to her support for a tax abate berg said. "But I would have to the lives of many people here. ment for the proposed Mall at see something in print, and I ’m ‘T m fascinated by people.’’ Johnson said Buckland Hills if a new provision waiting to see something in during a recent Interview. of the agreement between the print.” It’s this interest in people that inspires developer and the town meets her Asked whether she would have Johnson to get involved and influences the approval. That provision would any reason to vote against the way he and the bank do business. nullify the tax break only if more agreement if the provision were "W e are in the true sense, a service than 50 percent of the mall is sold. acceptable, she said, "No, I industry," Johnson said. " I think this bank Like Weinberg, Handley said has the reputation of being very close to the don’t.” she would have to see the latest Handley said. "What I ’m say people.” draft of the agreement before ing right now is I ’m leaning Johnson said he hopes the bank will making a final decision. continue tobe close to its customers after he toward the agreement. I ’m not going further than that because I retires and executive vice president Four of the six Democrats on Richard P. Meduski takes over. Johnson the town Board of Directors hove want to see the final text." The Board of DliMtors is will continue to serve on thebank’sboard of said they would vote for the scheduled to vote on the agree directors. agreement, which would provide ment during its meeting Tuesday Looking back on his career, he re a $9.5 million abatement over Ragtnild Plnta/Mineh«M*r Harald night. members his first job as a mortgage seven years to pay for road and Republican Director Geoffrey interviewer, when he would often work with CLOSE TO PEOPLE — William Johnson, retiring March 1 as president of utilities Improvements around Naab is the only board member young couples who were applying for a first the Savings Bank of Manchester, says the best thing about Manchester is the $70 million mall. A favorable who has not stated his position. mortgage, and were nervous until it was vote by Weinberg or Handley the people. Naab said today, " I have decided, finally approved. would provide the simple major but I ’m not saying until I tell "To go through that experience with Children’s Museum. "H e’s got a unique organizations Johnson has worked with in ity of five on the nine-member board needed to pass the everyone at once.” He declined to them until the day they have the closing .. personality for what you would normally the past and is still involved with. Asked to comment further. It’s an emotional experience.” Johnson think of as a president of a bank. He just list some of his activities, Johnson pulled agreement. Fellow Republican Director doesn’t fit that stereotype.” The new provision to the said. out a resume and studied it for a moment, Theunis "Terry” Werkhoven said He also remembers making the transi Ling said Johnson has served as a noting the number of times the word agreement would allow the Ho Friday he would probably vote tion from employee to executive, a change museum trustee and helped organize mart Development Of. of Chi "former” appears before a title. against the agreement, and Ro fund-raisers and other activities, such as cago, the mall developer, or its he said was a little difficult. " I find when you get to be my age, there nald Osella, another Republican “ Having grown up in the institution, the annual kite-flying contest, since about are more ‘weres’ than ‘ares’,” he said. partner, Manchester Simon De director, said he is leaning people have a perception of you as a Listed among his former titles are; velopers, to retain the tax abate 1981. against it. Johnson and Millard H. Pryor, president ment if either entity were to sell co-worker.” former director of the Manchester Area Penny said he planned to have a But those in the community who’ve of Lydall Inc., were among those most Red Cross, former president and director of up to 50 percent of the common final draft of the agreement worked with him say Johnson’s executive helpful in moving the museum from Cedar Crossroads of Manchester Inc., and former area of the mail and the small shops in the mall, said Stephen T. ready today for the Board of status has never distanced him from the Street to South Main Street. Ling said. director and president of the Greater Directors. About the new provi people. "They were willing to step forward and Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Penny, a Manchester attorney representing the town in nego^a- sion, he said, " I think it’s less “ He’s an absolutely remarkable individ say, ‘yes. it can be done.’” than what (Weinberg) wanted but ual.” said Steven Ling, director of the Lutz The Lutz mu.seum is one of many tions with Homart. Please turn to page 10 The anchor stores, which would certainly more than what we had be owned by the stores them ... it’s a compromise.” Dole and Bush close, Dukakis leads in New Hampshire By William M. Welch president’s once-substantial lead mercials attacking Dukakis, the night, while Pat Robertson of fered the startling assertion that The Associated Press New Hampshire has 'the power of life or death' vanished into New Hampshire’s governor of next-door Massachu frigid air and the trend moving in setts, -as a bureaucrat. Ge the Soviet Union secretly has CONCORD. N.H. — Vice Presi Sparks fly in Republicans’s Sunday debate the Kansas senator’s direction. phardt’s new ads lashed at placed nuclear missiles In Cuba dent George Bush today pre White House disputes Robertson on missiles On the Democratic side. Mi Dukakis too, calling him "one of — "nukes pointing at the United dicted victory in the New Hamp Tiny town casts first presidential votes in nation chael Dukakis remained the the biggest tax-raisers in Massa States,” he said. shire primary and said rival Bob leader and the target of sniping chusetts history.” A White House official Dole has fallen into the sanie — ttorl0$ on page 7 by Richard Gephardt and Simon, Dukakis ignored the criticism, promptly disputed Robertson’s "momentum” trap that snared who are still dueling for second. devoting much of Sunday to claim, and a ^bertson aide said Bush aRer the 1980 Iowa cau The Gallup poll of 424 Democrats stating his views on foreign policy after the debate that the candi cuses. Democrat Paul Simon told In 1980, " I came into New leading Bush in New Hampshire showed Dukakis with 39 percent, issues including Central America date had meant missile-delivery his supporters to look for "a real Hampshire talking momentum. by a 36-28 margin, with Jack Gephardt 18 percent and Simon 16 and nuclear arms control. He systems, not necessarily surprise” in the nation’s first Reagan got the issues out. And Kemp and Pat Robertson tied for percent. Its margin of error was emphasized his ^position to warheads. primary. now it’s the opposite — Bob Dole third at 12 percent and Pete du four points. funding for the Nicxraguan Con- Dole displayed the confidence " I want New Hampshire to do is talking momentum and I ’m Pont fifth with seven percent. The Simon, campaigning in Hollis, tras, but said he'would use of a candidate who has seen all what it did in 1980” when talking issues ... We’re doing poll of 589 likely Republican N.H., claimed the race "is military force, if necessary, to the breaks go his way for the past President Reagan turned around better getting out those differen voters was conducted Friday and between Michael Dukakis and thwart a military attack on a week since trouncing the vice an Iowa defeat and beat Bush in ces with Bob Dole on the issues.” Saturday and had a five-point me” and “ I think it is tightening.

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