UIanrl|ratrr Brrali Saturday, Dec. 17, 1988 Manchester, Conn. — A City of Village Charm 30 C ents Auditors want tight controi 5 MAZDA BX7 ' m llvar. Wok, Need highlighted Lo*d«d by irregularities icN/i . \ SABLE I in UConn funds By Judd Everhart The Associated Press HARTFORD — The state auditors say they should have the authority to audit the books of private foundations linked to state agencies. That need was highlighted, they maintain, by STREET f>4ECTICUT recent disclosures of widespread financial irregu­ larities within the University of Connecticut 3 5 ^ Foundation, including the use of some funds for .INEoi private sailboats, parties and political 7 0 contributions. 3 Those irregularities, the auditors say, “clearly demonstrated the need for the recommended oversight.” The recommendation was one of 18 presented Friday by Auditors Henry J. Becker Jr. and Leo V. Donohue for consideration by the 1989 General Assembly. Becker, a Republican, and Donohue, a Democrat, were denied access to the UConn Foundation books, until Attorney General Joseph I. Lieberman intervened. When the results of the inquiry were disclosed in October, Lieberman called it a matter of “substantial abuse of the public trust and misuse of taxpayers’ dollars." He said the misuse involved hundreds of thousands of dollars. Becker and Donohue also suggested that all costs relating to transportation matters be paid out of the special Transportation Fund. Some of those expenses now come from the General Fund. The mentioned specifically pension costs for Department of Transportation employees. %v Gov. William A. O’Neill has requested that $30 million in DOT pension and fringe benefit payments be transferred from the General Fund, which is now running a $116 million deficit, to the Transportation Fund, which now has a $78 million surplus. Also proposed by the auditors was legislative control over the Public Works Department “service fund,” which was created to provide temporary accounting for payroll and other charges, pending reimbursement from the General Fund or other sources. Since there was no initial source of funding for the service fund, it was permitted to run overdrafts of up to $900,000, pending reimbursement. But the auditors say that the overdraft now totals Patrick Ffynn/Mancheater Herald $7.6 million. “By operating in such a manner, this unbudgeted BIG MOMENT — Brooke Cooper, a sophomore at Coventry High fund has become an unlimited source of funding for School, gets ready to play the flute during a Christmas concert the department, exempt from budget limitations and allotment control,” the auditor.s say in their performed by the school band at the high school Friday. Band report. members, decked out in their new uniforms, attracted a sell-out crowd. REGIONAL WEATHER Tower, defense head, Aocu-Wealher* forecast ior Saturday Sewage plant consent decree Daytime Conditions and High Temperatures not finalized; work continues vows budget reforms By Nancy Concelman the U.S. Justice Department Mayor Peter P. DiRosa Jr. W ASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Transition sources, who spoke on the and Alex Glrelll some time next year. declined any comment on the Bush rounded out his national security condition of anonymity, said the, vice Manchester Herald Twardy, wbo helped negotiate delay Friday night. team Friday with the long-expected president would announce at least three the agreement, blamed the delay selection of former Texas Sen. John Tower The Corps in June of this year more Cabinet choices early next week. Six months after a controversy on the lengthy approval process, as defense secretary. Tower promised “ as issued a cease-and-desist order to These will include conservative Rep. over the town’s illegal expansion which requires several different much if not more defense for less money.” the town for failing to obtain a Jack Kemp as secretary of housing and of its sewage treatment plant in agencies to review any changes in Tower hinted at manpower reductions wetlands, a consent decree for­ wetlands'permit for work on the urban development and Chicago mass- the decree before it is approved throughout the armed services. But, he transit official Samuel Skinner as secre­ mally authorizing work at the site by the U.S. Justice Department. secondary part of the plant off Olcott Street. About four acres of stressed, " I would not advocate, for the tary of transportation, the sources said. has yet to be finalized, officials "It is taking a little longer than immediate future, any significant troop said. wetlands were affected there. They also said health educator Louis I had hoped,’’ Twardy said. reduction in Europe." Sullivan continues to be the leading But both federal and town In addition to formalizing the The agreement lifts that order The vice president pronounced himself officials were quick to add Friday candidate for secretary of health and agreement that allows work at and requires the town and its “ totally satisfied” with Tower’s fitness to human services. If chosen, he would be the that work is continuing at the the plant to continue, the decree consultant engineer, Metcalf & ,Oi»ea AocM-wi»a«w. Inc. serve after a detailed F B I background first black in Bush’s Cabinet. plant under a temporary agree­ also designates the $200,000 in Eddy of Wakefield. Mass., to split check that left the former chairman of the ment ironed out between the U.S. fines the town must pay to the a $300,000 fine from the Corps. Senate Armed Services Committee dan­ Tower has held a variety of sensitive Arm y Corps of Engineers and the Corps for the illegal wetlands The town must also pay $50,000 in gling in suspense for nearly a month. posts since retiring from the Senate in 1985, town Board of Directors in work. Gary Pasternak, an attor­ damages caused by the two- Predicting the selection would be including stints as an arms control Connecticut Weather August. The controversy over the ney in the Office of Coun.sel of the month construction delay to the greeted with “ wide support abroad and at negotiator for President Reagan and as work at the plant erupted nearly Corps, said Friday the consent conti'actor, Fred Brunoli & Sons home,” Bush said he believed Tower had head of a review board, popularly known two months earlier, when the decree is necessary to satisfy the Inc. of Avon. Metcalf & Eddy been strengthened by the ordeal. He said as the Tower Commission, appointed by Corps threatened to fine the town Manchester and vicinity: Winter storm watch for requirement of the wetlands must pay $225,000 to Brunoli. the exhaustive investigation into Tower's Reagan to probe the Iran-Contra affair. Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Cloudy as much as $1 million for the Some conservative critics have con­ violation, but the corps is permit­ Water and Sewer Administra­ professional and personal life had yielded Saturday with snow beginning by afternoon. High 20 unauthorized work — the largest ting work to continue. a "clean bill of health.” tended that Tower’s support for the to 25. Wind northeast increasing to 10 to 20 mph. fine against a municipality in tor Robert Young said Friday The Corps is working on the For his part. Tower, 63, told reporters Reagan administration’s Star Wars plan Saturday night, snow, possibly heavy. Becoming history. Brunoli is scheduled to release a final details of the decree and it that the unusual semi-public debate over for a land and space-based shield against windy with some blowing and drifting snow Officials had differing opinions revised construction schedule for should be issued shortly, he said. his qualifications “ was not comfortable missiles has been lukewarm. possible. Cold with low in the teens. Windy Sunday on the Corps’ delay in issuing the the plant in January. Young said Assistant Town Manager but I understand the process.” with snow diminishing to flurries in the morning. consent decree and none were work is progressing well. Tower told reporters that “ I don’t have Steven R. Werbnersaid the town The background check had delved into High 25 to 30. specific. U.S. Attorney Stanley A. any reservations” about the Strategic is preparing documents for the The $27 million upgrading and his connections with the defense industry West coastal, east coastal: Winter storm watch ’Twardy said Thursday the con­ Defense Initiative. However, he added, “ I consent decree. He said comple­ expansion of the plant was as well as with allegations of womanizing for Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Cloudy sent decree formalizing the understand the value of SDI, not just as a tion of those documents is not originally scheduled for comple­ and drinking problems. Saturday with snow beginning by afternoon. High 25 agreement should be approved by deterrent potential but also as a very, very likely to be done soon. tion in August 1990. “ I got up every morning and iaughed to 30. Wind northeast increasing to 15 to 25 mph. valuable negotiating tool.” myself silly over what I was reading in the Snow, possibly heavy, Saturday njght. Windy with Asked if that meant he thought of it only newspapers,” he said. some blowing and drifting snow possible. Low 15 to as a bargaining chip for arms-reduction Bush called Tower a man of “ great 20. Sunday, windy with a few flurries. High 25 to 30. Dems to halt disputed caucuses talks, he responded, “ Not a chip, leverage, experience, expertise and commitment to negotiating leverage.” peace and freedom” and a man devoted to Bush said a prime challenge facing his reform. administration was continuing “ our policy Lottery until town attorney makes ruling The appointment completes Bush’s of strength while making progress in selection of a national security team.