Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 10

Taxes, Costs Said Boosting Towers Rents City Duplex Housing Plan Strangling' in Red Tape rrrncvir-t nnd Chrar.ir! 4f Rcchester.N. 4t- July :8. 1966 Quitting Time, Says Teacher After 5 8 Years By BOB EMEXS Special to The Democrat and Chronicle l.E ROY "I could have kept on. but I figured il was lime (o quit." That how a remarkable classroom career spanning 58 years had By BILL O'BRIEN Rochester Housing Authority members complained of "days of Roman bureaucracy and being strangled by red tape" yesterday as they songht ways io pump life into a sagging scattered-site duplex housing program. "We're trying to help poor people, but we can't get off the ground for the red tape," said Rev.

Gennaro Ventura. The duplex program, for larger low income families, has been unable to gain headway through the Public Housing Authority (PHA) in Washington. The PHA failed to approve bids taken last February for construction of the first 17 duplex units, for 34 large are being strangled by red tape." Father Ventura, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, said HL'D Secretary Weaver "is a sitting duck in a situation like this there are so many epponents to public housing that he can't afford to have high unit costs coming in like this." Sipprell said the scattered-site program "isn't completely dead." He said he will confer with regional directors of the federal agency in New York and with city officials on means of reducing the unit cost. "What we need to do," Sipprell said, "is to sit down with them and find out just what has to be done to get this going, not with each in his own cell sending letters back and forth." The scattered-site program disperses clusters of public housing throughout the city to avoid the disruption of schools and neighborhoods that usually are connected with high density projects. Only a few other cities have taken this approach to public housing.

Rochester's adoption of the plan, cornerstone of the city's public housing effort, came after lengthy public debate during which warnings were made progress would slow. The scattered units would be low, rustic wood-faced houses with from three to five bedrooms and designed to rent for $60 to $70 a month. approve any plans that show more than $20,000 per unit cost. Land costs in Rochester make the major difference, but HL'D officials indicated that if the local authority were to resubmit the bids and combine them with a so-called high-density project that has low cost per unit, the over-all package might be approved. "It seems we have been mixing apples and pears when they want peaches and bananas," said Mrs.

Suressa Forbes, a Rochester authority member. Rev. Canon St. Julian A. Simpkins, rector of St.

Simon's Church, said the local housing authority find sitself in a "weak public relations position we Deadline for approval passed in mid-June and it appeared the program may have to be scrapped. Last Friday, Robt-rt D. Sip-prcll. executive director, and members of the authority, mt in Washington with officials of the Department of Housing and I'rban Development (HL'D). "They weren't too encouraging," said Edward D.

Hayes, chairman of the Rochester Housing Authority. The heart of the PHA disapproval of the scattered-site program is its high cost in Rochester. Each unit will cost $23,000 including land. This is too high. Robert C.

Weaver. HL'D sec retary, has said he will not 3 ended for Miss Myrta Calvert of I Roy. State Education i-cials said it is one of the longest teaching careers in the state. Now just getting into the swing of retirement. Miss Calvert hasn't made any firm plans for the days ahead.

And she allows that, come fall, she may pine a bit for the aniiliar surroundings School. 'I ll miss the children." she says. So much that "I may even By BUI. CLAIBORNE Rents proposed for the new-Seneca Towers senior citizens project are higher than previous limited profit developments because of new taxes and escalating costs in construction, labor and financing, one of the sponsoring firm's directors said yesterday. John A.

Dale, a director of Senior Citizens Homes, responded to criticism by Democratic Councilman! Henry E. Gillette over the anticipated rent per room and the maximum allowable income for tenants. Gillette, while assailing the project as a "deep scandal," maintained that a privately-developed project could equal Seneca Towers' proposed rent and would be subject to full city tax levies. The limited profit project will receive generous city tax exceptions over a 40-year period. The former mayor, pointing to a $68 price tag for an efficiency apartment in the new project, told City Council, "If they can afford to pay these rents at Seneca Towers, then private enterprise can equal that." Dale referred to State Division of Housing and Community Renewal figures which showed that the average per-room rents of existing limited profit projects here had been maintained near $20 at time of completion.

They included: Cobbs Hill, $18; Seth Green, Chatham Gardens, Plymouth Gardens, $19.96 and Northside Apartments, $19.98. The anticipated rent at Seneca Towers is higher, Dale said, because of these four factors. The "tight money market" is expected to boost interest charges to about 4.25 per cent, as opposed to 3.36 per cent for the Seth Green project. Also, Dale said, amortization period for the project's mortgage has been reduced from 50 to 40 years. Application of Monroe County's new sales tax to the cost of materials and fixtures is expected to total $600 per apartment.

Dale said. He added that overall increases in construction costs in recent years amount to 15 to 20 per cent. MYRT CALVERT substitute from tinif to time if I'm asked. Miss Calvert rang down the curtain last month after a teaching career begun in 1908 in Richfield Springs. A year later, she returned here to her native village to teach third grade.

She never left. Now ensconced comfortably in the home South St. she shares with her sister. Mabel, Calvert looks back but also ahead: at 8 Miss 'Til enjoy retirement," she says. "But not as much as I enjoyed teaching." On the other hand, she's looking forward to a bit of travel, "but plans aren't firm on that, and there's the chance of substituting, too." Miss Calvert started here in the "Old School." a ruin still standing behind Le Roy House, on East Main Street.

Later she moved to Wolcott Street School. Lot Cleanup Aims at Clues In Chili Deaths By DON' KNORR County Manager Gordon A. Howe yesterday ordered a cleanup of some 400 county-owned building lots in Chili, any one of which may conceal an important clue in the recent slaying of the two teen-aged girls. Howe's action also was aimed at relieving the tensions of residents in the murder area Morrison Avenue, especially, where residents have been complaining about a prowler for the past two months. The prowler, apparently only a peeping torn, has been seen roaming behind the houses in some of these lots, and managing to keep himself fairly well concealed in the thick underbrush.

Weapon Missing The two girls, George Ann Formicola, 14, of 15 Stallman Drive, and Catherine Ann Bern-hard, 166, of 93 Names Road, were found last week In bushes in a lover's lane off Archer Road both of them brutally stabbed to death. Sheriff's detectives are still searching for the murder weapon and for a large beach towel carried by one of the girls, which they consider to be a major clue. Town Crews Working Howe said the anxiety being felt by Chili residents is a "natural" consequence of the murders, and "the county will do everything it can to alleviate these fears. Chili Supervisor Samuel Kent, who first brought the situation to Howe's attention, is arranging for the town highway crews to do the actual work, and, in turn, his town will be reimbursed by the county. The lots were acquired by the county through foreclosure proceedings for unpaid taxes, and are in the process of being sold to developers.

In some cases, the lots are being consolidated to meet zoning requirements. She's a graduate of the old Geneseo Normal School. A few years ago, her home community honored her as its "teacher of the year." Miss Calvert tends to put aside thoughts of any classroom problems she may have encountered at least publicly. "There are always times, of course, when things don't go as smoothly as you'd like them to." she says. One of her joys is hearing from former pupils.

Since she turned in her chalk and blackboard, she's heard from several. One correspondent who gave her particular pleasure is now a lieutenant with the Air Force in Viet Nam. Miss Calvert tends to be somewhat edgy in an interview, particularly when a notebook, in which her responses are jotted, is in evidence. "Now just what was it you wanted?" she inquired, a bit impatiently, at first. She made it clear she doesn't favor the limelight.

"I'd just as soon have no publicity at all," she avers. "I don't see why you want to talk with me." But she talked. And she relaxed noticeably when the notebook disappeared. Her sister remained close at hand, but out of sight in a nearby room. BernzOmatic Stockholders Sue Officers her brother Oscar of 127 Merrimac Street, and James Anderson, 6, of 419 Hudson Avenue.

Classes are designed as pre-school "warmups" for the "culturally deprived." ASPHALT CLASSROOM "Walking Teacher" Douglas McKay, one of 10 teachers who conduct outdoor classes for poor children, presides at a putty dish-making session on Merrimac Street. From the left, Elaine Wilson, 2, and Front Yard Classrooms RGSE Plans Pool to Avert Blackouts Walking Teachers Bring Schools to Poor was "Were you a teacher, too," Mabel Calvert asked. Came the reply in a tone of shock: "Heavens, no! A businesswoman!" when the weather is fair and under cover when it rains. Retired Farmer BuildsGolf Links program by the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEOI. THE FUNDS ARE ADMIN-istered here by Action for a Better Community (ABC) the local anti-poverty agency.

Each team is composed of a professional teacher, a nursery school aide, and a member of the Neighborhood Youth Corps. The corps is an organization for persons between 16 and 21, who are either high school dropouts or have been out of high school for a year without finding a job. It, too, is administered through ABC. The nursery school aide is poor herself, Mrs. Roemer says, and "in this way the people can get jobs." THE CITY'S "WALKING teacher" program began two years ago in the trunk of Mrs.

Lillian Roemer's car. She set it up wherever she could find children, hoping to overcome the cultural handicaps of underprivil eged preschool age youngsters. The program originally reached about 130 persons. Last year, under an expanded program, 10 times that number were tutored by city school teachers, and Mrs. Roemer, the project supervisor, hopes to reach even more this year.

Last week $44,000 in operating funds was allocated to the Rochester Gas Electric Corp. and six other New York state utilities are forming a power pool as a kind of blackout insurance. Robert E. Ginna, board chairman, said purpose of the pool is to link the statewide power system tighter together so there will be less chance of a blackout. Power failed throughout the entire northeastern section of the nation last Nov.

9. Ginna added. "I can't definitely promise there will not be another blackout." The statewide agreement was submitted yesterday for approval to the Federal Power Commission. The new power pact replaces a number of smaller power pooling contracts between the utilities. The seven companies serve 98 per cent of the state's electric consumers.

The agreement calls for greater coordination of electrical production and transmission facilities. This is expected to result in a maximum reliability of service and efficiency, Ginna said. BernzOmatic Corp. of Rochester is being sued for $500,000 by 171 stockholders who claim the company "artificially maintained and inflated" stock prices. The suit, brought in U.

S. District Court in New York City, is for recovery of $250,000 in alleged stock losses and another $250,000 i punitive damages. The case is still in its primary stages with pre-trial hearings scheduled within the next several weeks. BernzOmatic officials are charged with violating the Securities and Exchange Act. Charge Concealment The stockholders contend ompany officers "concealed material facts concerning the common stock, assets, business, financial condition, operations and prospects of BernzOmatic." This was done, the stockholders charge, "with the intent, purpose and effect of inducing members of the public to purchases and hold as investments shares of common stock of BernzOmatic." District Judge Edward C.

McLean denied company motions for dismissal of the case July 15. Defendants Named Named as defendants in the case are board chairman Sidney J. Reich; Gordon G. Hoit, president; Lester G. Wilterdink, vice president; Herman Schwartz and William A.

Centner. Also named as a defendant is Supreme Court Justice Jacob Ark, who was on the board of directors until July 1965. BernzOmatic is scheduled to make its annual report to stockholders Sept. 1 and a first quarter statement will be made at a shareholders meeting Sept. 21.

Its fiscal year ended April 30. The plant, at 740 Driving Park manufactures propane products and currently is making a tire inflater-sealer kit for Texaco, Inc. Douglas McKay, teacher, walked the hot sidewalks of the near East Side, where the streets have names like Cleveland, Merrimac and Wadsworth, stopping at houses where he saw children playing in dusty front yards and in short, narrow driveways and streets. Where he stopped, he talked with mothers over the din of their children's voices, asking them to be "block chairmen" for his makeshift schools. If they accepted, he took down their names and told them when he would be back to hold classes.

Then he walked farther down the sidewalk, stopping at other houses along the way. -Jf- BUT AS HE LEFT EACH dusty front yard and each block chairman behind, the schools he was establishing stayed put, because the front yards or a front or a back porch, or anywhere children had room to gather around a table or chair to listen would be the schools. The first week of school McKay and another nine teachers walked from house to house all across the inner city, sets of children following them as though each was the Pied Piper. The 10 peripatetic instructors are the city's "walking teachers," who teach in regulation schools during the school year, but whose classrooms until Aug. 26, when the current crash program ends, will be outdoors Union Claims 'Bad Faith' By duPonf Defender Employes Union has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in Buffalo charging E.

I. duPont de Nemours with bargaining in bad faith. The union has been on strike since negotiations broke off shortly before the contract expired on June 30. The company has not been formally advised of the complaint, James E. Brennan, DuPont personnel supervisor, said yesterday.

Joseph Greco, union president, cited the Monday incident as an example of the company's refusal to bargain in good faith. A melee broke out Monday when a group of pickets attempted to block the path of a tractor-trailer leaving the plant at 666 Driving Park Ave. CANASERAGA A do-it-yourself 9-hole golf is under construction on the north edge of Canaseraga. Plans were drawn, tees and greens "spotted" and then Walter G. Berry, his son Walley and other members of the family went to work.

Berry, who lives on North Church Street, calls it his "retirement project," but it's a big job. An idea of just houw much work is involved can be measured by listing the materials used in just one green: Twenty-three truckloads of gravel, two tons of sand, 18 truckloads of topsoil, 200 pounds of fertilizer and 20 pounds of nitrogen, plus lime and grass seed. Then the greens were shaped and seeded and still have to be watered frequently. Berry used to farm the land, except for one small piece which he recently purchased and converted into a small pond for irrigation purposes. Although it's a big project, it's "coming right along," Berry says.

Some of the neighbors use the fairways to practice their drives. During the rest of the year, Berry hopes to complete the greens, get his irrigation system working and continue work on the fairways. The clubhouse will be one of the last things to be built, but he already has the flooring Canaseraga Central School gave him the old gymnasium floor. A future project is to build a small lake next to the golf course. Berry recently purchased the land for the lake and feels it would add a lot to his "retirement project." East Ave.

Repaying Its First in 36 Years East Avenue pavement, which already has lasted at least 10 years longer than it was supposed to, is undergoing a major resurfacing in a 2.34-mile stretch from the city line to the Fairport Road intersection. MOTORCYCLIST HURT Gerald P. Sceusa. 27, of 177 Fifth was treated at Genesee Hospital for chest and leg injuries suffered when his motorcycle collided with a car at Main and North streets shortly after 2:30 a.m. yesterday police reported.

Driver of the car was Donnell Oliver, 26, of 11 Vetter St. Some traffic delays are being caused by the project, said District State Engineer Bernard F. Perry. The $472,096 state contract with the Spezio Construction Company involves a leveling coating to smooth out depressions and application of 2h inches of asphaltic concrete surface, as well as raising of manholes. The crumbling curbing will be replaced with new granite.

Dead and diseased trees along the right-of-way, which extends about 13 feet on either side of the road, are being removed. Your Neighb ors State Their Views in Sunday Poll X. Ii aE33E2ll.