Kent T. Healy papers

These papers are arranged into four series: Savings Banks' Railroad Investment Committee, Highway Advisory Committee, Commission on the Reorganization of State Departments, and State Planning Board: Advisory Committee on Transportation.

Series 1. Savings Banks' Railroad Investment Committee, 1945-1963, undated, The General Assembly created a six member committee to certify railroad company bonds as eligible for investment by savings banks for the banking commissioner. The governor appointed members to three year terms from nominations given him by the Executive Committee of the Savings Banks' Association of Connecticut, the Banking Commissioner, the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bankers Association, and the Executive Committee of the Savings Banks' Deposit Guaranty Fund of Connecticut. A nominee had to be either a bank officer or director or trustee of one of the above organizations or its members. The statute allowed reimbursement of travel expenses only to be paid by the Savings Banks' Association. In 1961, the General Assembly changed the committee's name to the Railroad Legal Investment Commission. In 1963, it disbanded the committee and placed its responsibilities solely with the banking commissioner. It includes correspondence, meeting minutes, agendas, newspaper clippings, annual reports, financial reports, statistical reports, articles, speeches, pamphlets, and press releases.

Series 2. Highway Advisory Committee, 1937-1956, undated, Special Act 456 of 1943 directed the governor to appoint a five member committee to study and advise the highway commissioner concerning post-World War II highway improvements, the problem of just and equitable distribution of highway funds for cities and towns, problems with the system, the departments procedures and practices and existing laws to determine what is desirable for an efficient highway program. William J. Cox, Highway Commissioner, first mentioned such a committee in his biennial report to the governor for 1939-1940. He again recommended the committee to Governor Baldwin in December 1942. Baldwin put the recommendations into his inaugural speech and saw it through the General Assembly. After hearing testimony from the Highway, Motor Vehicle and State Police departments and inspecting the new Fairfield County route (I-95) to replace Route 1, the committee submitted its report to the governor in December 1944. It includes correspondence, financial and legislative reports, highway safety and use reports, newspaper clippings, maps, and the final report created by the committee.

Series 3. Commission on the Reorganization of State Departments, 1935-1937, undated, Special Act No. 242 of 1935 established a five member commission appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly to study the "organization, powers and duties, personnel and expenditures" of each agency and prepare recommendations and propose legislation. The commission held its first meeting in Governor Wilber Cross' office on June 21, 1935. Col. Thomas Hewes served as chairman. The commission appointed Benjamin P. Whitaker, Research Director, on July 1, 1935. A small staff and a number of expert consultants prepared the report, approved by the commission, for submittal to the governor on January 25, 1937. The General Assembly extended the commission authorization to March 30, 1937. Even after that date, the commission members and the Research Director provided advice and assistance to the governor and the General Assembly. It includes correspondence, legislative acts, memorandums, and newspaper clippings.

Series 4. State Planning Board: Advisory Committee on Transportation, 1935-1936, undated, The State Planning Board adopted a policy of appointing advisory committees to assist the board and its staff in developing research studies. The Transportation Committee consisted of the Highway Commissioner, the Motor Vehicle Commissioner, and a member of the Public Utilities Commission. The committee was to make the state's transportation program more definite and practical, review past accomplishments, draw up plans for further work and prepare and interpret a report for the State Planning Board. On April 10, 1935, the committee issued "Transportation in Connecticut. Part I: Passenger Transportation." There is no evidence that it issued any other parts. It includes correspondence and transportation studies.