1934-10-29-STM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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117 SPECIAL TMN MWTING I LD OCTOBER 29, 1934 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Robert H. Holt, at 8:08 P.M. There were one hundred forty-five Town Meeting Members present. Town Clerk, James J. Carroll, read the Warrant for the meeting until further reading was waived. A unanimous vote. Town Clerk, James J. Carroll, read the Constables re- turn of the Warrant. Selectman Mr. Trask moved to take up Article 1. Under Article One Mr. E. H. Locke , Chairman of the Salary Adjustment Committee , read the following report: TO TtE TOWN' I, ETING MEMBERS OF LEXINGTON: By vote of the Town Meeting on March 26, 1934, you instructed the Moderator to appoint a committee of seven, composed of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the Chair- man of the Appropriation Committee, the Chairman of the School Committee, and one Town Meeting member from each of the four precincts to make recommendations to the Town Meeting con- cerning the restoration of the salary cut which became effec- tive July 1, 1933, and to report at some time during the current year. The committee so appointed offers the following report: Preliminary disucssion of the question indicated that without knowledge of certain facts and figures not avail- able at this time the Committee should not try to reach a majority recommendation even though the members might hold individual opinions as to whether the time had come to make a restoration of pay in whole or in part. It is our belief that the majority of the Town Meeting members voted infavor of the 15% reduction for one or more of the following reasons : Be- cause other towns were reducing salaries ; because of ,reduction in the cost of living; because the Town Meeting members and the taxpayers almost without exception had had their salaries and income reduced; and because in the face of high taxes and particularly the increasing cost of welfare work they believed that it was reasonable to expect Town employees to share in this added burden. It is entirely impossible for this Committee to secure accurate estimates of income and expenses for the next year and so indicate what the trend of our tax rate may be. The complete restoration of the pay cut would add ap- proximately $2 .00 to the tax rate, other figures remaining the same. The cost of welfare work appears to be particularly important and yet indefinite. Large amounts of Federal funds are being allocated to Lexington, which at the present time will reduce the assessed cost of our welfare work. But when these funds are no longer available an increased burden will fall upon the taxpayers, which may add several dollars to the tax rate. The certainty of changes in the cost of living, the cost of materials, the value of the dollar, and particular:y the cost of welfare work convince this Committee that no specific recommendations can be made at this time and we have voted so to report to this Meeting. Respectfully submitted, October 26, 1934 . E. H. Locke, Chairman