1967-06-19-AC-MIN.pdf - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 4 5 .. Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, June 19, 1967, 7:30 p.m. Present: F. Parrish, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; M. Bretscher; E. Furash; R. Gary; D. Grant; G. Kolovson; R. Perry, Comptroller; L. Lehner; R. Souza Article 4 figures to be read at Town Meeting In January 1967, Don Legro was asked for a ruling as to whether budgets to be pressnted to Town Meeting should be as recommended by the department or by the Appropriation Committee. His reply included a review of past policy of the Town and his advice that the procedure should not be changed; however his only reference to law xhan was that he had found no law which indicated that what the Town was doing was wrong. Don Grant has now looked up the appropriate statutes and believes he has found basis in law for the Appropriation Committee's figures to be those read. The law requires that each year the various department heads must submit to the Town Accountant an estimate of expenses for the following year and an estimate of receipts. He is supposed to tabulate these and submit them to the Appropriation Committee. They are supposed to make recommendations. These recommendations are the budget for Town Meeting. The Selectmen's duty is limited to mailing the report to the voters. Don Grant suggests sending copies of a letter he has drafted setting forth these ideas and referring to the statutes to Mr. Legro, with copies for Mr. Cole and Bob I{ent. Appropriation Committee approved and agreed that, if Don Legro does not agree, Bob Kent, as Moderator, should be asked to rule on the question. It is hoped that this question can be resolved long before next March Town Meeting. The letter will be sent this week so that it can be studied over the summer. If no answer should be received before March T.M. , it would be advisable to rise to a point of order at that time as soon as a figure is read which does not agree with ours. Analysis and Estinate of Revenues — Frank Parrish and Dick Perry have prepared estimates of funds available in 1968, assuming that valuations and receipts from state increase at the same rate they have been increasing for the past few years, and assuming various tax rates. School expenditures have amounted to 58 to 59% of total revenue. Logan Clarke has requested such an analysis in order to assist the School Committee in preparing their budget. His aim seems to be to start with a total figure and work out the details of the budget from that. Committee will send this analysis and assist by providing any figures the School Committee may wish to have. A meeting of the two committees may be desirable later, after the School Committee has started to work on its budget. Civil Defense Advisory Committee — Milton Bretscher will serve as Appropriation Committee member on this committee. Town Clerk — Mary McDonough requests additional salary for work as Clerk of Board of Registrars. Law signed June 12 states that Town Clerks serving as members of the Board of Registrars are to receive $50 per 1,000 registered voters. (This would mean 4750/yr instead of the 4450 she now gets). Icer name is not .isted as member, just as clerk to the Board. Therefore it is not clear whether this law applies to her salary. Cemetery Commissioners — Appropriation Committee would like to have Cemetery Dept. under Public Works Dept. Don Grant has found that the office of CemeteryCommissioner can be changed from