1966-08-31-AC-MIN.pdf - Laserfiche WebLink

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67 Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, August 31, 1966, 8:00 p.m. Present: Frank Parrish, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; A. Gary; A. Kenney; D. Noyes; L. Zehner; R. Perry, Comptroller; R. Souza Members of Structure of Government Committee: Margery Batting Chairman; Homer Hagedorn; Lotte Scharfman Reserve Fund Request Dick Perry requested the transfer of $250 to have the Burroughs machine type changed from large to regular, and its capacity increased. This will be a one—time charge. The Burroughs Co. has agreed to set up the machine which will be borrowed yearly for the assessors without charging the additional $90 per year conversion charge. Approved. Structure of Govt. Committee r-4 Frank Parrish had sent a letter outlining the feelings of the Appropriation Committee about sections of the MIA report concerning Finance Committees. Function of Committee Homer Haedorn stated that their understanding was that the Appropria— tion Committee now operated as follows: 1. received from depts. budgets indicating what they would like 2. discussed with depts. what that meant 3. arrived at an over—all budget for all town depts. Whether time tables were held to was up to Approp. Committee. 4. made a series of recommendations to Town Meeting in very concise form 5. transferred from Reserve Fund between meetings. Members of Approp. Committee added that members of the committee serve on other committees, e.g. teacher salary committee, barn ctee. , etc; that Mr. Perry is trying to clear up old appropriations; that advisory work is done; and that the committee is involved in planning ahead for the next budget (checking on E & D build—up, for example). The difference between the appropriation function and budgetary function was discussed. Marge Battin suggests giving an opinion on all financial matters and more detailed reasons. John Blaisdell suggests that Articles could be presented by Appropriation Committee. Method of Appointment Appropriation Committee feels that there should be a.3—member appointing authority and cannot find a reasonable substitute for Selectmen. The number of disagreements with Selectmen argues against the statement that Selectmen's sharing in appointment obscures the function of Committee. Homer Hagedorn suggested that the Approp. Ctee. cannot look credible to the Town Meeting so long as selected by Selectmen. Frank Parrish suggested that one possible alternate to consider was some method by which Town Meeting itself could appoint, for example, an appointive committee from T.M. of possibly 3 members, not to act as a committee, but to act as individuals on appointing committees. the difficulty is to work out a method of electing such a committee from the Town Meeting. Timin7 — Closing warrant Articles in December is ineffective because