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ff` W.P.A. School lunch project SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 28, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, December 28, 1942, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Paxton and Mr. Beach appeared before the Board at 7:30 P.M. The Chairman said that Mr. Beach had been asked to meet with the Board to discuss the W.P.A. lunch project. Mr. Beach said he thought the project would last until June anyway and probably would continue from June to the end of the year under some Federal Agency other than the W.P.A. Mr. Rowse said that he understood that the children were required to eat before they could go out to recess regardless of whether or not they liked the food. Mr. Beach said that some of the children did not want to eat and they have to have some sort of a rule, and they have not had very much trouble with it. Mr. Beach said that they were feeding 393 children; 230 of whom pay, leaving 20 State children being fed free, and 143 underprivileged children being fed free. He has asked for a list of underprivileged children so that it families' finances can be checked again. He said that he had nothing to do with the certification of the children -- that is up to the principal, of the school, Mr. Morse, and the teachers. Based on the average of 63,000 meals, the cost to the Town is 42� per meal. The charge has Pone from 6X to 10� a meal. The government used to furnish butter and cheese free, but now that has to be purchased. Mr. Rowse asked if Mr. Beach had ever considered the possibility of mak- ing the project pay and he replied in the negative. He said it would cost about 27X per meal if the Town has to pay for the labor. Mr. Rowse said that if it came to the point of whether to continue the project or not, it would seem to him that to put the burden on the Town to finance the project and give meals to children whose parents could afford to pay, would not be justified. The Chairman said he thought the question should be placed before the Town Meeting. Mr. Beach said that if the number of children Who paid dropped down, it would increase the number of children who do not pay. Mr. Beach said that he had about $3,000.00 left in his appropriation and would not have to ask for any more funds in 1943. Mr. Beach retired at 8:00 P.M. Oki �i LI