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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-08-15-AC-MIN.pdf 65 Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, August 15, 1966, 7:30 p.m. Present: Frank Parrish, J. Blaisdell, R. Gary, A. Kenney, D. Noyes, L. Zenner, R. Perry, R. Souza Reclamation of Old Reservoir - 31,000 appropriation in March. Select;- ment don't know who should handle this, since Article didn't specify. Recreation Committee now have the responsibility. Budget Forms ter. Perry is working on an improved form as discussed at Aug 1 mtg; the Personal Services form will separate regular salaries, temporary personnel and over-time wages. Expense sheets will include classification numbers and Item Description. Accounting Machines - Mr. Perry would like to change the type on the Burroughs Machine now in the Accounting, Dept. to regular type and increase lbs capacity by one digit; it will now add $900,000.00 but not $1 million. This would cost $250. The machine is used by Accounting Dept. but was set up for Assessor . Now that Assessors no longer have to bill for Motor Vehicle Excise or Poll Tax, but only for Real Estate Taxes, they need a machine for about 5 weeks each year. One has been borrowed from Burroughs this year, aad it seems advisable to continue this practice and convert the Town machine for its most efficient use in Accounting Dept. There would probably be a charge of $90 or $100 per year (in audition to the charge for borrowing the machine) to have extra- large type put in the borrowed machine. The five-part bill plus carbon paper requires such extra-large type. Mr. Perry will investigate further and probably request the necessary money from the Reserve Fund. Report on Aug. 8 Meeting with Selectmen and Conservation Commission No request for money from Reserve Fund has been received. Mr. Perry feels that appraisal money can be taken from the funds appropriated for the land purchases; it can also be taken from the $1500 appropriated under Art. 9, 1964 T.M. to set up a Conservation Fund. The Selectmen's Fund authorizes them to "obtain appraisals on and aptions for land.. for future streets or for playground or recreational or school purposes.. " (Art. 28, 196a T.M. ) This seems to exclude Conservation options. Logan Clarke has sent letter of resignation from Appropriation Committee since he has accepted appointment to School Committee. A new memaer must be appointed. Structure o4 Government Committee Proposals concerning Finance Committees or Town Finances discussed. Method of Appointment: Structure of Govt. Report suggests appoint- ment by Moderator alone; they feel that Selectmen should have no power of appointment of Finance Committee. Appropriation Committee members concluded that this would put too much power in the hands of one man, that the present system works well enough, that a three-man appointing committee is desirable, and there seems to be no practical alternative to having the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen one of the three. Number of Members of Appropriation Committee: Odd number is necessary; 5 is too few for subcommittees, 7 possible; 9 allows 3 appointments per year, or no more than 1/3 turnover. Fifteen is too large a group to discuss and come to agreement in a reasonable time. Merger of Appropriation and Capital Expenditures Committees Committee expressed fear that Capital Expenditures part might not get done, or at least that it would not be done to the extent that it now is. DeBard, in his letter, suggests that such consolidation is retrogressive. Coordination should be improved, but no structural change made. Borrowing by Treasurer — Committee objects to the proposal that the Trustees of Public Trusts should have official responsibility to provide advice on borrowing and investing money. Frank Parrish will write to Structuee of Government Committee, giving the views of this committee on their report. Respectfully submitted, Ruth F. Souza, Secretary