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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-04-24-AC-MIN.pdf 1. :3 Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, Monday, April 24, 1967 Present: Frank Parrish, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; R. Gary; D. Grant; R. Perry, Comptroller; R. Souza Committee Organization The following were nominated, seconded, and unanimously elected: Frank Parrish Chairman Don Grant Vice—chairman Ruth Souza Secretary Committee's duties Statutes include the statement "Finance Committee shall prepare r..� budget for Town Meeting". Does this mean that Committee's figures LrJ should be read at Town Meeting? Don Grant will look up the +--I statutes in detail and, if it seems advisable, discuss this further r'"^. with Town Counsel and Moderator. Budgets, according to Ch. 41, must go to the accounting officer. Selectmen and all other departments are required to furnish to accountant, Appropriation Committee and Selectmen estimates of income likely to be received. In past year* budgets have gone to Selectmen first, then to Accountant. Budgets not under the jurisdiction of Selectmen should come first to the Comptroller. Mr. Perry will have two letters prepared, one requesting budgets not under jurisdiction of Selectmen to be sent to him, the other with Al Grey getting the budgets under Seimtmen's jurisdiction sent to them. This should speed up receipt of some budgets. Salary Study Committee vs. Personnel Board Discussion of Memo prepared by Don Grant on this subject. A change of By—Laws would be required before a Personnel Board could be established. At present it seems advisable to continue working with Salary Study Committee. Invite this committee to meet with us early to discuss their recommendations. Conservation Commission Expense budget has $9.75 left of $300 appropriated at March T.M. They have spent $245.25 for Secretarial services, paying $4.25/hr. for a secretary to attend meetings, take minutes, and type letters and reports. Committee's feeling is that the Town should furnish secretarial help for required letters and reports, but that the commission might look into the possibility of volunteer assistance in taking minutes. Statute requires that there be a charge for copies of minutes which are now distributed to various people and organizations. Les York entered the meeting to discuss this budget. He will try to estimate how much money they will need for the rest of the year and report back. Committee suggested that he reserve an Article at June T.M. for additional funds. Conservation land maintenance Fire Dept. wishes paths cleared is Whipple Hill to give them access. Cost breakdown will be available in a few weeks. This type of maintenance will grow as additional land is acquired. C.E•C. should look at this kind of budget. Separate Article advisable. Out—of—state travel Total appropriation in any year is limited to 1/100 of avg. assessed valuation for last 3 years (Chapter 40). This includes travel out of state, any necessary expenses and includes training programs. Check to see whether we are over this limit. 9c 2. April 24, 1967, cont. Civil Defense Town Meeting appropriated $5,000 for expense budget #4350 instead of the 39,785 requested. Selectmen want to appropriate $3,500 more at June T.M. What can be cut in order to spend no more than 35,000 appropriated? Car expenses 3531.02 (4963 miles inside state) in 1966 + 351.07 supAies, gas, oil 178.10 tires, tubes chains 524.25 repairs and maint. automotive Training 1,248.00 in 1956 shat is the operating cost of the warning system alone? How much of telephone charge is for warning, how much for other? Instead of renting wires, can Town use telephone poles and string its own wire; would this be less expensi*e? Mr. Burrell has already spent $2,400. This is at same rate as last year, not at rate which would allow him to function within the $5,000 appropriated. Write letter to Mr. Burrell asking for detailed actual cost of operating warning system alone, cost last year as well as to—date cost this year and anticipated cost to end of year. Ask what he is doing to comply with T.M. cut. Buckman Tavern Historical Society has bids in for repair of Buckman Tavern. They have learned that, if Town lets the contract, it will cost several thousand dollars more than if Historical Society lets it. This is because Town is required to pay for various trades in accord with the State's wage scale for each trade. Present lease authorizes Lex. Historical Society to repair and maintain property. Act of legislature is required for Town to pay for this work. Recommend to Selectmen (Mr. Cole is writing this Act) that it be worded "authorize the Town to appropriate 3 to reimburse the Lexington Historical Society for its expenses in repairing Buckman Tavern which is owned by the Town". This would allow the Society to let the contract. Respectfully submitted, Ruth F. Souza, secretary