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.
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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