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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-12-04-AC-MIN.pdf 16 Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, Mon. , Dec. 4, 1967, 7:30 p.m. Present: F. Parrish, Chairman; J. Blaisdell; L. rurash; R. Gary; D. Grant; G. Kolovson; R. Perry, Comptroller; L. Lehner; R. Souza Veterans Dept.— Reserve Fund transfer of 33635.00 requested. They have a balance of $21.00 now; and bills for $118 for hospital, $2748 for ordinary benefits, and $779 for Doctors and medicine. Al Grey later reported that Selectmen asked Trustees of Public Trusts to make $7800 available to Veterans Dept. Therefore there is no need for a Reserve Fund transfer at this time. No action taken by Appropriation Committee pending decision of Trustees. Library budget discussed with Mr. Hilton, Director, and Rev. French. Lx.,enses increased from $63,652 to $69,827. This includes $6,000 for painting Cary Mem. Library. Suggested that painting is done ,..� infrequently enough to warrant making it a separate Article rather than a part of the ordinary expense budget. Personal Services increased from $156,684 to $174,814 (including $1,057 to be received aa State Aid and spent for Sunday opening experiment) Salaries have been increased according to the schedule submitted with the budget in order to keep them in line with those of school librarians and with other local libraries. Cary last year lost two librarians to Rt. 128 companies. Discussion of custodian salaries. Custodians are paid more than library assistants. Mr. Hilton stated that Head Custodian is paid wages equivalent to 14 on ` own salary schedule, Asst. Custodian is paid as J2. If there is a change in Town salary schedule, these will be adjusted on the library budget. Head Custodian supervises contracts, does a great deal of the main— tenance work and is on call 24 hours a day. Mr. IIilton believed that, for Sunday openings, it would be necessary to pay at overtime rate rather than to ask the custodians to change their regular working hours. State Aid — expected to be $6,922.75. $1,057 of this is to be added to ordinary Personal Services budget to allow Sunday openings; $5866 to be added to expense budget for microfilm project (developing periodical backfiles on microfilm). Sunday Openings will be considered successful if 500 adult books are circulated. On a busy day now 1000 books are circulated. Receipts — from Trustee funds are about $80,000, of which about $17,000 are from fines. Library Adaition. It is anticipated that $750,00:; Trill be needed. There is a 251; federal reimbursement if we qualify. F. Lexington Branch. There is a Article to be submitted for repair of beetle damage found in the foundation of the branch library. They need 31,150 for survey by an engineer and plans of necessary repairs. Lincoln Street site of former dump. Messrs. Cataldo, Grey and Kenney came to discuss the Selectmen's request for a transfer of $1000 from the Reserve Fund for a plan of this area if there is money left at the end of the year. $2500 was requested at the March Town Meeting for a plan. This was turned down. Mr. Cataldo said that the area had now been filled up to sub grade and that most major boards feel that soaething should be done this year. The Selectmen have made a topographical survey of the area as it existed last year. lie felt X68 that the Article which was defeated last March was mainly for a topographical survey. This has already been done by the Town. What is requested now is a plan for parking and drainage and playing fields which can be agreed upon by the Recreation Committee, School Committee, Planning Joard and Selectmen. The Committee discussed briefly whether the Reserve Fund could be used for this purpose when Town Meeting had voted down a similar Article. No decision was made. The formal request has hot been received. Public Welfare — State take—over of Public Welfare was discussed. Ch. 658 of Acts of 1967 abolish Town Boards of Welfare 'when the Act goes into effect. Employees transfer to state employ if they • are civil servants (Lexington's are). State takes over support for the poor and indigent (including burials), ADC, OAA and disabled. No portion of the cost of programs is to be born by cities and towns Local Aid fund; total cost, after deduction of federal aid, is to • be paid by the Commonwealth. Should we appropriate enough for the whole year 1968 or vote only enough for 6 months. Until we know that the legislature will not dela* effective date of State take—over, it mi ht be wise to vote • the whole year's budget or retain enough for 6u months in the Reserve Fund. Otherwise a special Town Meeting might have to be called to pay for the last ,half of the year. Respectfully submitted, Ruth F. Souza, secretary • r-- - - -.