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
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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
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