HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-09-21-AC-MIN.pdf 211
Meeting of the Appropriation Committee, Monday., October 21, 1968, 7:30 p.m.
Present: R. Gary, Acting Chairman; J. Blaisdell, R. Blomfield; L. Burnell;
E. Furash; R. Perry, Comptroller; D. White; L. Zehner; R. Souza
Reserve Fund Requests
Selectmen, Elections, Account #1900. $2,000 requested.
Voted to transfer $2,000 to acct. #1900.
Engineering Expenses, Account #5150. $2,200 requested.
John McSweeney, Town Engineer, explained this request. $3850 was appropriated;
Balance isnow $57.42. -Budget has been overspent in thi following areas:
Field and office supplies
r„i Photography
LCD Equipment rental
Miscellaneous (including charges for registering plans)
1:74 The greatest over-expenditure is for equipment rental. Mr. McSweeney stated
that, when he came to this department, they were beingx charged for two
vehicles although they were using four. They have added 1, a car for
the inspector hired as a result of June Town Meeting, making a total of five.
They are now being charged for 5 vehicles at about $225/month, compared with
the $800/yr formerly charged for 2. They are using a survey truck, inspector's
truck, sewer service truck4 and engineer's car, in addition to the construction
inspector's car added in June.
Committee decided that the two vehicles which had not been charged to Engineering
in former years had probably been charged to Public Works - look for a balance
in That budget at the end of the year. Dick Perry will write a note to Mr. Burke.
Voted to transfer $2,200 to account #5150
Street Contract discussed with Mr. McSweeney
Four streets were to be constructed this year. $98,000 was appropriated.
Bid received was $138,000 to which must be added 12% for engineering - a total
of $154,000 would have been necessary. These streets were resubmitted to
bid, leaving out Hillcrest. The low bid for Grassland, Well and Vail was
$91,000. Adding 12% gives a total of $107,000 needed; $95,000 is available.
Selectmen may request additional money, but have not done so yet.
Anticipated Receipts
Dick Perry reported on a meeting he had attended at which state Tax Commissioner
daillette stated that 2 million dollars more were received from sales tax than
had been expected. This will be distributed to cities and towns by Dec. 31;
therefore it should get on the cherry sheets.
Mr. Perry also reported that the average lax increase in town budgets in Mass.
was 9%; valuations were up 3.4%; and tax rates up 13.7% - Lexington's was
up 14.5%,
Moody Rating - Dick Perry reported that Moody had answered his request for a
review of Lexington's rating, saying that in view of the anticipated 4 million
bonding in 1969 they believed Lexington should keep its A rating. At the
time of a bond issue, they would be glad to review it again. Dick will pursue
this matter. Probably the greatest saving an upgrading of our ratingx would
give us would be in the interest for tax anticipation borrowing. Winchester,
with x AAA rating,pays 1.89%; Lexington, with an A rating, pays 2.4%. For
long-term borrowing Lexington's bonds get a rate equivalent to AA.
Town Office Building Committee will probably come in in March for engineering
and plan money.
Capital Expenditures discussed briefly. Departments had written letters
in response to Dick Perry's request for information on capital expenditure
requests.
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Conservation Commission writes that they may request bonding of$0.5 Million,
the total of all land under consideration at this time.
Fire Dept. wants automatic standby power unit c $7,000 and a utility
truck c $4,000
Library wants planning money
Planning Board will request $25,000 for two recreation areas, Blossom St.
and Hayes land.
Suggested that we send these letters to Capital Expenditures Committee for
their information and having a meeting with CEC when they are ready.
Possible that it would be desirable to meet with departments about their
capital budgets before we get the operating budgets. -
itmx
Reserve Fund Request
Treasurer requests $300 for Foreclosure and Redemption accoutt #2575.
$100 had been appropriated; the new treasurer is taking more action in
foreclosing for ix non-payment of taxes than wasanticipated when the
budget was presented.
Voted to transfer $300 from Reserve Fund to account #2575.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth F. Souza, secretary