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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-12-20-AC-MIN.pdf MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE HELD AT THE TOWN OFFICE BUILDING, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1943. Notification of this meeting was furnished to all mem- bers of the Committee by letter. The meeting was opened in the office of the Town Account- ant at 8:00 P.M. , by Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt, with the following mem- bers in attendance : Lewis L. Hoyt, Chairman Richard W. Maynard Raymond A. Bond Fred C. Newhall George M. Hynes Harvey F. Winlock Ronald D. Brown Carl E. Bryant Thacher Jenney Raymond L. White, Town Accountant Minutes of the Meeting Held December 13, 1943. It was regularly moved and voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting held December 13, 1943. * ., ri:c *.;-** Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt read a letter from James J. Carroll, Town Treasurer, asking for a transfer of $30.00 eo meet the pay roll for the week ending December 23, 1943, for Registrations Department - Personal Services - Assistant Registrars. Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt spoke about the meeting of the Association of Town Finance Committees, where the speaker said that no deductions from the bonus for the Retirement System were neces- sary and that most of the Towns were not taking any deductions. Also, he mentioned about extending the bonus to the Town Meeting in 1945 so that the employees would get their same pay until the Town Meeting in 1945. The Secretary was instructed to write the Board of Select- men of the recommendation of the Appropriation Committee in regards to the bonus and to mention about not deducting any retirement de- ductions from the bonus and also to extend the bonus to the Town Meeting in 1945. At 8:35 P.M. Mr. Robert P. Trask, a member of the war Price & Rationing Board, entered this meeting to discuss their budget for the year 1944. Unclassified - Rationing Board - Total $675.00 Their budget Showa their expenditures to December 1, 1943; Yr. Trask stated that some bills for supplies have not yet been received. Telephone - $200.00 The cost of the telephone service is established. Office Supplies - $300.00 Mr. Trask said that the Federal Government furnished the standard forms, but all the Rationing Board stationery and other forms were furnished by the Town. Mr. Trask said that he would like to see the requested amount of $300.00 stay as it is. Office Equipment - $100.00 Mr. Trask said that they had spent $20.00 this year and that possibly $50.00 would be all right for the year 1944. The question was asked if the present equipment used by the Rationing Board was Town property. Mr. Trask said that it was Town property. Mr. Robert P. Trask left the meeting and this Board im- mediately considered the War Price & Rationing Budget. Unclassified - Rationing Board - Total $625.00 This Committee decided to reduce the request for office equipment from $100.00 to $50.00, reducing the budget from {$675.00 to $625.00. A motion was made, seconded and voted to approve the Unclassified -- Rationing Board Budget in the amount of $625.00. Reserve Fund - Total $15,000.00 Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt spoke about the possibility of increasing the amount in excess of $15,000.00 so that the money would be available next year in the case of an emergency. By doing this, the other budgets could be kept down to their anti- cipated needs for the year 1944. *******4;-31-* -3- At 9:08 P.M. John A. Lyons, Chairman, Henry Le Toile and Harold Lombard, members of the Board of Public Welfare, and James E. Collins, Welfare Agent, entered this meeting. Public Welfare - Administrative Items - Total $160.00 The amount of $160.00 asked for is less than last year, due primarily to a new percentage break down which is as follows: Public Welfare 20% Old Age Assistance 65% Aid to Dependent Children 10% Soldiers! Relief 5% Mr. Lyons said that General Welfare is at its low point of expenditures. Also, he stated that all welfare budgets are at their lowest possible figure. The Old Age Assistance figure is based on approximately a 10% rise. The average age in General Telfare is from 68 to 90 years. Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt asked if the amount figured in the budget would be sufficient for the year 1944. Mr. Lyons said the Board did not know but that the budgets are figured on the expendi- tures of this year. In order for a person to receive old age assistance, they must be 65 years of age and be a citizen of the United States, Public Welfare - Personal Services - Total 6 025.66 Mr. Lyons said that there was a saving in this account due to one less employee, as the Social Worker was not replaced. Mr. Lyons asked for an increase for Mr. Collins of . 4.00 a week. Also, an increase of $2.00 a week each was asked for Mary E. Casey, Gertrude E. Mitchell and Katherine H. Crosby. The maximums under Civil Service for Public welfare employees are as follows : Mary E. Casey $30.00 Gertrude E. Mitchell 30.00 Katherine H. Crosby 23.00 Under Civil Service they must receive a step-rate in— crease of at least $120.00 a year for the Welfare Agent and ' 60.00 a year for the other employees. Mr. Lyons said that Old Age Assistance and Aid to De- pendent Children were controlled by Civil Service. -4- Mr. Lyons also pointed out that Mr. Collins is still acting as a temporary Welfare Agent under the Civil Service. However, Mr. Lyons stated that the Board felt that Yr. Collins has done a good job and should get the 04.00 increase; also in view of general conditions they feel that he is rendering very good service and is doing good work. Mr. Lyons stated that since the inception of the Board of Public Welfare, they have reviewed every case of welfare. Mr. Lyons then read a portion of the minutes of the pre- vious various meetings. Public "elfare - Aid and Expenses - Total 020 000.00 The budget has been figured on the basis of expenditures of this year. Last year 031,000.00 was appropriated. . Public Welfare - Town Physician - Total 0750.00 This is the same amount as appropriated last year. Dependent Children - Personal Services - Total 0302.56 This amount represents 10% of the total Personal Services budget. Dependent Children Aid - Administration - Total 080.00 This amount represents 10% of the administration budgets. The auto expense is increased as it is expected that some work will have to be done this year. The mileage on the car is 12,000. Dependent Children Aid - Aid and Expenses - Total 08100.00 There was no comment on this. Old A'e Assistance -_ Personal Services - Total 03 016.71 This amount represents 65% of the total of the Personal Services budgets. Old Age Assistance - Administrative Items - Total 0520.00 This amount represents 65% of the total of the Adminis- trative budgets. Old Age Assistance - Aid and Expenses - T.2. 11211112141 The Federal Government pays 50% of the first 040,000.00. Mr. Collins stated that at present there were 139 cases and three -5- recent cases, making a total of 142 cases. One person just died so that at present there are 141 cases. Mr. Collins said that the cases are figured on an average of 039.00 per case. The Fed- eral Grants of •$31,500.00 are based on a 44% return of the total. At this point Mr. Lyons stated that if the budgets did not have sufficient money, the Appropriation Committee would be responsible. Mr. Hoyt then said that it was up to the Board of Public welfare, and not to the Appropriation Committee, so immedi- ately Mr. Lyons said then that the budgets are to be increased and this budget would be $51,912.00 instead of ' 40,000.00. " Mr. Lyons then proceeded to change the Public Welfare - Aid and Expenses budget from $20,000.00 to $30,000.00. Finally, Mr. Lyons changed the Public Welfare - Aid and Expenses budget to $26,500.00, and the Old Age Assistance - Aid and Expenses budget to $48, 832.00, which is figured as follows : Cash Grants $85,200.00 Cities 1,500.00 Towns 500.00 $87,200.00 Federal Grant 44% 38 368.00 $48,832.00 The total budgets as revised amount to $94,307.66. State Aid - Total $500.00 The same amount as appropriated last year is asked for this year. Military Aid - Total $800.00 The same amount as appropriated last year is asked for this year. Persons who receive military aid are veterans who re- ceived injuries in any way and the most a veteran can receive is • 040.00 a month. Soldiers' Burials - Total $100.00 This applies only to a veteran or his wife. Soldiers ! Relief - Personal Services - Total $301.27 This amount represents 5% of the total Personal Services budget. -6- Soldiers ' Relief - Administration - Total , 40.00 This amount represents 5% of the total Administration budget. Soldiers ' Relief - Aid and Expenses - Total $ 1000.00 No return is made from the Federal Government for S4- diers' Relief. It requires all Town funds. In conclusion Mr. Lyons stated that the Board of Public welfare will cooperate and save as much as they can. The Board of Public Welfare left the meeting at 11:00 P.M. Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt then spoke about transfers from the Reserve Fund of $60.00 - $30.00 for the Registrations Depart- ment - Personal Services Account and 430.00 for the Assessors ' Department - Personal Services Account, so that listing of the polls can be completed. A motion was made, seconded and voted to transfer 130.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Registrations Depart- ment - Personal Services Account and :# 30.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Assessors' Department - Personal Services Account. The Secretary was advised that in the future anyone re- questing a transfer from the Reserve Fund is to give more details why the request is necessary. ************ The meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ecretary