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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-12-26-AC-MIN.pdf Mfl1 TTI+'S OF THE ? EFTING OF THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE HELD AT THE TOWN OFFICE BTTITDING, TTTESDAY EVENING, December 26, 1944. The meeting was opened in the office of the Town Accountant at 7:35 P.M. , by Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt, with the following members in attendance : Lewis T.. Hoyt, Chairman George M. Hynes Fred C. Newhall Raymond A. Bond J. Milton Brown Ronald D. Brown Thacher Jenney Carl F. Bryant Raymond T. White, Town Accountant. Minutes of the Meeting ng Feld December 18, 1944. It was regularly moved and voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting held December 18, 1944. Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt stated that he has asked Thacher Jenney to look into the post-war planning projects with the Chairman of the Post-Tar Committee, and Planning Board, to see if they intend to insert any articles in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Thacher Jenney said that one item the Post_Tar Committee was considering was parking space and sewer in the Manor, but nothing definite as yet has been decided on these two projects. Charman Hoyt read a letter received from the Board of Selectmen in which they approved a request made by the Chief of Police, John T. Rycroft, for the purchase of 125 badges for the Auxiliary Police amounting to 1206.25 - this amount to be charged to the Lexington • Committee on public Safety Account. Mr. Hoyt said that this did not require a transfer from the Reserve Fund as there was sufficient money in the Committee on Public Safety Account, but all expenditures must have the ap- proval of both Boards - the Board of Selectmen and the -2- Appropriation Committee. A motion was made, seconded and voted to approve the expenditure of t206.25 for the purchase of Police Badges. Carl F. Bryant was the only member who voted against this radion. Chairman Hoyt then opened the meeting up to a general discussion on the salary situation for the ensuing year. This was relative to whether the Town pay a 15% bonus, or a 15' salary increase, or any combination of the two. At 8:15 P.M. , Mr. James J. Walsh, a member of the Cemetery Commissioners, was admitted to this meeting to discuss the Cemetery Budgets for the coming year. The first budget discussed was Maintenance of the Munroe Cemetery. Cem. Maint. - Munroe - Personal Services Total amount 300.00. Thrs bu e is the same as last year. Cem. Maint. - Munroe - Wages & Expenses Total amount U,4a6.86. Vr. 'WaL'E seated that the drives in the Munroe Cemetery are in fairly good con- dition, but he wants to buy new shrubs, and also maintain a few flower beds. Mr. Walsh continued by saying that there are a number of sunken graves which will have to be raised. The help problem was very difficult this year. During te hurricane, several large trees were lost in the cemetery. The cemetery was fortunate in having Mr. Kling who took care of the removal of the branches of these trees, and his labor amounted to 240.00 for such wo rk. Robins Cemetery Mr. Walsh stated that In this cemetery a large tree should come down, and he will speak to the Selectmen about it. Our Co mm ttee asked Mr. Walsh if Ralph Marshall was going to continue with the Cemetery, and Mr. Walsh stated that he was. Cem. Maint. - Westview - Personal Services Total of 600.0(). Superintendent - 1500.00 Clerk - 100.00 -3- 124 Mr. Walsh stated that he would like to give back to Mr. Marshall the salary cut, and change his amount from 1400.00 to 1500.00 as he has submitted in this Budget. Cem. Maint. - restview - Wages & Expenses —Total of .75735.86. This budget-171M4.00 more than the budget submitted last year. One of the reasons for this increase is that the Cemetery Commissioners would like to put the second man to work on the first day of March instead of the first day of April as in preceding years. Also they would like to paint another section of the wire fence this year. Mr. Walsh further said that of the 1944 Appropriation he would like to spend approximately 1100.00 to build an outside toilet, and wanted the approval of this Committee as the Cemetery Commissioners did not want to do anything of this nature without such approval. This Committee approved such an expenditure as they felt that some accommodation should be available at the cemetery. At 8:50 P.M. , Mr. `Walsh left this meeting. While waiting for Mrs. Mary Casey to attend this meeting, the Appropriation Committee approved a transfer from the Reserve Fund of $8.55 to the Appropriation Com- mittee - Expenses - Account to pay for bills incurred in tine year 1944. A motion was made, seconded and voted to transfer the sum of $8.55 from the Reserve Fund to the Appropriation Committee - Expenses - Account. At 9:15 P.M. , Mrs. Mary Casey of the Public Welfare was admitted to this meeting to discuss the Public Welfare Budgets for the year 1945. Mrs. Casey stated that all employees are under Civil Service, and at present there are three. The "'elfare Board has allowed the Civil Service to raise the maximum. The salary of the Junior Clerk is now $22.00 per week, and on this budget she is asking a 52.00 increase. The same applies to the Social Worker and Welfare Agent. Public welfare - Administration $160.77= the same as last dear. -4- tz z.c, 1 04- Public 'welfare - Town Physician Tota-T5.00. = get is the same as last year. Yrs. Casey stated that Dr. Rochette, Town Physician, has not been taking care of the Welfare recipients the way he should, and she stated one case in particular where he made one visit and did not call again. Dr. Rochette has been Town Physician for about four years. Public Welfare - Aid P Expenses —17-67=173,0710.0°. At present there are six cases in the Tewksbury infirmary at a cost of :10.50 per week. Tinder Cash Grants to Individuals , Mrs. Casey said that a wife with four children receives 424.30 a week, but on this we receive full reimbursement from the State. The question of rents was asked. Mrs. Casey said that there are no vacant houses in Lexington, and in no case do they pay rents over 430.00 a month. Dependent Children - Personal Services �26F.9'2--'o c ommeif'C- 5'frtyr g budget. Dependent Children' s Aid - Administration . s'rs the same as fast year. Dependent Children' s Aid - Aid & Expenses 48,100.00. -1 his budget is £5.e same as last year. Old Age Assistance - Personal Services Total of ? 2,034.97. Of this budget 65% of the total is for Personal Services. Old Age Assistance - Administration Total of- $520.06. This budget is` the same as last year. Old Age Assistance - Aid ? Expenses 440,000.bg.-Th'1s 'bud-gef E56same as last year. State Aid bou.00. The same as last year. We receive full reimbursement for any expenditures under this budget. Military Aid 4800.00. This budget the same as last year. Soldiers ' Burials 200.00 - the same as 1944. -5- • 1- 2-CP f 4'4 Soldier's Relief - Personal Services Total - fi2333.45. Tinder this Budget is shown the increases in salaries. Soldier's Relief - Administration i4U.(R) - the same as 1944. Soldier' s Relief - Aid R Expenses '/T_'otal t5,00(1.00. m.T Budget is increased As year. The Cash Grants have been increased p2,000.00. One case at present is now on Soldiers ' Relief. The average for last year was about three cases. Mrs. Casey stated that at present they have seven cancer cases in Lexington who are on relief. Mrs. Casey left this meeting at 9 ;50 P. R. At 9 ;55 P.7. , Errol F. Locke, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, together with George C. Sheldon, a member of the Board of Selectmen, were admitted to this meeting. Ronald D. Brown stated that he and J. Milton Brown had met with the Board of Selectmen as directed and had talked over the salary situation of the Town. Fe said that there is a majority sentiment of a permanent increase of l5°' and some percentages in between that amount. Mr. Ronald D. Brown asked whether we recognized the fact that the School represents 50t of the Tovtn expenditures. George Sheldon asked whether the School Committee was going ahead on their proposed. budget as to salaries, or were they open for debate. Errol Locke said that the Library intends to go ahead the same as the Schools, and he further stated that he did not believe that we were going to gain anything by going along as we are now; and that he was in hopes that we could get a better grade of help in the Municipality. George Sheldon said that he would like to see the bonus continue for another year; first reason being that we could study the salary situation more intelligently. Mr. Sheldon further suggested that re get a definite commitment from the School Committee as to That they intend to do. Mr. Locke said that the salary schedule was good at the moment, but could not be applied. subsequently due to changing conditions. -6 George Hynes spoke about the Fire and Police. Fe stated that the bonus is not included as part of their pay so that wh^n they retire, the half pay is less, but if they receive permanent increases in salaries, then their pension would be increased accordingly. Chairman Errol F. T,ocke and George Sheldon left this meeting at 10:35 P.M. At this point there was a 4eneral discussion to see how this Committee felt about the salary situation. Raymond A. Bond stated that he was for a permanent increase In salaries. Lewis L. Hoyt stated that he had no objections to all employees getting permanent increases. George M. Hynes does not want to see a bonus - rants an increase in salaries. Harvey W'inlock favors sticking to the bonus idea. Ronald D. Brown suggested giving a certain amount as a permanent salary increase, and the rest as a bonus. Carl E. Bryant stated that the bonus gives some control over the situation and favors continuing it. Thacher Jenney believes that we should'have a portion as a permanent increase, and the balance as a bonus. If we can' t have that, he would rather give the employees a permanent increase. J. Milton Brown is in favor of the bonus. Fred C. Newhall is not in favor of giving all a 15% increase in salary; therefore he is in favor of the bonus for the coming year. The meeting ad joumed at 11 :05 P.M. Respectfully submitted, C‘‘4---Ayrnu-y,ci9 Secretary