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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1946-03-11-AC-MIN.pdf MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE HELD AT THE TO'.'N 'DFKLCE BUILDING, MONDAY EVENING, March 11, 1946 The meeting was opened in the Selectmen' s Room at 8:10 P.M. , with the following members in attendance : Lewis L. TT-oyt, Chairman Ronald D. Brown Fred C. Newhall J. Milton Brown Harvey F. Winlock George M. Hynes Michael J. Hopkins Thacher Jenney Jasper A. Lane Raymond L. White, Town Accountant This mePt4 ng is called in accordance with the Town By-laws requiring that the Chairman of the School Committee, Chairman of the Cemetery Commissioners, Chainnian of the Board of Assessors, Board of Selectmen and the Appronration Com- mittee get together to rro over the Appronriati -m Budgets for the year 1946. The Board of Selectmen stated that Mr. G. Potter had been elected as Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. The first ; tem discussed was the request for 6,000.00 adliti.onal for the Road Machinery Account. The order for the bulldozer was cancelled which made 136,000.00 available in the i_^hway Road Ma chi ne ry Fund. At this coming Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen are asking f at .)18,500.00 instead of 1'312,500.00 he transferred from the Road Machinery Fund, and the balance of 1313,500.00 from the Excess and Deficiency Account. The next item' discussed was Article 30 - Lexington manor Sewer. Mr. Lode , Chairman at this meeting°, said the abutters are assessed for their proportionate amount for the Serer which is based on a five-year average cost. It is estimated that i-he abutters will pay only about 20% and the Town rill be required to nay the remaining 80%. _ 7 3 ) 11 /-to Chairman Lewis L. Hoyt asked Mr. James J. Walsh if there were any questions with regards to the Budgets for the Cemeteries. Mr. TToyt spoke about the $3,500 .00 being transferred from the Sale of. Lots land for restview Cemetery. Mr. Walsh said that this was not riMht, but, however, he would not make any formal objection. The next Item discussed was the salaries of the elft re Department . Mr. Rowse stated that the salaries, in accordance with the present salary schedule for Civil Service Employees, were as follows : Mr. Collins 2,400.00 Social Worker 1,560.00 Senior Clerk 1,440.00 Junior Clerk 1, 144.00 There was no further action taken with regards to these salaries. Yr. TTovt stated that the School Committee had nothing to take up before this meetin'c, but If it was all right with ire Board of Selectmen, they were planning to meet with the Appropriation Comm' ttee immediately followin- this meting to go over some of the Articlesin the Warrant. At 11 -40 P.M. , the Appropriation Committee reconvened in the Town Accountant ' s office - along with the School Com- mittee. ommittee. The members present were : Webster Thomas , Chairman, Mrs. Ruth Morey, Mr. Samborski and Thomas S. Grindle, Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Thomas stated that Articles 54, 55 and 57 were all right as recommended by this Committee. Article 56 : Mr. Hoyt stated that this Committee had recommended unfavorable action as they were in the process of cutting down on the Tax Rate and they felt that this item was one which could be carried over until next year. Article 58: The land of Warren B. Russell. Mr. Thomas stated that the School Committee had a letter from Mr. Russell stating that $5,000.00 was the asking price, plus the erection of a fence, and the perpetual care of same. Article 59 : Mr. Hoyt stated that this Comm' ttee had recommended unfavorable action on this Article due to the fact that they felt that there was not en'lu ;h enthusiasm by the Townspeople to co ahead with this handicraft project. Mr. Thomas stated that $500.00 was the firrure they were asking under this Article, and that a certain portion would be returned by the State and Federal Governments. /1i /4,o Article 60: The Mulliken Land. Yr. Thomas stated that the figure originally vas $5,000.00, and the next figure was 5;500.00. Mr. Phomas said that Mr. ?Tin Couette thought that , 5,000.00 was all ri.rht for this land. Article 61: Ryder Property. Mr. Thomas said that there were two different offers - (1) 01,200.00 an acre if his remaining land is subject to no betterment assessments. (2) ° 1,500.00 an acre if his remaining; land will be subject to betterment assessments. The School Committee went back toArticle 59 - night courses and handicraft. Mr. Grindle stated that one of the °racti.ca7courses is dressmrking, and he further said that he had received a letter re''resenting 8 or 10 women of the Torn asking that Vocat' onal ' .ucation such as handicraft be included in the School system. ' othing further to come before this meeting, the Scho1. Committee left at 9:30 P.M. Immediately the Fire House Committee was admitted to this meeting . Geo--e Bmery, Gordan Richards and Mr. Ripley were present. Mr. Emery stated that the Board of Selectmen had asked for three new bids on the East Lexington Fire Station, and the bids were open this evening. Tredennick - Billings Co. bid was $61,557.00; ;':illiam A. Bogart's bid was $63,907.00. To the' low bid the Fire Committee added 0300.00 for inscriptions and $1,600.00 for architectural fees which are the supervisory fees based on e of the contract, plus the cost of blueprints. With thi. s low bid, the figure comes with n the ,i9, 000.00 asked under the separate Article for additional costs for theFast Lex'ncton Station. Nothing further for the Fire House Committee to discuss, they left at 9:50 P.M. Mr. Hoyt brought up the matter of the Manor Sewer. The relative cost which the abutters would have to pay if the rork was done this year would only be approx1mate?.y 20%. There was a general discussion with regards to the Se,F'ar, but no definite action was taken. Mr. Hynes brought up the matter of the purchase of the Stevens Gravel Pit. He said personally if he had i•nown the condition he never would have voted in favor of the purchase of this land. Fe i-�ent over to see the Pit last Saturday and was amazed at its condition. He stated that there was water in the hollow where the sand has been excavated Which is rater deep; and he understands the Fire Department at one time ha-1 to help to get a child out. Some provision would have to be made about a fence and without question we would have to have one or two persons there at all times. In his mind this purchase is not good. J/ i ; r There was a general discuussion, but no action was taken. Mr. Rowse came in to t -is meeting to ask the members hol- they felt about giving George Sheldon, former member of the poard of Selectmen, a testimonial dinner. He said that the ten- tative d^te would be -"arch 21st, but he would let the Secretary know further about it. The members agreed with Mr. Rowse, and thought his suggestion very good, and they would be glad to participate in the dinner. After Mr. Rows- left this meeting, it was suggested by some of the members that indefinite Postponement be made on the purchase of the Stevens property. The Secretary was instructed to get figures from John T. Cosgrove, Engineer, as regards the Manor Sewer so that they may be available for the next meeting. It vas further suggested that the Road Machinery Article be corrected so that the vote will read that we recommend X32, 00.00, of which $18,500.00 will be taken from the Road Machinery Fund, and X13, 500.00 from Excess and Def'.ci.ency. A motion was made, seconded and voted that the recommendation under Article 24 be changed to read as follows : Tinder th, s Article the Annrooriati.on Committee recom- mends the appronri.ati.on o f the sum of• 32, 000.00. This sum is to be provided by transfers of :;18, 500.00 from the Road Machinery Fund and $13,500.00 from the Excess and Deficiency Acc'unt. Mr. Hoyt spoke ab ,u t the employees in the Welfare Department and stated that he did not know what to suggest or do relative to these empllyees. He would sug :est, however, that the Secretary ,Tet da La together on these employees as to the 1941 salaries paid them and increases, and the amount they are receiving at the present time. It was suggested that the Secret' ry and the Superin- ten:ient of Schools poet together on the assessed valuation of the parcels of land which the School rants to purchase, as the Secretary' s figures and Mr. Grindle ' s figures do not agree as to the valuation, plus 25'.`'. Mr. "rindle will be in on Tuesday morning so that we can go down to the Assessors ' office and get this matter straightened out. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. • Respectfully submitted, Se retary.