HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-01-27 34
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SELECTMEN'S MEETING
JAN . 27, 1940
A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 2:00
P.M. Chairman Giroux and Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke
and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present.
Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. The Chairman
told Mr. Raymond that the Board would like some informa-
tion on the Road Machinery Account . The amount requested
was $14,175.00.
Road Mr. Raymond said that the equipment for construction
Machinery work would have to come out of the Road Machinery Account
Account and that betterment streets should be taken into con-
sideration; also, the price on gasoline is increased 13%.
The sum of $2650. was requested for Gasoline and Oil and
Mr. Raymond said that if there was no snow and no construction
program, this probably could be reduced to $2400. The
Chairman suggested that the Board approve $2400. for
Gasoline and Oil and if the snow work is light, this amount
may be reduced. If betterment streets come in, it may be
increased.
The Clerk was instructed to check this just before
Town Meeting.
The sum of $2900. was requested for Parts and Repairs.
Mr. Raymond said that $500. of this was for tires and
tubes and he thought this could be reduced to $200. if
there was not much snow and betterment streets were not
done. The item was reduced to $2500. $200. was requested
for Coal , and the sum of $150. was approved, this item to
be checked just before Town Meeting, also. The item for
Sidewalk Tractor under Naw Equipment, was eliminated.
$225. was requested for a paving breaker and Mr. Raymond
said that this might pay for itself on betterment streets
if they run into ledge. It was decided to approve $220.
for this item $750. was requested for a service truck
and Mr. Raymond said that it did not cost any more to
operate the present truck than the others in the depart-
ment so he did not know why they should not continue to
run this one another year. The item was eliminated as was
an item of $5,000. for a snow loader. $300. was requested
for another sand spreader and this was eliminated. $50.
was approved for Sundry Items, making the total approved
$5325.00.
Traffic Regulation & Control, Improvement to System,
Traffic Reg. was next discussed. Mr. Raymond said he did not believe
and the people were going to like having all the lights at
Control Merriam, Clarke and Bedford Streets synchronized. The
only way the lights may operate at the convenience of
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motorists is to have actuators. It was decided not to. put
these items in the warrant unless a petition requesting
them comes in.
Mr. Raymond retired at 3:00 P.M.
lir. Morse appeared before the Board. He said that
he had in mind running the Welfare Department under absolute
control, cooperating with the State and Federal authorities
so that expenses may be reduced to a minimum. He said he Welfare
felt he had a group of employees who were pulling together Dept.
with him and for that reason should be increased and budgets
secondly, he feels that they are underpaid. Mr. Morse said
he wanted to deal with problems relative to change in setp
up, fuel costs, general welfare conditions, etc. Mr. Morse
said that Miss Edkins had been in the department for six
years and in that time had only been increased from $12 .
to $15. He said that Personal Services amounted to only
7% of the total expenditures. He explained the situation
relative to employees in Welfare Departments under Civil
Service . He said that Belmont was required to put on two
new investigators at $35. per week. He thought the best way
to get a more efficient welfare department was to pay in-
creased wages.
Mr. Rowse told Mr . Morse that in his opinion, the
first thing for him to do was to show consistent results
before he asked the Board to consider a substantial increase
in salary for himself. Mr. Morse said he thought he was
showing consistent results now and Mr. Rowse agreed with
him, but said he thought the time was too short to come to
a conclusion.
The Chairman stated that James E. Collins was put on
a trial basis with the idea that if he made good, his salary
would be increased to 625. It was decided to approve the
following increases in salaries :
James E. Collins from $22.50 to $25.00
Muriel C. Edkins from $15 . to $16.00
Thomas F. Fardy from $18. to $19.00
It was the feeling of the Board that an amount not to
exceed the 1939 expenditures should be approved for 1940.
Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was
voted to approve a total of $123,250. for charities and
soldiers' benefits, this amount to include personal services.
Mr. Morse retired at 4 :15 P.M.
Budgets were then discussed and acted on as follows :
Account Requested Approved
Parks and Playgrounds -Pers.Services $4030.00 $4030.00
It " - Wages & Expenses 10784.00 10500,00 Budgets
(The only stipulation in this being that Mr. Garrity' s
automobile allowance be increased from $250. to $400. )
Contributory Retirement System -
Pension Accumulation Fund 12962.00 12962.00
Contributory Retirement System -
Interest Deficiency on Funds 316.29 316.29
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Account Requested Approved
Pub.Works Bldg. -Special Equipment $600.00 $0.00
Public Works - Welfare Aid 1470.00 1000.00
Insurance 9990.00 9990.00
Water Maintenance-Wages & Expenses 17000.00 17000.00
Water Maintenance-Interest on Debt 2100.00 2100.00
Metropolitan Water Tax-(S b ect to e- 35000.00 35000.00
Water Replatement3 vision in March) 1250.00 1250.00
Water Services 5000.00 5000.00
Water -R 70
Con.-Replacement of Mains 8 0.00 5100.00
(Replacement of 4 inch main in Percy Road)
Water Dept. - Eliminating Dead Ends 4900.00 2500.00
(Work at Grant Street approved)
Water Construction - Oak Street 3200.00 0.00
(No expenditure approved unless sewer main is laid) .
Water Construction - Sundry Streets 5000.00 4000.00
Mr. Rowse moved that the Selectmen recommend the trans-
fer of $10,000.00 from the Water Dept . Available Surplus
Account for payment of maturing water debt. Mr. Locke
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 P.M.
A true record, Attest :
Clerk.
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