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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-02-20-min 26cc SELECTMEN'S MEETING I February 20, 1965 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Saturday, February 20, 1965, at 9:30 A.M Chairman Cole, Messra . Brown, Burnell, Cataldo and Sheldon were present Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. The Chairman reported that Mr. Gray had gone over the budgets and come up with some possibilities . If the Conservation funds were bonded over a three-year period, there would be a saving of $150,000; Massachusetts Avenue, $150,000 current tax levy and bond another $10,000; Winter Street Trunk, $57,400.00. He asked if the Board wanted to take this out this year Mr. Sheldon said he had discussed this with Mr. Carroll who feels if the Board has to eliminate something, it could be Winter Stre t . He is not in favor of post- poning the Pumping Station Mr. Cataldo said, with reference to Winter Street newer, there will be no laterals Next year, the trunk and laterals could b e put in The Chairman read the next item on Mr . Gray's list - the football stands Mr. Burnell said the Board should give the Recreation Committee something as near $20,000 as possible He said he thought the Board had to put in a certain amount of money each year if the Town is to advance with the develop- ment of recreati' n land. He said he would be opposed to cutting this The Chairman said if the board is taking the approach of what is absolutely necessary this year, the football stands are not in that category. The Chairman mentioned Lowell Street, $56,000. Mr. Sheldon said he did not want to postpone this project. The Chairman said this problem has been lived with before and maybe it can be done again Mr. Burnell said the hump in the street is a hazard but the condition of the street is not that bad. The Chairman mentioned $38,000, Public Facilities Building. Mr. Burnell said, being a member of the committee, he was in favor and in favor of getting it as quickly as possible 27 The Chairman reported there will e no MBTA assessment this year. In 1966 the Town will be assessed $17,600 for 1965. It was agreed to 1) bond Conservation appropriation - 2) Bond Massachusetts Avenue - 3 ) Postpone Winter Street trunk - 4) Postpone football stands - 5) Lowell Street, leave in - 6 ) Postpone Public Facilities Building - 7) Postpone Worthen Road parking lot - 8) (Postpone Planning Board survey, $15,000 At 10:15 A.M. , Mr Fisher and Mrs. Clarke, of the School Committee, and Dr Fobert, Superintendent of Schools, met with the Board. The Chairman said he knew Dr. Fobert had been going over the budget and asked how he made out . He said any- thing the School Committee could come up with to help keep the Town from having a tremendous tax rate would be appreci- ated Mr Sheldon stated that the Town Meeting would have an opportunity to put back anything the Board has taken out . Dr . Fobert said there are certain major budgets and he would go over one or two and see what happened He said the expenses were increased by $68,000 and $30,000 of that increase was in transportation There is $12,682 more requested because of the additional pupils ; material fpr these additional pupils He stated S)42,000 of the $68,000 was just for those two items The rest of the increase came because they just opened the High School There are three separate buildings to heat and maintain Inith reference to the personal services, he said there are forty additional teachers and this was reduced from $7,000 per teacher to $6,588. There w-s an increase in personal services of $571,000. Of the $571,000 there is $265,000 for the forty additional teachers and the balance over 650 people of the staff. He said one of the reasons teachers like to come to Lexington is people realize teachers should be paid well. Here they value education and are willing to pay for it Mr Fisher stated future increases will come in more slowly. This scale worked out with the teachers as a group, not as a union, is a cxarx tment If it is denied now, there will be a union. Dr Fobert said it is possible they may not hire forty additional teachers and they may be hired at $6,000 or $7,000, but now this is the best estimate. In September, they will know exactly what these forty teachers will cost He explained funds turned back were due to overbudgeting. Mr. Gray said the School Department turned back $130,000 and the budget went up over last year ' s budget CT C, He stated the actual increase was $775}000 Dr. Fobert said they hire about 100 new teachers They lose a teacher with two years ' experience and have to hire someone with more experience and in that one teacher could be involved $1,000 . This could be multi- plied by 100. He said the only guarantee is, if there is money, it will be turned back. Mr. Fisher said the only thing the Committee could do and could agree to do is to consider at Monday's meeting the removal of any contingency items in the budget and agree if that money is needed, it will be taken from the 874 reserve . He said in some cases, he thought there are some estimates which may be a little high and they might be able to look at these . Dr. Fobert said the school budget would cost just a little over $2.00 on the tax rate . The Chairman said the Board has gone about as far as it can go. Last year the increase in the school budget meant so much on the tax rate, but the tax rate went down He said the reductions were made in the budgets under the Selectmen's control. He said it is unfair to reduce the Town departments to cover the school department . Mr. Fisher said it looks as though the teachers ' salaries will not be going up as fast as they have in the past ten or fifteen years. He said the Committee would discuss this at its meeting next Tuesday 11Dr. Fobert said if the Board needs something in the area of $75,000 or $150,000, he could not see where the School Committee could find it Mr. Cataldo mentioned that there is a feeling in the general public that the school budget is being talked up on the feeling the public is not interested He said the fact the report has been received from James Lambie is an indication that the general public is beginning to be con- cerned about the school budget Mr. Fisher said the problem is understood by the com- mittee and the place to get the point across is in Town Meeting The School Committee retired at 11 :00 A.M. Mr. Gray reported that the Senior Clerk in the Col- lector's Office will retire in August . The Collector has Collector ' s someone coming in She has a Junior Clerk now, and wants Clerk to promote her to Senior Clerk. The Chairman asked if this could be done with funds approved in the budget, and Mr. Gray replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said if the Collector can do this within the budget , it is all right I 29 The Board unanimously agreed to go on record as being in favor of the proposed zoning in Lexington Center. With reference to the 1775 Realty Trust , it was agreed Lexingtm to use the lesser figure and recommend an appropriation of Center $250,000. At 11 :25 A.M. , Chairmsn Blaisdell, Messrs ParLish, Carlson, Noyes, Gary, Battin, Mrs . Souza and Mr White, Accountant, met with the Board The Chairman said with reference to the Hunt Block, it is now within the $250,000 discussed at the beginning On advice of Town Counsel, the appraisal is to be kept confidential. Mr. Cataldo explained with reference to the figures that the 1775 Trust wanted for discontinuance of the ex- isting uses, it is the Board's feeling it should recommend the lower figure and recommend passing of the zoning article. Mr. Blaisdell said at the present moment his committee is proposing to be opposed to this Hunt Block. If the Town Meeting goes for it, the committee agreed that the Board's mode of financing would be proper. Mr Cataldo presented copies of Estimated Tax Return, and following a further informal discussion, the Appropri- ation Committee retired at 12:30 P.M. Mr. Cataldo recommended that an appointment be made for Mr. Baker to meet with the Board on Wednesday, February 24, and get Mr Trani 's proposal. He said he thought the Board should confer with the 1775 Trust and have Town Counsel present He said he would tell Mr. Trani to have the figures in before Wednesday and he would arrange a meeting with the Trust and Mr . Legro. He said the Board should go on the basis of the zoning going through and the zoning not going through, come up with two agreed figur s. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: .r / Y eZ,- 'Execuiive ler C, Select en