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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950-01-13-min 521 SEI,ECTI� N'S MEETING January 13, 1950. A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in I the Accountant' s Office on Fridayevening, y Januar 13 1950 at 7 :30 P. M. Chairman Emery, Messrs. Gay, Driscoll„Nicker- son and Hoyt were present. The Clerlic was also present. Chairman Albert Burnham and Mr. William Potter, Cemetery Commissioners, met with the Board, at the Board' s invitation, relative to the Commissioners ' personal services budget for 1960. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen explained that many departmental heads, including the Chief of Police and the (thief of the Fire Department, are now on a S4100 per year salary level. Mr. Garrity, now acting as Cemetery Superintendent, came within this category until Mr. Marshall resigned as Superintendent of Cemeteries . The Chairman said that the Selectmen had invited the Commissioners in this evening to discuss the situation informally and arrive at some Cemetery solution that mould not necessitate raising four or five Commission- other town emnloyees. ers Mr. Burnham said that the Commissioners had been very fortunate in securing someone who has other work and can take over the cemetery work at a nominal sum. If the Com- missioners were obliged to hire a regular Superinteam.dent ' present arrangement, the expense is about 41;850. Mr. Burnham said that they hoped to continue with Mr. Garrity but, if he can't do other work that he has to do, the Commissioners do not want to take him. If, however, he is able to do his work satisfactory to everyone, they could see no reason for not continuing with the present arrangement. The Chairman said that this still leaves the Selectmen in rather an embarrasing situation because Mr. Garrity was being paid at the rate of $4100 for a complete day' s work and the question could be raised as to how he could take on another job and earn an additional $850. Mr. Potter asked how much Mr. Garrity would receive excluding his rent and the Chairman replied that the rent is about 5633 and the money he received, including the cemetery S860, was $4300. Without the rent he would re- ceive 3500. Mr. Driscoll questioned if the rent should be considered in a situation such as this . Mr. Potter asked with what department heads Mr. Garrity's salary was being compared and the Chairman replied that he could be compared with the Town Accountant who also receives pay for Appropriation Committee work. The Chairman explained that the Accountant works overtime in connection with his work as secretary to the Appropriation Committee. Mr. Potter replied that Mr. Garrity should not be penalized II and stated that he works Saturdays,Sundays and evenings. Mr. Gail Smith arrived at 7 :40 P. M. * the cost would be between 0,000 and $4,000. Under the 522 0••••1 1J Mr. Nickerson inquired as to what the extra hours on the cemetery work amounted to and Mr. Potter said that it is difficult to determine the hours' He said that Mr. Garrity shows lots to customers on Saturdays and Sundays, He purchases all cemetery shrubbery,seed! lawnmowers, etc. Mr. Smith asked how the Boafu justified keeping Mr. Garrity' s salary at the same rate when part of his work was taken over by the Recreation Committee. The Chairman explained that the playground supervision has been taken over by the Recreation Committee, but the Board does not consider that he had dropped much of his work, The Chairman said that he presumed it is the privilege of the Cemetery Commissioners, as an elected Board, to hire anyone they want to work for tei,but he felt that it leaves the Selectmen in a postion which is difficult to explain. Mr . Smith said that having Mr. Garrity act as Cemetery Superintendent seemed to him to be the logical setup. Mr. Nickerson said that if it can be reasonably proven that Mr. Garrity is spending extra time to earn the 1860 he would be in favor of paying it to him, but he thought the Selectmen should have some definite justification for paying that amount of money in comparison with what other Town Officers are being paid. Mr. Nickerson inquired as to when Mr. Garrity intends to retire and Mr. Potter stated that his health is much better than it has been for two or three years and he intends to remain in the employ of the town until he is seventy. He is not sixty-five. The Cemetery Commissioners retired at 8:00 P. M. Mr. Leland Emery, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, met with the Selectmen. He said that one adjustment would have to be made in the personal services budget inasmuch as the Junior Clerk has resigned and therefore the budget will be less than originally presented. The Chairman said that apparently the Assessors are going to have to give more time. The Selectmen want them to give more time, and are therefore recommending $600 for each assessor. He called Mr. Emery's attention to the salary submitted for the Secretary and suggested an ad- justment inasmuch as Mr. Spencer was paid as Clerk o' the Board and also as an Assessor. Mr. Emery explained that the Senior Clerk is now the only thoroughly experienced individual in the Assessors ' Departpent and has requested an increase in salary to 8150 a week. He said that possibly a compromise might appeal, to the Selectmen. The Charman explained that the Board has not taken any formal action on salary increases. Mr. Hoyt presented a schedule showing the rates of both Senior and Junior Clerks and mentioned that a change in the rate of one clerk would, no doubt, affect four or five other clerks . 523 Mr. Emery said that he appreciated the situation and did not want to disrupt the system, but would like to see something worked out whereby the Seniro Clerk could re- ceive more money, and said that he strongly recommends an increase. He retired at 8:30 P. M. Mr. Garrity, Superintendent of Parks and Playground$, met with the Board. Budgets submitted by him for 1950 'were discussed in general and he retired at 8:35 P. M. Consideration was given to Mrs. Nicoli 's request for abatement of the $53.68 water betterment assessment Nicoll levied against property owned by hereon Cummings Street. water The Chairman reported that he had inspected the area betterment and is strongly in favor of abating the assessment in full. assessment Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Gay, it abated was voted to rescind the vote of the Board on November 21, 1949 whereby a request for abatement was denied. Mr. Nickerson then moved that the water betterment assessment in the amount of $53.68 levied against the Nicoll property on Cummings Street be abated in full. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman called the Board 's attention to the fact that no formal action had been taken upon Mr. Zarella's application for Lot #1, Hill Street. Vet. Lot Mr. Nickerson moved that the veterans lot #1 Hill #1 Hill St. Street be sold and conveyed to Mr. Zarella providing he meets the specified requirements pertaining to the veterans lots. Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Form letter was received from the State Division of Forestry with reference to Chapter 48, Section 8 of the Forest General Laws which provides for the appointment of a Warden forest warden in the month of January. Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to re-appoint Roy A. Cook as Forest Warden in the Town of Lexington.. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 P. M. A true record, attest: 119fier , Siecrtme . I