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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-11-19-min 153 SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 19, 1953 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Engineer's Room, Town Office Building on Thursday, November 19, 1953 at 8:00 P. M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Nickerson, Gay, Driscoll and Bateman were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. The meeting was called for the purpose of discussing 1954 budgets. Mr. Burns said that he would try to present his budgets by groups and perhaps the Board would like to ask questions about each group individually. The first group he mentioned was the men at the yard and said that last year- the final decision was approval of approximately $6,000 to be used by Mr. Pubiie Works Burns to correct some rates that were'out of line Depit. (men) and the balance to be used as a general increase. budget As a result, most of the laborers were brought up to $1.50. He said that the construction laborer today, outside laborers, receive $1.93 an hour in addition to 6/ per hour sick benefit paid into the Union to cover them. He said that he knew the Town could not compete with private industry, but the pat- tern everywhere has been for an increase, and some of them have been substantial increases. Mr. Burns said that in this group he is recom- mending 10/ aia hour increase across the board, on the hourly rate of pay. This amounts to about 6% on the total payroll or $7100. On the operating budget, exclusive of extra construction, it amounts to le. He said that $7100 among half a million dollars of _ projects will not make any serious increases as far as wages go. Mr. Burns said that he has reasons for recom- mending this increase. In the first place, he has a younger group of men than is usually found in towns, and there are no drinkers or welfare recip- ients. There are three or four who are not too good but in general he has a younger group of men and they do put out the work. He explained that the cost of work and unit prices prove that the men do keep their production up. He said that, in the second place, whether it is acceptable or not, the number of men in the department will have to be increased before too long and the Town should have a wage rate that will attract good men. Some of the positions now are more or less key positions and he does not have the men to C, replace the present men. He said that in many cases Town workers are considered more or less dregs. He said that he has a good group of men and he would like to have the wages up when he has to make replace- ments. Mr. Bump said that one other item he thinks is beneficial is the fact that there is no longer a Union in the Public Works Department as it has prac- tically died out. He explained that in addition to the reasons mentioned, is the reason that the year there is no Union some of the men might think that the year without a Union was the year without an increase. He explained that this particular reason is not too important, but it is a factor. Mr. Nickerson asked if the group under discussion includes the Park and Tree men and Mr. Burns replied in the affirmative. Mr. Nickerson asked if the $6,000 last year in- cluded the Park and Tree men and Mr. Burns replied in the affirmative. Mr. Burns said that one question came up last year- and it may be raised again this year and that was Mr. Walker's list of classifications. He said he has twelve; all of them ones that can't be re- duced, He explained that there are one or two men receiving rates that are not the lowest. They are not operators but are higher than- the laborers. He said it is unfortunate, but these rates can be con- sidered personal rates which would disappear when that particular man leaves the employ of the Town. He said there is nothing much to do except leave them as they are as there are only two or three to which it applies and they are not enough- out of line to make any distinction. Mr. Gay asked if the proposed increase would in- clude the foremen and Mr. Burns replied in the affirm- ' ative stating that it would be right across the board. Mr. Burns then took up the second group,-the Public Works Office. He said that he debated this many ways, had minimums, maximums, step-rate in- creases and everything, but it comes down to the fact Public Works that it is people being considered and not numbers. Dept, Some people are worth more than others. He stated (office budget) that the biggest change he has iv Mr. Jefferson who came to work for $60 a week -- $3120 a year. He would like to increase his rate to $3500 a year, which amounts to an increase of $380. He stated that this particular lob is one that he had asked to have created and Mr. Jefferson has taken over the work and done all the work on all of the budgets, and ± as supervised the girls in the office. He stated that there has been one girl short in the Building Department and Mr. Jefferson L_ 155 has filled in and done a very good job. He has a pleasing personality and people coming into the office like to do business with him. He does a good job and fulfills a need. He said that Mr. Jefferson likes the work, the place and the operation but he cannot get by on $60 a week. He is a married man with a family. Mr. Burns did not promise him .anything but did advise him that he would recommend an increase. He said that the amount recommended represents $7.30 more per week and he is definitely worth it. The next item discussed was the Senior Clerk in the Public Works Department, who now receives $48.00. Mr. Burns said that he is asking for $52.00 per week. He said that he is aware of what this means; that every Senior Clerk will receive $52.00. He said that this is something for the Board to discuss and if it does not see it, he can't do much about it. He ex- plained that the Senior Clerk- is in an office with three or four girls under her, handles all his call, sewer and water services, billing, contracts and much detail work. He feels that she is worth more than some- one just working along from day to day. Mr. Nickerson asked if the work in the Department was up4-to date and Mr. Burns replied in the affirmative. He said, however, that this period of the year it may go behind again. Mr. Nickerson asked if the girls worked overtime when the work was behind, and Mr. Burns replied that a couple of the girls work one or two nights and get overtime. Mr. Burns said that it would take quite a while to replace the present Senior Clerk and he did not mean that if she does not receive the increase she would leave. He said that whether it is this year or next year, before too long there will have to be another Senior Clerk in that Department. Mr. Bateman asked if the Department is ohne girl short now and Mr. Burns replied that there is one short in the Building Department and possibly one in the Park Department. He said he thought one girl could fill in the Park and Building. In the summer time the work definitely cannot be handled by one person but in the winter it can. Mr. Burns said that the next group includes Mrs. Stone, receiving $42, Mrs. Bieren, $40, Miss Marshall, $40 and Miss Brigham, $38. They are all Junior Clerks and he is asking for an increase for all of than of 42.00 per week. The increase represents $1,000 all together and the Clerks' budget is about 7 on the total budget of half a million. x.56 C- CL Mr. Burns -said that the janitors would come in Janitors' the same category, that is $2.00 per week increase budget across the board. This represents an increase of $31a. - Mr. Burns said that the next item is the Engineer,- ing Department. Last spring he hired a young engineer, John Carroll, at g75 per week. He is a boy from Whitman & Howard and came to work with the understanding that Engineers' Mr. Burns -would try to get more money for him next year budget because when he cane there was no chance of getting anything different. He has gone along on that basis and -worked out very well. He did all the work on the school, miscellaneous work and is now working with the Planning Board on its studies. Mr. Burns said he also uses him for getting preliminary plans for next year's work which is one way he manages to "beat the time". He expects-to use him more and more on planning, traf- fib regulations and various studies he wants for himself* Mr. Burns said that he is ittimloyggin terms of $85 per week which amounts to $520 a year. He said that he is aware of the fact that this is different From the other men around, but the Department is reaching the stage whereby if the Department is to have good men, the Town will have to pay them. Mr. Burns said it is question- able whether or not he could locate another man to match Mr. Carroll and he would like to keep. him and keep him happy. He explained that most engineers are pot too keen about working for municipalities, principally be- cause the salaries are too low. Mr. Nickerson said that graduates are signing up for 15,500 or $6,000 a year, right out of engineering school. Mr. Burns said that this man cane right from the Army and worked for Whitman & Howard. Mr. Nickerson asked if his duties were comparable to any other in the group. Mr. Burns replied that his duties are greater. The nearest comparison would be Mr. Higgins. He said that with Mr. Carroll he can outline the wotk and it will be done for him. Mr. Barns then referred to Mr. Coscia who now re- ceives $53.33 per week. He said that when he came to work he was typical of the old-time men who used to -work for a town. He had enough background to do enough pf tr.() work and has been here long enough now to know his way around so that he can be trusted with fairly important work. Mr. Burns said he let him go for .a year or so to find out that he could do and would do, He told him early in the year that if he could show evidence of handling important work and could be trusted on his own, he would see what could be done about an 157 increase. Ever since that time he has been very good and Mr. Burns said he is worth at least what Mr. Lichtenburg receives which is $58 per week. He said that he is recommending $60 per week which will give him an increase of $6.67.- Mn. Bateman asked what the man could do and Mr. Burns replied that he can run a field party, line a grade for a sewer, lay it out in the field and do most any of the average jobs around town. He said that the increase amounts to approximately $300. Mr. Burns said that he is recommending an increase of $2.00 per week, for Mr. Higgins, now receiving $79.73 and for Mr. O'Connor, now receiving $61.76 and for Mr. Lichtenberg,. now receiving $58.28. Mr. Nickerson asked if Mr. Coscia comes up to Mr. Lichtenberg now and Mr. Burns replied that he does as far as responsibility and ability to do the work is concerned. The amounts for these three men represent $312. He said that he had thought of asking for another man on the same basis as Mr. Carroll, but he would like to see how the timing works out and how someone else would work in. Just before the war, there were ten or eleven men in- this Department all the time. Mr. Burns said that the total for all the above is a little over 2% of the total operating cost. The position of Superintendent of Public Works was discussed next. Mr. Burns stated that at the present time he is still doing Town Engineer Work as well as Supt. of Public Works. He has also-, in one Sup't.of way or another, instilled himself into the Building, Public Works Plumbing and Wiring Departments. Another item whicbudget has really developed into something is the Planning Board work. Five or six years ago he was asked about taking the position of Supt. of Public Works and Town Fngineer and was then asked about meeting with the Planning Board. At that time they met about six times a year. However, since then the Planning Board has be- come quite a job in the Town. It meets every week and sometimes twice a week. They have a number of duties for him such as subdivision plans submitted for ap- proval, recommendations on preliminary plans, passing on final plans, preparation of agreements for sub- dividers, making certain that the bonds are in order, following the work in the field, taking care of re- leases when the work is completed and one way or another it has developed into a time consuming job. At the present time there are fifteen differs-3ot 111 developments running in town with outstanding bonds 158 of $365,000. Mr. Burns said that his present bud- get added to this represents quite a volume of work to be following. le said that the Planning Board has money for experts and should have it, but nevertheless every time a consultant comes out .here he has to obtain the background from someone and that is Mr. Burma. This means time in the field, explaining plans, and seeing that he does not get into things that do not concern him. He said that it takes about 20% of his total time and also that he is down here Monday and other nights. Mr. Burns stated that he does not put a clock on his time and if there is anything going on. he is around which is the way he wants it. However, between all the time he spends on Town work he feels that it is worth more money than he now receives. He said that one extra item last year was the school and they wanted him on the construction which was another $130,000. Be said that he knows there will be other items; If it is not the school, it will be some other Department, Board or Committee, and he is asking for an increase from $8600 to $9500. He said that if the Board wanted to take the time he would like to show how things shape up as an organization. Mr. Gay asked what the total salary would be if the Town had an Engineer and Superintendent. Mr. Burns replied that a good engineer is not available for anything less than $6,000 and wouldn't be very good at that, so the figure, would be:..about $14,000 or $15,000. Mr. Bateman asked if Mr. Burg planned to have Carroll take over the weight of the Engineering De- partment. Mr. Burns replied that he would take over some of it but he does not, want to lose control of the en- gineering. It has been his experience, and the ex- perience of others, that if the Superintendent does not control it the relative control shifts. Carroll will take on more, but not to the extent where Mr. Burns would give him an absolutely free hand. Mr. Nickerson said that the last couple of years he spoke to Mr. Burns about personal expenses and asked if he had put through any this year. Mr. Burns replied in the negative. Mr. Nickerson said that he was entitled to put through reasonable expenses. He informed the Board that he had discussed this with Mr. Burns but be has always been too meticulous. He said that he felt Mr. Burns has taken out about $300 a year and would feel constrained from asking for more salary if he asked for this $300. Mr. Heed referred to a law recently passed by the State providing for group insurance for employees 159 whereby the Town pays one-half and the employee pays one-half. He reported that he checked into this and it is not permissable for the Town to pay the entire amount. Three people in town representing three dif- ferent companies submitted plans to be discussed when budgets were considered. He said he tho»grt while Mr. Group Burns was present, he might give the Board his view6. Insurance He said that from the information he obtained, it ap- pears that the employee would be paying for the entire coverage himself. Mr. Burns said that he has never heard anyone request group insurance, and in connection with this the Town has a sick benefit plan of its own. This al- lows for fifteen days a year and it is amazing how few men ever take advantage of it. He said this is the type of employees the Town has and they are not in- terested in such things. He said that the bookkeeping would be terrific and furthermore the men do not like deductions from their pay. Mr. Burns retired at 9 :05 P. M. Budgets were considered and acted upon as follows : Department Requested Approved Appropriation Coi ittee-Expenses $1,250.00 $1,250.00 IISelectmen's - Expenses 2,380.00 2,380.00 Accounting - Expenses 500.00 500.00 Town Clerk & Treasurer - Expenses 925.00 925.00 Parking Meter !taint. - Town Clerk 125.00 125.00 Collector of Taxes - Expenses 2,950.00 2;950.00 Elections Deptt. - Selectmen 3,845.71 3,845.71 Elections Dept. - Town Clerk 625.00 625.00 Registrations - Personal Services 1;122.00• 1,122.00 Board of Appeals - Expenses 1,153.00 1,153.00 Building & Plumbing - Expenses 1,035.00 1,035.00 Weights & Measures - Personal 800.00 800.00 Weights & Measures - Expenses 424.00 424.00 Vital Statistics - Expenses 25.00 25.00 Welfare-All Categories-Admin. 925.00 925.00 Contributory Retirement - Expenses 325.00 325.00 Administration Trust Funds 175.00 175.00 The meeting adjourned at 9 :40 P. M. A true record, Attest: Cler , setm=n G