HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-10-19PLANNING BOARD MEETING
October 19, 1942
A meeting of the Planning Board was held on Monday,
October 19th, at 7;30 P. M. at the Town Office. Messrs. Ellis,
Nickerson and Worthen were present. Mr. Newhall attended by
invitation.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as
received.
Mr. Nickerson reported that Mr. Ferguson has consented New
to serve out Mr. Kimball's unexpired term on the Board. Members
Mr. Worthen reported that he had talked with Mr. Roland B.
Greeley, who finds it impossible to serve on the Board at the
present time. The Clerk was authorized to speak to Mr. Richard
P. Cromwell on the matter of filling the remaining vacancy.
The Clerk read a letter from the Board of Selectmen re- Tax
questing the Board to appoint a successor to Mr. Kimball as Title
representative of the Planning Board on the Committee on Sale Committee
of Tax Title Property. Mr. Ellis accepted the nomination to
fill this vacancy, and the motion was voted unanimously.
Mr. William S. Parker, of the Public `Mork Reserve, appeared
before the Board at 8 P. M. to discuss a plan of advance pro- Six -Year
gramming.
Program
With the Town committed to a policy of no capital expendi-
tures for the duration, Mr. Parker reviewed the problem and
how to program it for the future date when the situation changes.
He suggested a re -appraisal of the figures, valuation,(carrying
the latter forward) and the tax -rate. Develop a tentative schedule
of income, operating expenses, and balance. Appraise estimates
Of cftpital outlays, and surplus remaining for these outlays.
Important to study needs with the war left out of the picture.
Examine the first year in the light of the war and put them ahead
to the second year. Important to prepare ourselves for imme-
diate action when the war ends, and well to assume the earliest
date, say 1943, even to the point of consideration of appropri-
ating funds now for the purchase of land or architectural working
drawings - if these are to enter into the picture later on.
Mr. Parker stressed the soundness of building up municipal
reserves, such as any private corporation would do. This is
being done, illegally, in many communities. Permissive legis-
lation is needed in order to build up a cushion for a post-war
period. In 1939 the State Planning Board attempted to put
through such legislation, unsuccessfully. The State does permit
a municipality to invest one-tenth of one per cent of its valua-
tion in defense bonds, toward capital outlays but this will
generally amount to a small figure.
Many New England municipalities are enggged in building
UP "'bootleg reserves" at present, by subterfuge. A community
cannot tax its inhabitants without showing what the money is
appropriated for and where it is going. Many such projects
are impossible at the present time because of priorities.
Mr. Parker suggested also improvements in the set-up of
tables, such as putting the years in the vertical column, similar
to Greenfield's report. Important to note that the surpluses
(D in table 1) should be carried forward to show accumulation.
He left with the Board suggested tables and work sheets, and a
possible.new layout for Table lo Mr. Parker also stressed the
value of graphic tables, which should be included if time permits.
Mr. Parker outlined the work of programming under three
main headings: 1. Policy 2, Financing 3, Planning. The
Planning Board should not bear the entire responsibility but
take steps to have the Programming Committee appointed.
The meetings adjourned at 9t30 P. M. The next meeting
will be subject to call.
Respectfully submitted,
eg.� R. kuyeu.4y,
Clerk, Pro Tem
1
1