HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-11-20 Finance Committee Minutes t Meeting November 20, 1931.
The meeting was called to order at 8.20 P.M. by the Chairman.
The records of the last meeting were read and approved. The Board
of Selectmen, Chairman Mcrrison, Sweetser and Leman appeared before the
Committee and requested transfers from the Reserve Fund as follows:
Selectmen 's Expenses $50.00
Miscellaneous " $200.00
Police Station Maintenance 50.00
Fire Alarm Maint. & Const. 300.00
Mr. Morrison presented the unemployment situation and outlined
tentative plans which the Board, acting as a committee on unemployment,
had considered. He spoke of two projects which could be undertaken at
once and give part time work to a number of unemployed men. First, was
work in Laurel Hill Cemetery digging over a section to be used for single
graves. The second was work in Memorial Park to increase the size and
Improve the area flooded for skating. He asked for transfer from t he
Reserve Fund of $600 for the above project; the money to be added to
Miscellaneous Expense Account and expended by the Selectmen, tbework to
be done under the direction of the Superintendent of the Cemetery and
the Superintendent of Public Works, respectively.
Mr. Leman spoke regarding the emergency jobs for men in need and
quoted from reports which he had received from various communities through-
out the country.
Mrs. Sweetser also added to the information on the subject from
knowledge obtained by observation and experience.
A general discussion followed of thevhole problem of unemployment
and the method of handling the situation.
The Board of Public Works, Chairman Hartshorn, Messrs. Merrill,
Fowle, Putnam, Fairclough and 6upte hirnie appeared in regard to resurfac-
ing Main Street from the railroad crossing to the State road north of the
Common. Chairman Hartshorn stated that the Board was studying the subject
with the expectation that the State would bear a portion of the cost. It
was requested that the sub-committee for public Works meet with the Board
of Public Works on Friday evening December 4th. Works
Chairman also directed
that the Planning Board be invited to meet jointly with the sub-committee.
The principal reason as stated by Chairman Hartshorn of the Public Works
Board appearing before the Committee, was to obtain some assurance that
the Committee would approve of the project if and when it was brought be-
fore them in this shape.
It was voted on motion of Mr. Knox and seconded by Mr. Scott to
authorize the transfer from the Reserve Fund of the following amounts
Selectmen's Expenses v50fl00
Miscellaneous Expenses 200.00
Police Station Maintenance 50.00
Fire Alarm 300.00
It was voted on motion of Mr. Ddvaney and seconded by Mr. Porch that
$600.00 be transferred from the Reserve Fund to Miscellaneous Expense
Account to be expended by the Selectmen to furnish work for unemployed.
A letter from Chairman Mount to Mr. John L. Devaney was read. In
this letter the Chairman stressed toyimportance of preliminary conferences
by the sub-committees with the various boards to which they have been
assigned. Chairman Mount also spoke of the importance of getting informa-
tion as early as possible in order that the Committee might have more time
to consider the various projects. It was suggested and so voted that
the Chairman of each Board or Committee of the town be requested to meet
with the Finance Committee on Monday evening, December 7th.
Adjourned 10.15 P.M.
Members present; Chm. Mount, Burgess, Higgins, Connelly, Devaney, Ellison,
Fairchild, Canty, Haley, Knox, Moyer, Porch, Scott..
Clerk.
Meeting December 7, 1931.
The meeting was called to order at 8.05 otclock by Chairman Mount.
The records of the last meeting were read and approved.
The Treasurer requested that f50.00 be transferred from the Reserve
Fund to the Treasurer's expense Account. It was moved by Mr. Knox,
seconded by Mr. Fairchild and voted that such transfer be made.
Mr. Mount outlined the purpose of the meeting, namely the necessity
for the reduction of expenses of the various departments especially in the -I
matter of salaries and wages. He called upon representatives of the
different Boards to express their views on the subject.
Mr. Sias representing the Municipal Light hoard stated that the
salary and wage reductions in the Light Department would afford no relief
as the expenditures in that Department had no effect on the tax rate .
Mr. Coolidge spoke for the School Committee stating that not knowing
the purpose of the meeting, he was unprepared to give any opinion as to
the possibility or advisability of any decrease in pay of school teachers
and employees.
Mr. Johnson having come in to the meeting while the discussion was on,
40 stated that in his opinion the whole matter should be given study by a
special committee.
Mr. Devaney stated that the feeling was prevalent that as the cost of
living had been reduced, the natural result would be a reduction in rates
of Payr. Horrocks spoke for the Board of assessors, stating that in his
opinion the assessed valuation on a great deal of property, particularly
houses would have to be reduced and that any increase in new building
would probably be offset by such decrease.
A general discussion of the whole subject was held, several others
of both the Finance Committee and of the representatives of the various
Boards being heard from.
It was suggested that the matter was for the Board of Selectmen to
take up, they being the executive board of the Tom, and Mr. Morrison being
present, it was reffered to him. ,
Members present: Che. Mount, Briggs, Higgins, Connelly, Devaney, Ellison,