HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-02-04 Finance Committee Minutes 01
Meeting February 4, 1932.
The meeting was called to order at 8.10 o' clock. The records of the
tlast meeting were read and approved.
o lair. George Larrabee was present by invitation, to explain the report
prepared by him on School Department expenditures. This was a comparative
statement based.- on figures obtained largely frau the State neports on
educational costs. He directed special attention to the school expenses
of the Town of Reading as compared with other towns in the same groups,
arranged as to population, valuation, etc., and also compared Reading school
costs with expenses throughout the State . Mr. Larrabee read the most of his
report and commented upon the several items. He answered many questions which,
were put to him by various members of the Committee and concluded at 10.40
o'clock.
A letter was read from the board of Selectmen regarding salary and wage
reductions, which is attached to the minutes of this meeting. The Chairman
suggested that an expression of opinion regarding thesalary and wage question
be obtained from each member of the Committee. It was the sense of the meet-
ing that such opinions be deferred until the estimates for 1932 were before
the Committee.
It was requested that the Town Accountant prepare a statement of all
budgets before the town at this date.
she Chairman suggested that some work about the school buildings be
done by the unemployed.
Voted to request the School Committee to appear at the next meeting
to discuss the Larrabee report.
Adjourned 11.05 P.M.
Members present ; Chm. Mount, Briggs, Higgins, Devaney, Canty, Haley, Killam,
Knox, Scott, Fairchilds.
Clerk.
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V. HOMER MORNSON,CHAIRMAN
MOLLIE A.SVEETSER,JKRETART
ALBERT N. LEMAN
READING, MASSACHU5EM,
February 4, 1932.
Mr. Edward W. Briggs, Chm.,
Sub-Committee of Finance Committee,
40 Sohn Street, Reading, Mass .
Dear Sir:
Replying to your request for an expression from
the Selectmen regarding the question of salaries of employees
in departments under the ,jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen,
we reply as follows :
The Board of Selectmen has given careful and thoughtful
consideration to the question of whether or not the salaries of
employees in their departments should be reduced in 1932. Be-
cause of the far-reaching consequences of such a drastic, new
policy as a pay cut, we believe that this question cannot be
answered until there is available sufficient information regarding
the town' s valuation, receipts, and expenditures upon which to
base a tentative tax rate.
Until we are convinced that the town's financial condition
will seriously affect, the present tax rate, we do not favor salary
reductions.
Should however, a later and more complete picture of
the town's financial condition convince us that a large amount
of money must either be raised or saved to balance the budget,
then this board is willing to favor and take all necessary steps
to solve this problem, including salary reductions. But in bur
opinion, such action should be considered only as one of the
last resorts.
Yours very truly,
ftk BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Clerk.