Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-04-09 Finance Committee Minutes Finance Committee Meeting April 9, 1934. This meeting was called in accordance with Section 2 of Article 6 of the Town by-laws for the purpose of choosing a chairman for the ensuing year. The meeting was called to order by the Town Accountant at eight o'clock. Nominations for Chairman were called for. Mr. Robert B. Mount was nominated and it was voted that one ballot be cast for Mr. Mount. He was declared elected. 'lhe Chairman spoke on the policy of sub-committees which has been in effect for the past few years and stated that in his opinion the same plan should be continued. *The Committee appointed in accordance with the vote of March 6th to draw rules of procedure for the guidance of the Finance Committee meetings, submitted their report, copies of which were to be sent to each member of the Vinance Committee. This special committee consisted of Messrs . Dickie, Merrill and Devaney. - The Chairman announced that the sub-committees .for 1934-35 would be appointed at a later date. The meeting adjourned at 8.35 o' clock. Members present: Chm. Mount, Connelly, Cotton, Currell, Davis, Dickie, Haley, Merrill, Scott, Sturges, Bent. Clerk *See revised report under date September 28th. DICKIE-RAYMOND INCORPORATED to -gWect-Aad—'U��U4tftf JYReYd.dfdi"an l-flCLd auw4d BOSTON + NEW YORK 80 BROAD 5rREEf.BOSFON c7"d 5S60 To the Members of The Finance Committee In accordance with a motion made at our last meeting a Committee was appointed to bring in a report on a set of Rules and Methods of Proceedure for the Committee to follow during 1935. The Committee was: L R. Dickie, Chairman; John Devaney and Frank Merrill. The Sub-Committee will meet about April 23rd. At the meeting last night the attached memorandum of suggestions was read to the full Committee, in order that their ideas might be obtained for the Sub-Committee to work upon. Your Chairman suggested that the matter called for some thought and consequently asked me to mail a copy of the memorandum to each member of the Finance Committee, and with it a request that you carefully consider the suggestions contained, as well as the matter as a whole and write in to me, your criticisms and additional suggestions in order that the Sub-Committee may have them by April 23rd. Will you do this? You can help materially if you will. Already I have received suggestions from several members which are going to be of considerable value. If we all give this a little serious thought we can bring forth a set of regulations which will save us much work neat year and undoubtedly expedite an intelligent conclusion on 1935 budget. Mail your suggestions and criticisms to me at 80 Broad Street, Boston, places. S " Suggestions as to Methods of Proceedure for K.F.C. 1. Set a date, preferably the letter part of December 1934, for the first Budget Meeting of the Finance Committee. 2. Arrange to have the Chairmen of all other Boards attend this meeting. 3. Arrange to have available at this meeting the following information: From the Assessors -- Their best estimate of the Real Estate Valuation for 7.935 Their best estimate of Personal Property Valuation for 1935 The same information actual for 1934 The number of granted abatements for 1934 and 1933 From the Tax Collector -- The percentage of unpaid taxes as of that week in December for the years of 1932, 33 and 34. From the Co-operative Bank and from the Mechanics Savings Bank -- The condition of payments on mortgages Interest on mortgages A general opinion from them as to conditions which may prevail in 1935 From the Welfare Department -- A general opinion as to conditions for the year 1935 From the Town Accountant -- Listed -- probable income of the town from sources other than taxes on real estate and personal property Listed -- fixed expenses such as State Tax, County Tax, Retirement of Bonds, Interest payments, Insurance premiums, etc. 4. Take the whole evening to discuss these items with the purpose of getting a tentative opinion as to the capacity of the town to pay taxes. In other words, what tax rate should we, with the cooperation of the other Boards, strive to develop for the year 1935? ` 5. When this tentative rate has been agreed upon, we would issue to each of the Boards in town the information developed at this meeting. Roughly, each Board would receive a letter from us not later than January 1, 1935 informing them of the tentative rate and the estimated total income, as well as the estimated fixed outgo, together with the actual expenditures made by each Board during the year 1934. We would appeal to them to help us in making up their budget to come within the amount shown we could spend. At the same time we would give each Committee a definite date for their budget meeting with us. 6. Handling of the Boards -- ` We would keep our date with them, give them ample time to explain their ` budget, allow a few major questions but no picayune questions. Get them out inside of an hour and a half, go into immediate detailed discussion of their budget -- giving the Sub-Committee the job of noting our questions, objections, etc. Instruct the Sub-Committee to immediately convene with the Board in question, going over all questions brought up by their Committee, and report back to the Finance Committee in writing. It would be up to the Sub-Committse to make as detailed investigation of certain questionable items as their judgment dictated. Non-questionable items in the Board's budget would be tentatively passed the night it was originally discussed; the recommendations could be later changed should the totals not coincide with the desired rate. The Boards would understand that they would have another date at a specified time with the Finance Com- mittee on any item which the Finance Committee finally did not recommend, and would be assured that written notice of the Finance Committee's recom- mendations -- whether favorable or otherwise -- would be given them not later than a date specified. 7. A definite date arranged in December for the Public Meeting, a definite date arranged for the pre-final passing of the budgets, and a final date arranged for the purpose of allowing Boards and Individuals an opportun- ity to re-discuss the decision of the Finance Committee in case unfavor- able opinion prevails, and a final date for issuing of our report to the Printer. 8. If possible, pass a by-law that any member not appearing at meetings for three consecutive meetings, unless absence is necessary, be, first, dis- allowed a vote on the final budget, and second, be asked to resign from the Committee at its Annual Meeting. 9. New members be instructed as to the Methods of Procesdure adopted, the authorities of his Committee, and the Committee's limitations, as soon as appointment be made, that this be done in writing. 10. That a form be devised which will give each member an opportunity of copy- ing in each Department's proposed budget by items, it first having been through our Clerk's hands, who would place in its proper place the apprc- priation for the previous year. Not only would this provide this detailed information on one sheet, but it would provide a place for special article appropriations for both the previous year and the current one. A column would be allowed for placing the figures as recommended tentatively, and finally. In other words, each member would be provided with his own work sheet properly started for him by our Clerk. Also that a uniform form be devised and sent to each Town Board for them to fill-in their Budget figures. 11. All reports by Sub-Committees or Special Committees be asked for in writing. 12. That Chairman be instructed to prepare his preamble in sufficient time for whole Committee to read before signing. 13. That Chairman be instructed to fight for nothing on the floor of the Town Meeting, that his job is to properly explain the reasons for recommending or not recommending, answer all questions in a non-argumentative spirit, and continually impress on the Meeting that the Board was in their recom- mendations merely trying to point out the proper way to achieve a certain 4 tax rate. Logan R. Dickie April 11, 1934