HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-02-23 Finance Committee MinutesMeeting of the Finance Committee February 23, 1938, Public '>~eeting
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7.10 P.J. The
_ records of the last meeting were read and approved.
Public Meeting. Six citizens of the town appeared before the Corgi mittee.
1,11r. Hector A. Xavier spoke on the Welfare appropriation and stated. 'chat
he felt that the amount asked for was out of proportion in comparison with
other towns in this vicinity.
dr. Fred I. White appeared and spoke regarding the proposed purchase
of a ladder truck for the Fire Department and sought info irmation as to the
need of a new truck and spoke in behalf of tax payers, whom he felt were
already- over-taxed.
I'VIr. Henry F. Bloom, 134 Woburn Street Also spoke in opposition to ;the
truck.
dr. Leone F. Quimby spoke against- the purchase of a ladder truck at this
time and also criticised the `yelfare Department, whic ?lie felt was to liberal
in granting Welfare aid,
Mr. Nelson Bishop spo];-e on Article 29, Road Machinery Account and sought
information regarding the samne. He also spoke on Article 32, Removal of
Ashes and Rubbish.
Mr. Quimby spoke on Article 23, Purchase of Public Works EquipTnent and
expressed the opinion that the Equipment had now reached a point where it
would, be sufficient for the town's needs for several years to come.
Mr. Maurice reebenacher spoke on Article 14, two-way radio and Article
17, Purchase of Fire Truck, He also opposed the purchase of the Fire Truck
as he felt that no such outlay- was needed at this time.
There was a free and open discussion of these matters of public interest
and the public meeting closed at 8,13 P-M-
The first budget to be considered was X30, Laurel ter, ll Cemetery* ` which
had been previously discussed and referred to a laver meeting, On motion
of Mr. Devaney, seconded by Mr. Sturges, it was voted to recormnen:d X71650,00
appropriation fro q the tax levy for the maintenance of laurel. Hill Cemetery
which with the transfer from the Cemetery Reserve Fund of 61,100.00 and
other receipts would make the total for the Cemetery ~ll,2UO 00.
Article 17, purchase of a Ladder Truck was next considered. The
Chairman read a letter from, Mrs. Mollie A. Sweetser, urging the purchase of
a new truck calling attention to the condition of the one now in use. A
letter was read from Mr. F. J. Charnock of the New England Insurance Exchange
D"unleipal P totection Depart-ment. 1, r, Noyes of the sup-comgittee spoke in
opposition to the purchase of the truck, 1.111. Trevor and Mr. Folsom, spoke in
favor. On motion of i=sir. Devaney, seconded by Mr. Sturges it was voted not
to recommend the purchase of a ladder truck, called for in :Article 17. The
vote was 11 apposed and 3 in favor. On motion of Mr. Devaney, seconded
by Mr. Noyes, it was voted that $1.,000,00 be added to Fire Department maint-
enance estimate to be used for the Durehase of new ladders and for repairs
to the present ladder tr-gck. a
Under Budget #25: on -motion of Dr. Connelly seconded by Mr. Trevor it
was voted to recommend ;;300.00 for the development of the To-un Forest.
Under Budget . 27, page 1,, on motion
of Mr. Sturges, seconded by Noyes., it 51-ras mooted to recommend` 66,333.00
for Public Works Administrative Salaries and Office Expense.
Page 10, public Works Equipment, Article 23 of the warrant. On motion
of Dr. Connelly, seconded by lair. Trevor it was voted to reco?~+11°nd ap?~?'oria-
tion of ; 30,000.00 for the purchase of new equipment, this a-D-a .t' to be put-
into a _special -load MacP-jinery Account, as called "for in Article 28.
Page 2, Article 28 in a. e warrant. On motion of Mr. Devaney-, seconded
by :Tr. Sturges, it was votes o recommend the establishment of a Road
Machinery Account called L or t3_-.is article
February 23, 1938, contJ_nu.ed.
Under Article 290 Road llac Zinery Fund, on motion of Tr, Stargus
seconded by Dr. Connelly, it was voted to recommend ~,~~,C~~t , 3cJm
The following votes were taken on other Public ' orks estimates
Account.
Moved
Second~
Recommended.
P.
Highway Department
Sturges
Noyes
00.00
P.-3
Snow I lee Removal
Sturges
Connelly
llt 5
0.00
Z
P.-6
Sidewalk Construction
Connelly
Sturges
3,020.00
D.
Dranage Construction
-
Sturges
Connelly
6.1x.00.00
P.
Main
Storm. Drains
Connelly
Trevor
2,000.00
P.-3
Town Dump
Stuges
Trevor
1,200,00
P.-»9
Il oburn St. Chap.90 Art.26
Connelly
Sturges
42500,00
P.-9
Lowell St. Art.27
3g
ti
4,500.00
P.-9
High St. , from L' oburn Art.31
Devaney
Noyes
1, 300.00
P.-°9
Ash Removal Art.32
Sturges
Connelly
Do not recommer.
P.12
Park Department
Sturges
Ourrell
3,500.00
P.13
Sewer Department
Sturges
KL ball
10¢990.00
P.13
Sewer Dept, H.C.
Merrill
Trevor
10000.00
P-17
later Dept.
Sturges
Noyes
351323.00
Budget :;126. On motion of !-,~r. Goldsmith, seconded by Mr. Sturges, it
was voted to recommend 8'x,500.00 for Public Welfare Administrative ~sxpense,
The item of General Aid was discussed at some length, especially in regard
to the use of labor b 'Velfare recipients in other Departments, and the
ar:,ount to be reco mmen.ded in this budget was held in abeyance for further
investigat _on. On motion- of IvIr. Goldsmith, seconded by lLr. Correll, it
was voted to recormaend , 37,500.00 for Old Age Assistance. On motion of
Mr. Goldsmith, seconded by _~,flr. Noyes, it was voted to recommend 018,000.00
for Aid to Dependent Children.
Special articles in the warrant were then taken up and the following
votes were passed:
Article 12.- Use of Available free cash by Assessors. On motion of lJr.
Noyes seconded by ThIr. Currell, it was voted :o recommend the subject matter
of t1a s article.
Article 13,- Overdraft in School `t'uition. On motion of Mir. Noyes, seconded
by Mr. Devaney it was voted to recorciriend 932.33,
Article 15. Fire Alarm Extension. On motion of 1JIr, :oyes, seconded by klr.
Davis,. it was voted to recommend x;;930.00.
Article 18. W. ' .A. Materials. On. motion of T";'±r. Devaney, seconded by 4i.?r.
Currell, it was voted to recommend borrowing under the Tax Title Doan Act
an amount not exceeding J25,000.00 for the purpose set forth in this articl(
it being understood that of Vf is amount, ~~L595.00 urould be set apart for the
School Department, $900.00 for Forest Glen. Cemetery, and 41~00 for Ma.intenanc(
of the Town. Farm Building,
Article 19. Personal Injuries Channonhouse, On. motion of Dlr. Troyes,
seconded by Mr, Trevor, it was voted to recommend 0;500.00.
Article 20. Additional Street Nights. On motion or Dr. Connelly seconded b,
Mr. Noyes, it was voted to recommend referring the subject matter of this
article to the MiUnicipal Night Board.
Article 21. Cemetery ?deserve Fund. On :notion of % r. Sturges, seconded by
Mir, Goldsa??ith, it was voted to recommend that X1,100,00 be appropriated
from the Cemetery reserve for the permanent development of Laurel Hill
Ce, etery.
Article 22. School Cafeterias. On motion of jylr. Noyes, seconded by Mr.
Devaney, it was voted to reconr:?end `.~)12,000.00 for School Cafeterias, it
being understood that this amount would be offset by a. like a 2ount added to
Esti-mated Receipts.
Article 34, Personal Injuries - Officer Now.t On motion of Dlr. Trevor, secolu
ed by IKIr. Troyes, it was voted to recommend ~~3338.15.
February 23, 1938: Cont,
Article 7. Reserve Fund. On -,notion of Vr. Devaney, seconded by Mr.
Sturges, it was voted to recommend that 851000.00 be appropriated from
Overlay Reserve to the Reserve Fund.
article 10, 'liddlesex Cou _ty T. B. Hospital. On motion of !l<Tr. urges,
seconded by Mir. Noyes it was voted to recommend 87,670.52 for the purpose
set forth in this article.
Article l1. iddlesex County T.B. Hospital addition. -On motion of
M r. Sturges, seconded by Idr. Noyes, it was voted to recommend an appropriatic
of $6,250.37 for the purpose set forth in this article, and that of this
amount, ;250.37 be raised in the tax levy of 1938, and that the remaining
ti be financed under Plan #3, as proposed by the County Commissioners
so that the entire anount would be paid within six years, beginning 193.
Adjourned 11,05 P ..tai( .
Meri hers present: Chm. Roberts, Connelly, Currell, Davis, Devane Ellison,
Folsom!, Golds with, in ball, T4errill, Noyes, Sturges, Trevor, V man.
Ole rk.