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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-02-26 Finance Committee MinutesMeeting of the Finance Comm ittee,Februar7 26, 1940. it meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7.05 P- M- The records of the last meeting were read and approved. The Cemetery Trustees first appeared, Chm. White with 6upt. Pierpont. Mr. White requested that the vote of February 7th be reconsidered and that the Committee recommend. for Laurel Hill Cemetery an appropriation from the 11 tax levy of 53000 and that 11,000 be taken from the Cemetery Reserve Fund; for Forest Glen Cemetery an appropriation of A500 from the tax levy and NO be taken from the Cemetery Reserve Fund. it was voted to recommend for Laurel Hill Cemetery 88000 from the levy, 41000 from the Cemetery Reserve; for Forest Glen'Cemetery 01500 from the tax levy and 050 from the Reserve Fundi At this point the report of the sub-committee on purchase of a ladder truck was read; the same is attached to and becomes a part of this record. The Board of Registrars next appeared, Chm. MeXenney, Mr. Keneely and Mr. Ralston®, Mr. Ralston spoke for the Board on Article 31 which calls for an appropriation of 050 for preparation and printing of a street list for 1940, Ralston stated that the experience of 1939 demonstrated the need of more books for general distribution than were provided; also the Board felt that the planograph method was not entirely satisfactory and. urged that the Committee recommend sufficient appropriation to provide for a printed book. Mr. McKenney stated that the Doard was unanimous in the opinion that 2000 or 2200 Street Lists should be printed in order to supply a sufficient number for general distribution. After some discussion it was suggested that the matter be referred to the sub-committee on Selectments budgets and that in the event that this was the final meeting the Committee would accept the recommendation of the sub- committee. The Board of Public Oorks next appeared, Chm. Davis, Messrs. Putnam, Brophy, Williamson and Supt. Welch. A report was presented showing the cost of the snow removal for the two recent storms and the Board requested that th estimate for Snow & lee be increased from $11,200.00 to $18,000.00. The Board also presented estimates for laying -out and development of new streets as follows: John Carver Road 12710.00; Wescroft Road - $3800.00; Eaton Street - 0520.00. The "0 asked regarding the account for Special Labor and stated that it woul 27'dn appropriation for this account the same as last year The Municipal Light and Mr. Evans, and Supt appropriation for Street the Board's estimate, to had been supplied with a estimate was computed, a regarding the matter, Board next appeared, Chm. Johnson, Mr. Ell enwood Sias. lhis Board was called in to discuss the LimytinR which had been reduced from ' 414- - 115,500-002 , 500-00. Each member of the Finance Committee letter setting forth the method by which the ad Mr. Sias was asked and answered several questions The Board of Selectmen, Chm* Goodridge, Mr. Morton and Mr. Fowle were next heard. the Chairman spoke on Article 12, appropriation for entertain- ment in connection with the American Legion Convention and stated that $500 would be required to properly carry out plans in contemplation. Mr. GoodwV,­, ridge also spoke briefly regarding retirement system, which question appears Meeting February 26, 1940 Continued. on the ballot for March Ah. Mr. Goodridge furnished no definite figures as to the number of persons likely to join such a system nor of the cost to the Town. He did however, quote figures -from the Town of Winchester showing estimated appropriation for 1940. he matter of the ladder truck called for in Article 13 was discussed. The Chairman stated that the Board of Selectmen was unanimously in favor of the purchase of a ladder truck with power hoist® In executive session the following votes were passed:' Article 34 - Rent Legion Quarters - Recommend ti11500-00 Article 12 - Am. Legion Entertainment - Recommend 4300.00 Article 3' - Publication of Valuation List ® Do not recommend Article 14 - After some discussion a counted vote was taken resulting in nine in favor and 4 opposed, the motion being to recommend an appropriation of $114,500.00 in accordance with the report of the sub-committeepon purchase of Fire Ladder Truck. The Clerk was instructed to furnish the Reading Chronicle with a copy of the report for publication. At this point Commander Frank Gallagher of Reading Post #62, American Legion, was invited to speak to the Committee on Article 12, He stated that Reading Post plans to entertain the Legion Band numbering fifty men fror.'I Reading, Pennsylvania, and that as their stay would cover a five day period, he felt that 1500-00 would be needed to properly entertain this group. Chairman Devaney announced at this time that he was obliged to leave and turned the meeting over to Mr. Sturges, who ttQok the Chair. The following votes were passed: Special labor Account - voted to recommend 113,000,00, 1-1, Article 16 Snow & Ice Overdraft - recommend $134.43 Article 10 Middlesex County T,B. Hospital - recommend `,,,-,M39.01 Article 7 it was voted to reconsider the previous vote on Reserve Fund and to recommend AP4000. in view of the apparent increase in the tax rate, it was the general opinion that several budgets be gone over,with a view to reducing some of the recommendations already made. The following items were referred to the sub-committees: Police Department Clerk, School Department Budget., Board of Public Works. It was also suggested that the appropriation for Block System Survey be omitted, but this matter was held over until the next meeting. The matter of compensation for the Town Clerk was brought up and the opinion was expressed that the Town Clerk should be voted a salary, the receipts to be returned to the Town, The Clerk was instructed to obtain information regarding such a procedure and to ascertain if possible the amount of fees collected annually® It was voted that the Committee meet again on March 4th, Meeting February 26, 1940 continued. Adjourned 10.30 P-M- Menbers,present: Chm, Devaney, Connelly, Currell, Davis, Ellison, Folsom, Goldsmith! Kimball, Newell, Noyes, Roberts, Sturges, Trevor, Long. Clerk. r""iz""�,,,oi of ti nn ek, is city service Type 21 19 Power Haist Typs 67 61 With a power halet ladder, antomobilno parked at the curb do not Pravent As reaching its objeetive. The collection of snow during thA Not two weeks would have made it p',; t1111- is,- 12, Impossible to raise a band ladder against many of our larger 'buildings in the square, not forgetting our ochoajs,,', There MSOMI to fa a 3519takon idea that a ladder truck equipped pawe" hoist means a much larg- r " iec,-',' , f e"" ent it-,, we nse& AS a Matter of fact, a JU, type, suol , 8 th e recommendation covers, would have a shorter o7erall lengthi than our present plece of aquIpment and still have a 65-foot ladder when needed, Incidentally, war present longest ladder will not reach the rear eavee of our high school. A 651foot woul& Again; this 65-foot power hoist ladder would be effi- Ment in all working lengths from 30 ft- to its full extended longtY, Last year the depor'r-,,,. e il- a � -�, wv-nmrrad 19 calls for r6of and chimney fires, at which a power hoist ladder would have been used had one been available and with less roof damage and more Orthirmorep SIMPment such as we recommend would give the toWVt an added Protection igainst fires hard to reach from band ladders, for the power hoist ladder would in effect be equivw, lent to a water tower with a nozzle at its tip controlled frol-12 the ground. it waa demanstrat9d to your how sue"In' a 3adder could be thrown from one side of the street to the others or from one building to snovitur, V It"i r"' ov""- g t""I"It""'i truck and MY one man even tbaugh there might be men an th, ladders This woUld %a particularly advantageous in the case of two buildings ✓becoming involved at the same time, as often iF the mase during a bad fire with high wjnds� We were told that had a power hoist ladder been available in Stoneham, more of the Bell Building and, to -Jil,,,r ww Id have been saved, The f ollasIng equipment could be transferred froITIMIS tba, old trud. to the new with a resultiva; awring of at least $10008 PatterIng A- Type Ham St­rotoher y Sledge Hammer 2 Extinguishers Lighting Cableo Us nd a Afe Gan Rescue Harness for Man ole Wo-fir'] Tha following cities and towns in this vicinity are now using power hoiat ladder equipments Belmont,Revere.Marblehead, Scituatog MiKosey Arlingtong fortland, Lawrence, lhkafield, Gloucestera, 'We hare not mentioned the more spectacular angle of Me saving, but as ware not unmindful of the faOtthat a quick raising power hoist ladder might well mean the difference between life an deatb in a serious night fire or one involving our school houses during the day. It ie recommended that tie cost be defrayed by applying f-7000 against the tax levyg the balance through a bond isous payable in not more than fivs yearso Q acknowledge with thanks the assistance we have obtained from both the National Pi re Trotaction Association and the New Engilan Fire Insurance Rating Asaos' also from the Chief and Deputy Chief of the depar,thoor, nt, botb of vbnm bave been very helpful in our deliberations an ex officio members of your nommittes. We sincerely trust that our recammendations will preval1v an th need for this new and modern equipment is acute, Respectfully submitted, ladder Truck Sub-Committee.