USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1947 > Part 8
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There were 69 members present, not a quorum.
Voted to adjourn until next Monday evening, December 15, at 8 P.M. at the Town Hall. 8:39 P.M.
The Adjourned Session of the Annual March Town Meeting was called to order at 8:40 P.M. by. Mr. Laurence Davis, Moderator. There were 69 members present, not a quorum.
Voted to adjourn until next Monday evening, December 15 at the Town Hall at 8:01. 8:43 P.M.
The Special Town Meeting was called to order Dec. 8, at 8:45 P.M. by Mr. Davis, Moderator.
.
There were 69 members present, not a quorum. Voted to adjourn until next Monday evening, Dec. 15 at the Town Hall at 8:05. 8:46 P.M.
A true copy.
Attest :
VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk.
DECEMBER 15, 1947
The Adjourned Special Town Meeting of May 5, 1947 was called to order at 8 P.M. by Mr. Laurence Davis, Moderator.
The following tellers were appointed and sworn: Harold Hutchins, Harold Wilkinson, Ernest D. Redman and Paul Corson.
A count of the members was taken, showing 119 present, constitut- ing a quorum.
The salute to the flag was given.
Voted to waive the reading of the records. 8:35 P.M.
ART. 2. Voted to indefinitely postpone. Unanimous. 8:36 P.M. Voted to adjourn at 8:37 P.M.
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order. There was a quorum of 119 members.
ART. 61. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:40 P.M.
81
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
1947]
ART. 62 Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:41 P.M.
ART. 63. Tabled 8:42 P.M.
Voted to lay on the table articles 65, 66, 68, 64, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 at 8:45 P.M.
ART. 74. Tabled. 8:49 P.M.
ART. 75. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:50 P.M.
ART. 76. Voted to lay on the table.
ART. 77. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:53 P.M.
ART. 78. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:54 P.M.
ART. 79. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:55 P.M.
ART. 81. Voted: That the Board of Public Welfare be and hereby is authorized to lease to the Saugus Rifle and Revolver Club for a term not exceeding ten years, a parcel of land containing four acres more or less lying westerly of Broadway, together with a right of way from said land to Main Street. 8:56 P.M.
ART. 82. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:561/2 P.M.
ART. 89. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:57 P.M.
ART. 92. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 8:58 P.M.
Voted to take Article 74 from the table.
ART. 74. Voted to appoint a committee of 5 to revise the Town By-Laws and report their recommendations to a town meeting, said committee to consist of the Town Counsel, Chief of Police, Super- intendent of Public Works and two citizens to be appointed by the other three. 8:59 P.M.
Voted to adjourn without date. 9 P.M.
The Special Adjourned Town Meeting of Dec. 15, 1947 was called to order at 9 P.M. Mr. Davis warned all non-meeting members to retire to rear of the hall.
The count showed a quorum present. The reading of the records was waived.
Voted to lay Article 1. on the table 9:01 P.M.
. ART. 2. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:10 P.M.
ART. 3. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:11 P.M.
ART. 4. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:27 P.M.
ART. 5. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:28 P.M.
ART. 6. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 9:30 P.M.
ART. 7. (Motion to indefinitely postpone lost.
Voted: That the Town transfer the sum of $3000.00 from avail- able funds in the Surplus Revenue, or Excess and Deficiency Account, to 1948 Election Account, for the purpose of paying the 1947 and 1948 Expenses of the January 1948 Election. Yeas 60, Nays 45. 10:03 P.M.
ART. 8. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:05 P.M.
82
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
ART. 9. Voted that the sum of $400.00 be and the same hereby is appropriated for the Law Department, the same to be in addition to any amounts heretofore appropriated, said sum to be transferred from unexpended funds in the Interest on Temporary Loans Account. Yeas 40, Nays 39. 10:31 P.M.
ART. 10. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:31 P.M.
Voted to take Article 1 from the table.
ART. 1. Voted: That the sum of $1,000.00 be and the same is hereby transferred from the Temporary Loan Interest Account to the Board of Health Account. 10:36 P.M.
ART. 11. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:37 P.M.
ART. 12. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:45 P.M. ·
ART. 13. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:4512 P.M.
ART. 14. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:46 P.M.
ART. 15. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:47 P.M.
ART. 16. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:48 P.M.
ART. 17. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:481/2 P.M.
ART. 18. Voted that the sum of $326. 35 be transferred from the unexpended balance in the Replace, Repair Stockroom Building Roof and Doors Public Works Account to the Town Building Repair Account to be expended on the Public Works Dept. Buildings only 10:50 P.M.
ART. 19-20-21-22-23. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:51 P.M.
ART. 24. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:52 P.M.
ART. 25. Voted to indefinitely postpone. 10:55 P.M.
ART. 26-27-28. Voted to indefinitely postpone.
Voted to adjourn without date. 10:56 P.M.
A true copy.
Attest.
VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk.
Town Clerk's Report
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
I hereby submit my report as Collector of Town Clerk's Fees for the year 1947:
251 Marriages at $2.00 $502.00
Mortgages
940.00
Discharges and Assignments 93.25
Certified Copies 40.85
Business Certificates 33.75
Gasoline and Miscellaneous 34.00
Paid to Town Treasurer
$1,643.85
83
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
19471
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF LICENSE FEES
Liquor
$15,239.50
Victuallers
450.00
Entertainment
945.00
Pool and Bowling
64.00
Peddlers
20.00
Junk
50.00
Auctioners
60.00
Juke Box, Pin Ball and Miscellaneous
1,970.65
Paid to Town Treasurer
$18,799.15
REPORT OF DOG LICENSES
895 Males at $2.00
$1,790.00
205 Females at $5.00
1,025.00
373 Spayed Females at $2.00
746.00
2 Kennels at $25.00
50.00
4 Kenenls at $50.00
200.00
2 Kennels at $10.00
20.00
1481
3,831.00
Fees retained by Town Clerk
296.20
Paid to Town Treasurer
$3,534.80
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES
242 Fishing Licenses at $2.00
$484.00
224 Hunting Licenses at $2.00
448.00
134 Sporting Licenses at $3.25
435.50
49 Minor and Females Fishing License at $1.25
61.25
2 Minor Trapping Licenses at $2.25
4.50
5 Trapping Licenses at $5.25
26.25
6 Duplicate Licenses at $.50
3.00
7 Non-Resident Fishing at $1.50
10.50
11 Military and Naval Sporting (free)
$1,473.00
Fees retained by Town Clerk
167.75
Paid to'Division of Fisheries and Game $1,305.25
Respectfully submitted,
VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk,
Report of Collector of Taxes
December 31, 1947
To the Citizens of Saugus, Mass .: I hereby submit the Annual Report of the Collector of Taxes, 1 Viola G. Wilson, Collector, in account with the Town of Saugus:
Dr. 'To 1947 Tax Commitment $761,072.14
'To Interest Collected 184.76
$761,256.90
84
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer $664,101.92
By Abatements
1,532.01
By Interest Paid Treasurer
184.76
$679,697.09
Uncollected December 31. 1947
$81,559.81
Dr.
To Balance of 1946 Taxes Commitment
$98,590.26
To Interest Collected
1,730.01
To Costs Collected
193.65
$100,513.92
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer
$78,846.82
By Abatements
740.88
By Tax Titles, Chap. 60
16,569.02
By Tax Titles
2,433.54
By Interest Paid Treasurer
1,730.01
By Costs Paid Treasurer
193.65
$100,513.92
Uncollected December 31, 1947
00,000.00
Dr.
To 1947 Poll Tax Commitment
$10,314.00
To Costs Collected
114.80
To Interest Collected
.10
$10,428.90
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer
$7,224.00
By Abatements
2,810.00
By Costs Paid Treasurer
114.80
By Interest Paid Treasurer
.10
$10,148.90
Uncollected December 31, 1947
280.00
Dr.
To Balance of 1946 Poll Taxes
$442.00
To Costs Collected
29.05
To Interest Collected
3.80
$474.85
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer
$166.00
By Abatements
276.00
By Costs Paid Treasurer
29.05
By Interest Paid Treasurer
3.80
$474.85
Dr
To 1947 Excise Tax Commitment $33,985.41
24.23
To Costs Collected
185.15
$34,194.79
$000.00
To Interest Collected
13,878.40
By Tax Titles
85
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer
$29,084.94
By Abatements
1,766.69
By Interest Paid Treasurer
24.23
By Costs Paid Treasurer
185.15
$31,061.01
Uncollected December 31, 1947
$3,133.78
Cr.
To Balance of 1946 Excise Taxes
$2,353.05
To Additional Commitment in 1947
587.90
To Costs Collected
72.55
To Interest Collected
24.91
$3,038.41
Cr.
By Payments to Treasurer
$2,100.69
By Abatements
840.26
By Costs Paid Treasurer
72.55
By Interest Paid Treasurer
24.91
$3,038.41
Uncollected December 31, 1947
000.00
1947 REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR'S FEES
Tax Certificates
$145.00
Water Lien Releases
203.00
Paid to Town Treasurer
$348.00
Respectfully submitted,
VIOLA G. WILSON, Collector of Taxes
Annual Report of Playground Commission
The members of the Saugus Playground Commission submit their annual report to the citizens of Saugus.
Through the cooperation of the school committee, the following school yards were maintained as play areas for grammar school chil- dren: Ballard, Lynnhurst and North Saugus, in addition to the Bristow Street Playground, Anna Parker Playground and Stadium Playground. Due to a decrease in the budget from $3000 to $2000, play areas at the Armitage and Felton schools were dropped.
More than 1200 grammar school children or an increase of 250 over the previous year were enrolled at the play areas and 1500 articles of handiwork were exhibited at the Saugus Youth Fair. The 1947 pro- gram was without a supervisor as the budget was not enough to provide one. The Commissioner pays tribute to the following instructors for their untiring efforts in making the program successful: Mrs. Thomas Robinson, Mrs. Walter Kyle, Mrs. Arnold S. Cummings, Miss Carol Suffreti, Miss Jacqueline Ellis, Miss Charlotte Wheaton, Miss Edna Jones and Miss Lena Gallucci. Each playground sponsored special events such as picnics, hobo parties, horrible parades, exhibits and beach parties.
The Commission wishes to thank the Sports Committee of the Sau- gus Council of Churches for their cooperation in the sponsorship of the
1947]
REPORT OF PLAYGROUND COMMISSION
86
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
softball league, volley-ball league and the cross country races held at the Saugus Youth Fair. These were new features of the 1947 program.
The Commission recommends that to successfully promote a play- ground program that a full time caretaker-supervisor be provided in the 1948 budget.
The Commissioners wish to thank all Town officials and citizens of the Town who have made the 1947 playground season successful.
Respectfully Submitted, EDWIN M. HOLMES, Chairman PAUL CORSON, Secretary
Report of the Trustees
of the Saugus Free Public Library
We, the Board of Trustees of the Saugus Free Public Library, accept the following report of the Librarian and submit it as our report.
(Signed) : ALBERT R. MAGEE, Chairman WILLIAM IRBY, Secretary KALER A. PERKINS WALTER D. BLOSSOM CHAUNCY V. WHITTREDGE ELMER H. WATSON
To the Board of Trustees of the Saugus Free Public Library:
Report for the year ending December 31, 1947:
The greatly increased cost of books, binding, supplies, utilities and repairs, added to a decreased appropriation for 1947, has resulted in the purchase of five hundred fewer new books. It has been possible to rebind only about two hundred volumes, and this in turn has made it necessary to discard approximately two hundred more books this year than in 1946. Our lack of ability to supply a necessary number of copies of the books currently in demand has resulted in a slightly decreased circula- tion, as was only to be expected. The reading public have understood the difficulties with which we were faced, and have been patient in waiting sometimes for long periods for desired material. It is to be hoped that this situation will be remedied in the coming year.
The library has increased its work with the schools, through co- operation with the teachers in the matter of State Certificate reading in the grade schools, and in assisting with required reading for the Junior High and High Schools. We have provided pictures and additional read- ing material for geographical projects,-Holland, Australia, American Indians, et cetera,-and likewise on such special subjects as birds, ani- mals, circuses and famous people for the primary grades. A group of selected book jackets was supplied to one teacher in the Junior High School for the purpose of encouraging extra-curricular reading in her class. We feel that this work with children and young people is impor- tant to the future of the community, and we hope to continue and in- crease this activity in the coming years.
87
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1947]
Story hours for the special holiday seasons are also an excellent means of encouraging the children's use of the library. In this connec- tion, it was arranged for Miss Huldah Blackmer, Branch Librarian of the Cliftondale Library, to take a course in story-telling under the guid- ance of a professional teacher of this subject. During May and June, and for Children's book Week in November, and before Christmas, Miss Blackmer has held very successful story hours in the Main Library and at Cliftondale. Miss Blossom has extended this work at the East Saugus Branch, and at every session there have been capacity audiences. Al- though it has not been possible to buy so many new juvenile books, it is interesting to note that our combined efforts have resulted in a slightly increased use of those we have.
So many returned veterans are now enrolled in colleges and univer- sities around Boston that the demand for text books and correlative material on such subjects as philosophy, psychology, the social sciences, current events, and the classics has strained our resources to the utmost. The library needs both basic and advanced books and periodicals along these lines if we are to continue serving the public in any sort of ade- quate fashion. Such material is expensive, and at times, difficult to secure. Through the co-operation of the Lynn Public Library and the Division of Public Libraries of the State Department of Education, it has sometimes been possible to borrow those books which could not be purchased, but such arrangements entail delay which may nullify the effort, and the possession of more volumes on these subjects would enable us to offer better service in our increased reference work.
Special displays of books and book jackets on a variety of subjects have been arranged for Art Week, National Education Week, Religious Book Week, Children's Book Week and the Christmas season. Also at various times during the year, the librarian and Miss Blackmer have given book talks to different women's clubs and P. T. A. groups. These activities are an additional means of presenting to the public the im- portant new books and of increasing their realization of the material which is available for their use in their library.
The practice of allowing some member of the staff to attend the various professional meetings has been continued. The New England Regional Library Association, Massachusetts Library Association, North Shore Library Club, Round Table of Children's Librarians, and Boston . Book Review Club, of which the staff are members, have discussion groups which offer much of value in regard to methods, personal rela- tions and new ideas for expanding library service. We have, therefore, appreciated the opportunity to attend these meetings whenever possible.
For the whole-hearted co-operation and helpfulness of the Board of Library Trustees, members of the staff, and many friends of the library, the librarian wishes to express her sincere appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE HAMILTON BOYD, Librarian
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM OF STATISTICS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1947
Name of Library Saugus Free Public Library
Town Saugus, Massachusetts
Librarian Mrs. Alice Hamilton Boyd
Date of · Founding
1887
Population Served
16,662
Library Appropriation Per Capita
Total Number of Agencies
$.66 6
38
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Consisting of: Main Library Cliftondale Branch East Saugus Branch
North Saugus Branch Lynnhurst Branch High School
Hours Open for Lending and Reference:
Main Library
521%
Cliftondale Branch
18
East Saugus Branch
131%
North Saugus Branch
4
Lynnhurst Branch
3
High School
828 (hours per school year)
Book Stock:
Volumes at beginning of year
28,234
Volumes added
1406
5200
Volumes withdrawn Total
24,440
Circulation Record:
Main Library
42,015
Cliftondale
21,054
East Saugus
8,364
North Saugus
4,562
Lynnhurst
3,895
High School
3,109
Total
82,999
Registration Record-1946:
Main Library
679
Cliftondale
300
East Saugus
77
North Saugus
43
Lynnhurst
8
Total
1107
Registration Record Totals:
Main Library
2547
Cliftondale
1663
East Saugus
489
North Saugus
176
Lynnhurst
51
Total
4926
Trustees ·
Albert R. Magee, Chairman
William Irby, Secretary
Walter D. Blossom Chauncy V. Whittredge Elmer H. Watson
Kaler A. Perkins
Staff:
Alice Hamilton Boyd, Librarian Marjorie P. Walkey, First Assistant Huldah Blackmer, Second Assistant and Branch Librarian, Clif- tondale Branch Library Aginess I. Blossom, Branch Librarian, East Saugus Branch Library Maude Moses, Branch Librarian, North Saugus Branch Library Anna J. Swanson, Branch Librarian, Lynnhurst Branch Library
Hour Workers: Ruth Garniss Audrey Myers Marilyn Sheets
Theodore Frederick Walter Hanson
89
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1947]
Report of the Board of Assessors 1947
Number of Polls Assessed
5,134
Number of Persons Paying on Property
8,639
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
3,853
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
3,744
Number of Acres of Land Exempted
1,169
Number of Acres of Land Special Assessment
412.3
Number of Horses Assessed
60
Number of Cows Assessed
174
Number of Bulls Assessed
2
Number of Swine Assessed
694
Number of Fowl Assessed
7,472
Number of Sheep Assessed
5
Number of Dogs to Be Registered
1,451
Males ...... 879 Females. 269
Spayed.
.203
VALUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
Land, Exclusive of Buildings
$ 3,570,145.00
Buildings, Exclusive of Land
13,393,265.00
Personal Property
1,352,281.00
Total Valuation of Assessed Estate $18,315,691.00
PUBLIC PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
Final Taking of Unredeemed Real Estate $ 151,875.00
Town Property
2,427,150.00
Religious Societies
503,390.00
Civic, Charitable, Historic and Literary Societies
45,070.00
City of Lynn, Park Division
160.00
City of Melrose
150.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Breakheart"
57,730.00
United States of America "Post Office"
78,140.00
SPECIAL VALUATION
City of Lynn "Water Shed"
$18,450.00
Tax Committed to Town Accountant July 22, 1947
760.14
Tax Rate per One Thousand $41.20
BASIS OF TAXATION
Town Appropriations
633.92
State Tax
1,430.10
State Examination of Retirement System
227.48
Smoke Inspection Service
80.00
Hospital or Home Care for Civil War Veterans
7,223.20
1946 Underestimates (Smoke Inspection Service)
47.55
1946 Underestimates (Met. Assessments)
696.23
1946 Underestimates (County Tax)
26,029.30
Overlay
36,501.50
County Tax
$1,100,216.48
Gross Amount to be raised
$1,014,228.72
Overlay Accounts Overruns
12,600.00
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
68.06
Metropolitan Assessments
450.42
90
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Less Town Income overestimates and transfers from avail- able Funds
335,342.01
Net amount raised by Taxation on Polls and Property:
On Polls
$ 10,268.00
On Personal Property
55,713.98
On Real Estate
698,892.49
$764,874.47
TAXES OF STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN COMMITTED TO THE TAX COLLECTOR
January 14, 1947 On Sewers $ 74.00
Interest
.91
February 25, 1947
Poll Tax 10,268.00
March 27, 1947.
On Sewers
96.00
Interest
.72
March 28 1947
On Sewers
67.68
Interest
1.36
May 29, 1947
On Sewers
49.00
Interest
1.17
July 21, 1947
On Personal Estate
55,714.08
July 21, 1947
On Water Liens
2,182.29
July 21, 1947
On Real Estate 698,892.25
July 21, 1947
On Sewers
3,630.02
Interest
653.50
July 23, 1947
On Sewers
80.82
July 23, 1947
On Sewers
81.89
July 23, 1947
On Sewers
83.01
July 23, 1947
On Sewers
101.07
August 28, 1947 On Sewers
28.75
September 10, 1947
On Sewers
1.554.03
September 29, 1947
. On Sewers
83.25
October 3, 1947
On Sewers
111.60
October 8, 1947 On Sewers
46.80
October 20, 1947
On Sewers
22.35
November 3 1947
On Sewers
31.78
November 17, 1947
On Sewers
83.25
November 17, 1947
On Sewers
32.40
December 3, 1947
On Sewers
20.55
Interest
.14
WARRANT TO TREASURER
July 21, 1947.
State Taxes $ 12,600.00
County Taxes 36,501.50
ABATEMENTS
Levy of 1938
Tax Title Real Estate $ 37.67
Levy of 1939
Tax Title
Real Estate
109.78
Levy of 1945
Tax Title
Real Estate
6.67
Levy of 1946
Tax Title
Real Estate
6.48
Levy of 1946
Tax Title
Real Estate
147.01
Levy of 1946
Water Lien
20.75
*
Levy of 1945
Personal Estate
$ 1.38
Levy of 1945
Real Estate
162.95
Interest
.43
Interest
.12
$764,874.47
91
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1947]
RETIRED AFTER LONG SERVICE
M. LOUISE HAWKES
SENIOR CLERK
Appointed
December 1, 1912
Retired
June 17, 1947
COMPLETED 341/2 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE
FAITHFUL IN SERVICE
BOARD OF ALBION R. RICE
GEORGE H. MASON, Chairman
ASSESSORS
FRANK EVANS, Jr.
92
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Levy of 1946
Polls
286.00
Levy of 1946
. Personal Estate
519.36
Levy of 1946
Real Estate
1,063.27
Levy of 1947
Polls
2,866.00
Levy of 1947
Personal Estate 56.65
Levy of 1947
Real Estate
15,746.03
MOTOR VEHICLES ASSESSED
Levy of 1946
219
Levy of 1947
5,029
ASSESSED VALUATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Levy of 1946 $ 131,540.00
Levy of 1947
1,154,370.00
MOTOR EXCISE COMMITTED TO TAX COLLECTOR
March 10, 1947
$ 4,301.03
May 5, 1947
10,143.35
August 8, 1947
5,715.83
August 21, 1947
3,494.23
September 11, 1947
2,962.45
October 28, 1947
5,766.36
November 21, 1947
634.37
December 6, 1947.
771.26
ABATEMENTS
Levy of 1946
$ 988.34
Levy of 1947
2,058.29
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. MASON, ALBION R. RICE, FRANK EVANS, Jr.,
Board of Assessors of the Town of Saugus
Report of the Board of Public Welfare
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
The Board of Public Welfare submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1947, on its several divisions:
TEMPORARY AID
Appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting.
$13,000.00
Refunds 638.51
$13,638.51
Unpaid 1947 Bills
11,763.06
Expended in 1947
$25,401.57
93
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
1947]
Accounts Receivable :
From State of Massachusetts $4,494.11
From Cities and Towns
937.45
From Individuals
378.79
Returned to Surplus
.58
5,810.93
Net cost to othe Town for 1947
$19,590.64
Your Board was confronted, this year, with the problem of endeavor- ing to operate on a very much reduced budget due to the shortsighted- ness of the Finance Committee.
Our budget is only an estimate and there is no individual or group of individuals who could possibly submit an accurate budget covering welfare needs. When making up our annual budget we have no idea as to how many cases will be accepted by other cities and towns and other institutions, neither can we know how much in dollars and cents will be expended for these recipients. This also applies to local cases. We, therefore, can only consider previous years and estimate the other cities and towns and other institutions accordingly.
At this time, I wish to report that your Agent submitted a bill to the Legislature December 3, 1947 whereby cities and towns would be compelled to appropriate one hundred percent of the previous year's expenditures on all categories of aid.
The large increase in the amount of money expended by other cities and towns this year was, no doubt, due to the increase in the cost of living plus the increase in food allowances as authorized by the State Department. It could also be due to more cases, with Saugus settle- ments, being accepted by these other cities and towns.
Your Board has acted in good faith and endeavored to assist in- dividuals upon application and after a thorough investigation. We have accepted the State Standard Budget and all cases are figured on this basis.
Our original budget as submitted to the Finance Committee, at a meeting held in January, called for $23,205.00. Subsequent to this meet- ing we were requested to meet again for the purpose of reducing this figure. While the Board felt that it was against their better judgment to authorize any reduction we did agree to reduce our request to $22,205.00. When our Board became aware of the fact that the Finance Committee had recommended $13,000.000-a reduction of $9,205.00, we requested another meeting with the Committee. At that meeting our Chairman informed the Finance Committee that we would be unable to operate for a full year with the amount recommended and that without doubt our funds would be exhausted in the early Fall, which later proved to be the case. The Chairman of the Finance Committee in- formed us that we had nothing to worry about as we could request more money when our funds became exhausted. Our Chairman at the annual town meeting, informed the town meeting members that they should appropriate the amount requested by our Board, but the Chair- man of the Finance Committee in an endeavor to reduce the tax rate was able to influence the town meeting members to vote the lower appropriation.
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