HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942_12_10 Town Board Minutes PUBLIC HEARING BY AND BEFORE THE TOWN BOARD OF THE
TOWN OF MAMARONECK NEW YORK IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TOWN LAW, HELD DECEMBER 10, 1942
In the auditorium of Mamaroneck Senior high School, Palmer Avenue,
Mamaroneck N. Y.
The hearing vas.s called to order bg Supervisor McCulloch
at 8:15 P . M. Eastern War Time)
Present: Supervisor McCulloch
Councilmen Brewer, Griffin, Mandeville
Absent: Councilman Bates
The presence was also noted of Town Clerk Payne, Town Attorney
Delius, Welfare Officer DeVinne, Assessor Smith, justices of the Peace
natter and Messer Smith, Chief of Pollee Yerick and .Police Commssioner
At the request of the Supervisor the Tom Clerk read the
affidavit of publication of the notice of the hearing, published in
"The Daily Times", the official newspaper of the 'Town, on November 30,
1942.
The Supervisor then declared the meeting open for comments
concerning the proposed budget for 1913 .
Mr. Harry T. Byrne read a prepared statement.
The Supervisor asked Mr. Byrne if he would file a copy of
his statement with the Board and he said that he would but failed to
do so .
Mr. William Eklund. referred to the refunding as explained
in a newspaper article to which Mr. Byrne had referred in his state-
ment and inquired why a year ago the Town Board had stated that it
could not be done and was not advisable and yet a rear from then had
changed their minds .
Supervisor McCulloch replied that changed conditions had
'brought it about, and that he was still not sure it was the wise thing
to do .
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Mir . Eklund stated- that he wanted to make clear at this time
that the budget without this refunding would be $20,000 more than
last year and that with the refunding it is 40,000 less, or in other
words it has been used for the purpose of reducing the budget.
Councilman 'Brewer conmented that Mr. Byrne had made a very
good political speech.
Mr . Eklund replied that the Democrats have to take this op-
portunity to express their vieers because they have no representation
upon the Board.
Anthony Russo, representing the Larcaimontl Gardens Asso-
ciation, inquired whether the retirement fund contribution vrould be
a fixed aaount at tie sum stated in the budget or whether it might
change to a greater amount as the years go on.
Supervisor McCulloch stated that as he remembered it, it
would not be any greater. He explained that the state representatives
had set up the system on an actuarial basis and at the time it was
adopted all of the employees had a choice of joining but were not
forced to do so . Most of them joined and all new employees have to
join.
Mr. Russo asked what percentage is paid by the Town and
what by the employees .
The Supervisor explained that it depends upon the employee
but runs about half and half.
Mr. T. Roosevelt ?:lien inquired vJhether or not there mras any
possibility of reducing the current charge for street lighting in view
of the d'uuout regulations .
The Supervisor said that the item for street lighting had been
reduced from : 20,000 to the present figure and that some people feel
that the town has gone almcst too far and the streets are too dark_.
?dr . Allen suggested that the wattage be reduced still further
in order to realize a saving .
He also inquired if there vaould be any may of consolidating
the job of building and plusbing inspector with another job in vier;
of the fact that there is very little building nov, .
Suy�erviscr 'McCulloch explained that the man who holds that
position also works in the assessor ' s department on maps and so forth.
Pdr. Russo expressed. the thanks of the Larc'hmont Gardens Asso-
ciation for t':i.e item of Q'2,000 placed in the budget for flood control,
but stated th.Ft in connection with this Tar. Richard Land had submitted
a very fine survey relative to flood control, a copy of m,-rich had been
sent to t`_:e Town Hoard, and. the association felt that the ; 2,000 should
not go to another first of engineers to make a re-survey of something
that has alread.Tr been done by army engineers and. their mm chairman,
Mr. Land.
Supervisor lcCulloch stated that the Board had not made any
plans to spend the money but thought that the iten should be included
in the budget. He said that no part of it had been allocated yet.
He reported that he had recently attended a meeting called
r County is now
by the Count- Corm, s Loner of Public isora„ and that th
working on the idea that inasmuch as the Sheldrake River originates
in Eca sda le, it is pretty well understood that our o9:,n comm.unit5, is
in the center of the stream. He expressed the hope that the County
would take the lead in correcting the conditions .
Mir. Allan ccmmented upon the vaelfare budget, expressing the
opinion that under present conditions if there is any eiployment here,
it should be felt by the relief rolls by this time and that V" e should
e.,pect the =reli'ar e budget to remain around the appropriation for _1943
m?nich s.nci2rs a. reduction of vr35,000 over last year. In spite of the
reduction he reccm;,ended that the Toz,Lia Board aim at « ",.vork for relief"
plan similar to the 1Vleva Rochelle plan in order to bring about further
relief for the taxpayers .
Supervisor .LACCulloch asked TTr. DeVim- e if all enployables on
the relic ' rolls have found. P,11plo-,rraent.
I' r. DeVinne re.11ied that th.ere are four potential emplo°yables
still on th.e relief rolls but that it is doubtful v?hether it v,rould pay
to secure jobs for them.
iv r. Allen suggested that Lhe- Park Department slight hire the
men.
DeVinne stated that the Pare Dei drtllent could, have them
any time . He said chat he did not believe th-at Ir. iiilen was Omite
right aldout the "vacrh for relief" plan in flew Rochelle, because there
is no law that permits such a plan in. rievr York State .
He stated that there are about 300 _u2oFvle on the relief
rolls and that they ha.d hopes of getting tl :"o men -"fixed u"p" so that
tile,-" could secure work at defense plants.
He pointed out, as an el planc.tion of the aca.ir_istrLtive
expenses thcit the ilelfare De'rJartment makes investigations for the
draft boards and has about 150 names each month that they must clear
through the County. If any of these individuals have received assist-
ance of any kind, the case workers must make a case history of the boy,
which is sent along with him to be opened by the army medical examiner.
Mr. Allen asked if Mr. DeVinne expected any of the men employed
on W. P . A. projects to come back on home relief novv that the W. P. A.
program had ceased.
Mr. DeVin e said that he did not think so .
The supervisor suggested that since there are usually the same
people who attend the hearings each. year, it might be well to hold the
meetings in a smaller room such as the music room rather than heat the
auditorium.
There vaere no objections to this suggestion and it was decided
that the hearing would be advertised for a smaller place.
There being no others who lished to address the Board, the
hearing was declared closed at Q.
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