Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1939_12_20 Town Board Minutes PUBLIC HEARING BY AND BEFORE THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF M, LMAROi�ECH, "NEW YORK, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 113 OF THE TOT LAW HELD DECEllffiER 20, 1939 In the auditorium of the Mamaroneck Senior nigh School, Palmer Avenue, Mamaroneck, f�. Y. The meeting was called to order by Supervisor McCulloch at 8:15 P. NI. Present: Supervisor McCulloch Councilmen Bates, Griffin, kandeville, Meginniss Absent: 1Vone The presence was also noted of Town Clerk Payne, 'Town Attorney Delius, Comptroller Luceno, Receiver of 'faxes Dillon, Public Welfare Officer DeVinne, Chief" of Police Yerick, . Police Commissioner Johnson, Town Engineer Foote, Sewer Superintendent Corwin and Fire Chief ipcCarthy. The Town Clerk presented the call of the meeting and the affidavit of publication of the public notice in relation thereto, in accordance with the provisions of section 113 of the Town Law, which were ordered filed. The Supervisor stated that the hearing would be conducted in the following manner. First, representatives of organizations and then individuals who wished to comment upon the budget would be heard, and no answers to questions would be given until everyone had had an opportunity to speak. He then declared the hearing open for comments upon the pro- posed budget . !Lr. J. Hibberd Taylor of Larchmont inquired whether or not it was correct that the budget could not be increased but could be decreased. He was informed that that was correct. ivir. ,1Jm. G. Thompson of Dundee Road, Larchmont, objected to the manner of conducting the hearing and not answering questions until everyone had been heard. He also inquired why the meeting had been held during Christmas week. Supervisor ivicCulloch explained that the Town Board was bound by law to hold the hearing some time between December 15th and the end of the year and that the Board had allowed as much time as possible for study of the budget before adopting it and filing it in the County prior to January lst. He stated that inasmuch as it is the wish of the Board to conduct the hearing in any way that the people wish, all questions would be answered as they were asked. Mr. Walter F. Brady, 132 Valley Stream Road, Larchmont, re- presenting the Larchmont Gardens Association, commented upon the item of x;7,100 in the budget of the Department of Public Welfare for twenty (20%) per cent of a proposed bond issue for 1939 over-expenditures for home relief. He inquired why the Board had not included these over- expenditures in the budget, after those present at the budget hearing last year had expressed their objections to bonding for home relief. He stated that the Larchmont Gardens Association considered it bad judgment to bond for home relief expenditures and favored a "pay as you go" policy. The Supervisor explained that with the hope that business would be better the same amount of X120, 000 for home relief had been placed in the 1939 budget as in the 1938 budget, and until the govern- ment had changed the N. P. A. policy, the Town had been able to live within the budget . He said that the same amount was being placed in the budget for 1940 because it is a presidential election year and the Town Board felt that 'VV. P. A. workers would be employed more regularly than in any other year. As far as the policy of bonding for deficits in home relief expenditures was concerned, he stated that other communities have bonded all their home relief and that the only amount the Town will have bonded for home relief will be the $35,000 to be bonded in 1940, — twenty per cent of which is included in the budget. Mr. T. Roosevelt Allen of Larchmont, a member of The Larchmont- Mamaroneck Taxpayers' Association, suggested that the Town Board follow the example of tdontelair, New Jersey, and have property in the town re- appraised, which mi g ht result in lower taxes. He said that tontelair Pp . had saved 4165,000 in State and county taxes. The Supervisor explained that when the Town changes the assessed valuations of property, the equalization rate in the county and State is changed and the result is usually anything but helpful to the Town. He said that the Town would probably pay a greater portion of the county tax. Tar. 'Wm. G. Thompson asked what the total amount of bonds issued by the Town Board this year was. The Supervisor replied that when the Town went into WT. P. A. it was obligated for $160,000; last year 5100,000 was bonded and this year X28,000 will be bonded for `N. P. A. Mr. Thompson inquired whether or not the Town Board had anti- cipated having to bond $100,000 when the 1959 budget was compiled and how taxpayers are to know how many bonds are being issued if the items are not included in the budget. The Supervisor explained that no budget shows bonded expendi- tures and that ordinarily no capital bonding can be done, except for W. P. A. projects, without the approval of the people. Mr. Thompson asked if any comparison had been compiled to show how the expenditures for 1939 compare with the budget appro- priations. The Supervisor said that statements are compiled regularly each month giving this information and that these show that the revenues are much lower than last year and that expenditures are exceeding the budget, although total expenditures will not be known until the end of the year. In answer to Mr. Thompson' s question as to whether this was true of welfare ana how much that had exceeded the budget, Public Welfare Officer DeVinne stated that welfare expenditures would exceed the budget by approximately 025,000 gross. The Supervisor stated that the Town hopes to live within the budgeted amount of 4120,000 for home relief next year. Mr. William E. Schramek, 32 Fernwood Road, Larchmont, inquired what the approximate amount is that the Town of Iviamaroneck is paying - for all welfare purposes and whether or not it is correct that it is about 9350, 000 gross. The Supervisor listed approximate amounts paid by the Town for welfare purposes: gross welfare expenditures of the Town - q�- ?y 1e9 000 net - 0120 9 000; 486,000 for patients at Grasslands Hospital f f - paid through the county budget, our .share of the county welfare bud get; and finally a portion of the interest and amortization on county bonds for relief. He said that the total figure of $350,000 was not far away from the actual amount . Mr. Thomas B. Sutton of Larchmont_declared that it was unfair to charge the amounts spent for materials for f. P. .A. projects against relief, because these materials are used for the construction of side- walks, streets and so forth, which work would have been done anyway. The Supervisor pointed out that 7. P. A. projects do not take care of the normal work or operating costs of the Town. Mr. Gannon of the unincorporated section, suggested that all expenditures for v . P. A. projects be included in the budget as well as expenditures for home relief. The Supervisor explained that the Town Board feels that the Town does obtain capital benefits from W. P. A. projects and therefore the expenditures can be bonded. Mr. Thompson inquired what would happen to home relief if `X. P. A. projects were discontinued and if the Town Board really feels that the expenditure of $35,000 for materials and supplies saves the Town money. The Supervisor replied that he believed home relief costs would double if the Town withdrew from the N. P. A. ; that the cost to the Town is about the same with the -.7. P. A. program as if all cases were on home relief, but the better type of welfare recipients are employed on W. P. A. and that many will try to go back to private employment. In addition to this, he said that the Town Board feels that the Town under W. P. A. has something to show for the money, ex- pended. Mr. Brady asked for the estimated capital cost of equipment used in the garbage district . The Supervisor informed him that each of the trucks costs about '51,700 and will last about five years. Mr. Allen questioned the item in the budget for the main- -- tenance of the incinerator, and recommended that the Board continue to bury the garbage as long as the Town owns the land on which the proposed incinerator is to be erected. The Supervisor explained that this item was for the projected cost of maintaining the proposed joint incinerator and that the Super- intendent of Highways had informed him months ago that there was no more available land for burying garbage. Councilman Mandeville stated that the incinerator site could not be used because it had already been filled in with garbage. dir. Allen asked what it would cost to buy low priced acreage on which to bury garbage and how the cost would compare with the cost of operating the incinerator. The Supervisor stated that it was impossible to find such acreage in the 'Town of Mamaroneck. He explained that the Town had at one time considered burying the garbage in Harrison but the Village of Inamaroneck would not permit the trucks to go through the village streets. In reply to PJir. Brady' s inquiry as to whether the Town Board had ever considered making arrangements with the Village of Mamaroneck to incinerate the garbage "if their incinerator runs", the Supervisor — said that the Village incinerator runs perfectly; that it would be a fine arrangement; and that the item in the budget would cover the cost if such an arrangement were ever made. ivir. Thompson asked what the budget appropriation would be used for if an arrangement is not made with the Village of Mamaroneck for incineration of garbage. Supervisor McCulloch stated that the item would cover the Town' s share of the operating cost if an incinerator is built and if the amount is not used, it will be surplus in the budget . Mr. Thompson said that he favored an incinerator because "it is inevitable", but expressed the wish that it could be built on the instalment plan. The Supervisor informed him that this would be impossible. At the suggestion of Mr. Brady and 1uxr. Thompson the Super- visor stated that in preparing the budget for 1941 an extra page would be included showing the bonds issued during the year and the purpose therefor and the proposed bond issues. In reply to Mr. Brady' s question as to how uncollected taxes this year compare with last year, Heceiver of Taxes Dillon reported that the State, county, town and district taxes are approximately 93 per cent collected and the school taxes about 85 per cent collected, which is better than last year. The Supervisor stated that at the end of five years the Town usually has 98 per cent of the taxes collected. Mr. Allen inquired what the Town intends to do with tax liens that it owns and whether or not it plans to foreclose them and auction the lots off. The Supervisor explained that the Town has no plans to take over any more property because it has to pay taxes on it. He said that if the Town had some way of selling the property, it would con- tinue with foreclosure proceedings, but in his opinion a public auc- tion is very unsatisfactory because purchasers of the property expect to have it assessed at the selling price, as has been shown in Greenburgh. He added that the Town Board would be glad to talk to any one interested in purchasing property owned by the Town, on which to build houses. dlr. Allen then asked the Supervisor what he thought of the Harrison plan of selling foreclosed lots. lair. McCulloch stated that he was very glad that the Town of Mamaroneck did not have any lots on which there were special assessuents as there are in Harrison. Nir. Sutton objected to this general discussion and stated that the meeting had been called to discuss the budget. He suggested that the budget be discussed page by page. The Supervisor asked if those present wished to do this. No one else expressed a wish to discuss the budget in that manlier. Mr. Louis Tolve, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Mamaroneck, expressed disapproval over the reduction in salary of the Building Inspector from 41,800 to 41,200 and said that he would like to see the salary at 01,800 for 1940. He also disapproved of the reduction in the salaries of the Plumbing Inspector, Sewer Superintendent and Assistant and Clerk in the Assessor? s Department. The Supervisor enumerated the salary "cuts". He explained that these positions had been evaluated and that because of the lack of building in the town, the work of the Building Inspector and Plumb- ing Inspector especially had been reduced. He stated that because the revenues received through fees for building and plumbing permits had been so greatly reduced, the Town Board had not felt justified in continuing to pay the same salaries for these two positions. r. Tolve said that he was interested in seeing that "everyone gets a good wage". Wir. Thompson requested information concerning the payment of the principal and interest on the bonded indebtedness of the 'Town and whether or not this year is the "peak" year. At the request of the Supervisor, Comptroller Luceno read a schedule giving the bonded indebtedness of the Town for the past four years and stated that this is the "peak" year. Mr. Thompson remarked that he presumed that it is the plan of the Town Board not to issue any more bonds, with. the exception of very small bond issues, so that the bonded indebtedness will never increase again but will decline. The Supervisor concurred in this plan and stated that since the present Town Board has been in office they have issued the follow- ing bonds for which they have been responsible: $260,000 for W. P. A. materials and X29; 000 for drainage purposes. - I,'ir. Frank L. Booth of Larchmont spoke against "cutting" the salaries of "career men" and stated ti�at if any jPcuts" were to be made, he thought the salaries of the entire personnel .should be re- duced. He said that he thought the Town had very able officers and that no one is over paid, but he did not think that the "rank and file of the people would want to see these few men cuts'. The Supervisor explained in detail the set-up of the 'Town office, the changes which had to be made by the Town Board under the Kirtland Act, which went into effect in1933, and the reasons for reducing the salaries for these positions. He stated that at the time changes were made in the organization of the office, the Board had not necessarily evaluated the jobs and they were now trying to do so. In the case of the Sewer Superintendent he explained that it had been his job to operate the sewer disposal plant which has been sold to the county, and that now his work has been greatly reduced and consists of maintaining the lateral sewers. He said that because the Town has no underground survey the present Sewer Superintendent is very valuable to the Town because of his knowledge of the location of sewer pipes and so forth. kr. J. Hibberd Taylor stated that he personally did not approve of the reductions in salaries and the "method of taking just a few". He said that he thought it would have been better if the Board had wanted to save money to the taxpayers, if they had made a percentage reduction or if that was not possible, had taken a reduc- tion in their own salaries. He pointed out that the Trustees of the villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck receive no salaries. k1r. Booth declared that in business when the salaries of a few are cut and not the rest, then it is felt that their usefulness is i°pretty well gone". He stated that it seemed to him that there ought to be a way to . provide a living wage for these men through con- solidation or otherwise. The Supervisor said that he did not wish to disagree with him but he did believe that these changes were made in business. He stated that the Town Board must be alert to change everything that is wrong; that they must think of jobs and not individuals; and if the people take the attitude that a change in one salary should not be made unless all other salaries are reduced, that does not give the Board an opportunity to make any changes. He asked if his understand- ing was correct that they did not want the Board to evaluate positions and pay for services what they are worth. i�'ir. Booth. replied, "Pio indeed" . He did say, however, that he felt that there ought to be other work where these people could fill in and receive the same salary. iar. Brady stated that he thought the Board had done the right thing by evaluating jobs, but if they had taken a salary "cut" themselves, it would have saved them a lot of criticism. The Supervisor compared the salaries of the Town Board with those of comparable towns, namely, Greenburgh, Lastetester and Harrison, pointing out t nat the members of the Board receive less than other town boards. He also compared the Town of iaiamaroneck budgets for 1932 and 1933 with the present budget so far as salaries are concerned. He explained that his salary from the County is 4600 a year and that there is very little likelihood that his compensation will be increased to $900 as the newspapers had intimated. He contended that as far as the TO-�RTn Board is concerned they accepted "cuts" at the time they went into office in 1934. idr. Brady declared that he thought the Board was worth the salaries they were getting and that he was only expressing the con- sensus of opinion of the Larehmont Gardens Association that the Board should have taken a salary "cut". He said that he had had contact with only one councilman, Mr. tieginniss, and in his opinion he was "earning more than his salary". Mr. Thompson stated that he did not believe any one was attacking the good job that has been done by the Board, but he thought two things ought to be considered: (1) the practical result of this reduction in salaries and (2) the security of old employees. He pointed out that the total saving is only about �'2,000and said that he thought and believed that the public felt that this is a small amount to pay for good work and the loyalty of employees who have worked for the town six or seven years. The Supervisor said that he was absolutely correct in that deduction and that the Board had taken into consideration the ser- vices these people had performed. He stated that if these people found something else to do, the Board certainly would not fill their positions at the salary in the budget. Pair. 'Thompson reminded the Board that last year the recommen- dation had been made at the public hearing that the work of the Build- ing Inspector and Plumbing Inspector be combined. The Supervisor informed him that if an individual could be found to fill both positions, this would be very desirable . Mr-. Thompson also pointed out that last year it had been suggested that the job of Plumbing Inspector be made a part-time job,but the Board had disregarded it . The Supervisor explained that the Plumbing Inspector had been doing extra work on the assessment maps this year and that the Board felt that he was well worth his salary. Mr. Sutton expressed the opinion that a Plumbing Inspector is absolutely necessary in the Town, in order to enforce the Plumb- ing Code and prevent plumbers from connecting gutters to the sewer. He said that while selling real estate, he has come across a number of houses where this condition exists. He also suggested that in the budget next year the Board include after each item the amount expended during the previous eleven months. The Supervisor assured him that the Board would study the possibility of doing that next year. Mr. Thompson stated that he thought that quite a saving could be made in the item of $33,000 for highway purposes. He called to the attention of the Board that last year it had been suggested that this item be shown in detail and that the salaries of the regular crew and temporary help be itemized. Town:_Engineer Foote informed him that the payroll of high- way employees amounts to about $14,000 a year and that the remainder is expended for materials and so forth. Supervisor McCulloch said that he thought nr. Thompson' s suggestion was fine and that next year the salaries and wages would be itemized in the budget . ur. Thompson inquired whether or not the highway work would be about the same for years to come.