Thursday, February- -ggf - City of Somerville

Thursday, June 13>
3) Adding three Summer Playground units; at Forster (or
Northeastern) School Grounds, Caesare March! Playground, and
Cummings.School Grounds, where there are no playgrounds in the
respective districts; at additional cost of $1,200;
*) Return to the practice which was being gradually and successfully
evolved in the early 1930 l s and which is now frequently
urged by citizens, of conducting organi^ed play on
some playgrounds at twilight-time during May, June, July and
August, for both children and adults; at additional cost of
4^,275-
11. ORDINARY MAINTENANCE
Materials and supplies cost much more than when major purchases were made.in
19^ and 19^5- Furthermore, In 19*5 the Commission on its own initiative reduced
expenditures for Ordinary Maintenance as compared with those of the
preceding year 19** (making 19*5 an exceptionally "lean" year and no BASIS
FOR COMPARISON). 30 the commission's 194-6 estimate (from which the appropriation
subsequently deducted 23£/6 — $893) was approximately the: same as for
19*** with allowance for higher prices.
111. EQUIPMENT
The condition of SWING FRAMES and other permanent EQUIPMENT maintained by the
Commission rather than by the Engineer's Department, located on "playgrounds"
which are actually school yards, has for several years demanded replacement;
but in several of those years the amount estimated for the purpose was not
included in the Budget or the appropriations; and In 19** and 19*5 "the needed
materials and parts were not procurable under war-time conditions and the
19** funds appropriated were not expended; with result, as of today, that
THIS EQUIPMENT CAN NOT BE USED, especially as it affects the 19*6 Summer
Playgrounds season.
Your Honor will recall that these conditions and facts were stated in the
"Explanation" section of the pre-budget Departmental Estimate form (forwarded
to the Mayor in December, 19*5) bearing the Commission. 1 s estimate of needs
for 19*6; and will recall that there was omitted in 19*6 the customary conference
between the Mayor and the Commission as part of the pre-budget business
of relating the Departmental Estimate to the Annual Appropriations. The
amounts of the Annual Appropriations do not provide for the facts here cited
again under "PERSONAL SERVICES" and "ORDINARY MAINTENANCE", the latter account
having been reduced in the Mayor's Budget by $J$93j and the Equipment
items here cited, for which the estimate is $850, were cancelled altogether.
As the accounts now stand, the newly-restored services must be again dropped,
after the Summer season, and other programs also discontinued.