1863-07-06 Trustee Special Committee Report on Compensation of Secretary, 2021.004.074

The Committee to whom was referred the matter of compensation to the Secretary have considered ^{the subject}attentively and now, Report:

In the early days of the Cemetery when the financial affairs were of such small dimensions as to require but little care, and the clerical work of the company so inconsiderable as to need only occasional attention, the office of Treasurer and Secretary could be filled by persons who had little or no regard to compensation, considering the performance of their duties rather a labor of love than one of business. At the present time however the matter stands very differently. -

The corporation having grown to be a large one, the details in the management of these offices necessarily consume much time,. - It is important not only to have a Secretary, but that he should give a large part of his time to the affairs of the company; be ready to give all information to the proprietors and them who may wish to become such and to give a constant attention to the affairs of the company so far as relates to his office.- If the Secretary properly performs his duties, they involve the obtaining and imparting information in relation to purchase of lots; - to work; - the general management of affairs by the Corporation, the necessity of explainnig the details of operation and of making proper uxplanation to those

proprietors who may suppose that their wishes or requests have been neglected; - of suggesting to them in a proper manner the advisability of making provision for the perpetual care of their lots involving much time in details in the accomplishment of their plans if acceded to; - the issuing of permits for work under the recent rule of the Trustees; - the proper registers of interments; - the examinations at the offices of Registrar of Probate in the different counties to obtain the necessary information in regard to the disposition of estates of deceased proprietors; by which means also the corporation is apprized of legacies or endowments of lots made by them; and many other things which might be enumerated, but the facts are so obvious that the Committee deem it unnecessary to consume time by a fuller statement of them. -

The present compensation of the Secretary is a salary of $500 and fees amounting to about $130 say [?] $630. From which he pays Rent $150. Care of room & postage 53. Fuel & Light23. 225 which leaves him a nett income of ...$405.

It will be obvious we think to the Trustees that no competent man can reasonably be expected

to devote the larger part of his time for such a compensation. - We want an officer who shall feel it for his interest to retain the position and render his services as useful as possible to the Corporation, - considering himself as fairly remunerated; - not one who shall perform the duties with as much economy of time and labor to himself as possible, with the idea that the office is looked upon merely as a sinecure and a nominal compensation paid. -

Were we now commencing anew, we should recommend a union of the offices of Treasurer and Secretary, for we beliee that all the duties pertaining to those two, could be performed by one person in a better manner and at less cost than the two can be filled separately. - The compensation in either case as it now stands is insufficent for a competent person to make it his whole business, and therefore the duties have to be performed as it were incidentally and in connection with other occupations. It is necessary to have two offices and proprietors are referred from one to the other and great [?] and inconvenience are occasioned thereby - thereas, the union of the two offices would remedy all these difficulties and render it an object for one person to fill the position at a less compensation than

we are obliged to pay for two. - This view of the question, were it before us, could be sustained by very cogent arguments, but we now only refer to it as one deserving attention and which at some future time may have more full consideration and deliberation and we are moved to speak of it in this connection from our conviction of its great importance. -

In conclusion your Committee would say, that it is their opinion that it would be a reasonable compensation to the Secretary to increase his salary to $800 - eight hundred dollars, and they recommend that that sum be paid from the beginning of the present fiscal year leaving all other matters as they are at the present time. -

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Chas G. Nazro} Charles P. Curtis} Committee James Cheever

[written down left margin ]: Report of Comeeon Compensation of the Secretary &c - July 6. 1863 Accepted & recorded - A. J. C.