Budget Committee

Minutes

January 14, 2008

Official as of February 9, 2008

Chairman Daniel McNally calls the work session to order at 7:05 p.m.

PRESENT: Chairman Daniel McNally, Vice-Chairman Robert Holden, Selectmen Representative Ken Curley, Water District Representative John Jacobsmeyer, Ben Edwards, Nona Holmes, Lucy Edwards, Colleen Pingree,  and Board Administrator Linda Smith. 

ABSENT: Herb Johnson, Shelley Bobowski, Bob Bailey, and Board Secretary Lisa Fellows-Weaver – all excused.

TOWN~WORK SESSION:
Mr. McNally announces that the police department will come in on Wednesday evening. He explains that the school warrant articles had not been recommended by the school board when they were provided to the budget committee on Saturday.

Page: 16-17: Dept. 44111~Health Department:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $14,130.78. Ms. Pingree seconds. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ,  DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 17: Dept. 44141~Animal Control:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $15,212.06. Ms. Pingree seconds. Mr. Jacobsmeyer asks how there is a decrease. Mr. Curley explains that the town does not share a vehicle with the Town of Deerfield anymore. Mr. Jacobsmeyer states that this does not show in the correct line. Mr. Curley states that this may be due to the way invoices have been submitted. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 17-18: Dept. 44141~Health Agencies:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $30,378.25. Ms. Holmes seconds. Mr. Jacobsmeyer asks if the town has received any new requests from health agencies. Mr. Curley replies that the American Red Cross has requested a donation. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 18: Dept. 44411~Welfare Administration:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $10,947. Mr. Holden seconds. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 18-19: Dept. 44451~Medical Payments Welfare:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $1,500. Mr. Holden seconds. Mr. Curley explains that this is for payments to vendors for medical needs. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 19: Dept. 44452~Welfare Vendor Payments:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $23,605. Ms. Pingree seconds. Mr. Curley explains that the increase is justified by the expenditures as the department was over expended this year. Mr. Jacobsmeyer asks about the food line, 680, as it is being reduced to $0. He adds that he does not feel that the fuel line is enough. Ms. Pingree asks why the electricity line was not increased. Mr. Curley replies that the line was increased by $1000 and the board felt that it was enough. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 19-20: Dept. 45201~Parks and Recreation:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $66,345.63. Ms. Holmes seconds. Ms. Holmes asks if the ball fields are included in the budget. Mr. Curley replies no. Ms. Pingree asks about the positions for recreation director, line 120, and the beach coordinator, line 121. Mr. Curley explains that due to having a new director this year and new programs, the positions were separated so that the beach coordinator handles all of the beach items.

Mr. Holden asks if Bennett Bridge will be open this year. Mr. Curley replies not in 2008 as it will need to have a study completed to satisfy the state that the beach will not wash out away again. Mr. Holden asks for clarification for the beach coordinator. Mr. Curley further explains the duties of the beach coordinator and the lifeguards. He adds that the beach coordinator is also a lifeguard and the hours have been increased to cover any coordinator’s duties. Mr. Curley states that the coordinator’s hours can be used for lifeguards too. He adds that the position is paid hourly and may not require the entire amount budgeted. Mr. Holden states that there is one less beach to cover this summer.
Mr. Curley states that he can get more information regarding this department. The motion and second are withdrawn.

Page 21: Dept. 45831~Patriotic Purposes:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $3,500. Mr. Holden seconds. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 21: Dept. 45890~PD Wage Grant Program:
Mr. Holden makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $1,017. Ms. Pingree seconds. Ms. Pingree asks what this is. Mr. Curley explains that this is for accepting grants so that the funds will be able to be expended. Mr. McNally notes that matching funds are sometimes required in order to receive the grants. Further discussion is held. Ms. Smith states that state and federal grants are noted in the revenues. This department is in addition to state and federal funding. More information is requested. The motion and second are withdrawn.

Page 21: Dept. 45899~Donations:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of
$1,000. Ms. Holmes seconds. Mr. Holden asks what the donations are made to. Mr. Curley replies that he is not sure as to what they are this year. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 21-22: Dept. 46111~Conservation:
Mr. Holden makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $10,393. Ms. Pingree seconds. A brief discussion is held regarding the milfoil warrant article. Mr. Holden asks about funding for the milfoil program. Mr. Curley explains that funding is in a separate warrant article. Further discussion is held regarding Lucas Pond beach area. Ms. Edwards notes that there are liability issues with the beach area. She states that she hopes that this does get addressed. Ms. Edwards makes an amendment to the motion to recommend the $13,393. Ms. Pingree seconds. Discussion continues regarding a forest management plan. Ms. Smith states that $4,000. noted in line 491, is for a new plan. The existing plan was completed in 1990 and is out of date and needs to be updated. The $4,000. is an actual quote received from a contractor to update the plan. She adds that it does not have anything to do with the actual cutting. Further discussion is held regarding the goals of the conservation commission, which are outlined in the forest management plan. Ms. Smith explains that the conservation commission had a time frame to complete certain projects within the document. The whole plan is no longer in sync with the time lines now. Amendment VOTE: YES: RH, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. NO: KC. Motion passes; 7/1. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 22: Dept. 46510~Economic Development:
Mr. Holden makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total of $453. Ms. Edwards seconds. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, JJ, DM. Motion passes unanimously; 8/0.

Page 15-16: Dept. 47231~T.A.N.:
Ms. Edwards makes a motion to recommend the selectmen’s total amount of $15,000. Ms. Pingree seconds. A discussion is held regarding TAN and raising money in anticipation of potential needs of the town. Ms. Edwards explains that the town would need to borrow if there were no funds available as the town still needs to operate. Mr. Holden notes that the amount last year was $10,000. Mr. Curley states that the amount last year was $15,000 and it was reduced because of the vote at town meeting. Further discussion is held and Ms. Holmes adds that having this money budgeted and not spent, it will go back into the general fund to buy down the taxes. VOTE: YES: RH, KC, BE, NH, LE, CP, DM. NO: JJ. Motion passes; 7/1.

Ms. Edwards makes a motion, second by Mr. Curley, to recess the meeting until Wednesday, January 16 at 7 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Fellows-Weaver
Board Secretary