Budget Committee Minutes
DATE:~ 11/28/2007
CALL TO ORDER:~~7:02 pm
PRESENT:~ Michele Conte, Robert J. Gray, Richard Latham, Bernadine A. FitzGerald, Jan Penta, Chairwoman, Ron Hayes, Vice Chairman, John A. Sherman, Selectmen’s Representative, Normand Bouchard, Dan Hooper
EXCUSED: B. Levasseur, K. Lewis Savage, D. Luciano
MINUTES:
?Motion by R. Gray to approve the minutes of 11/6/07 as amended; Second by R. Latham
Vote: U/A (Motion carries)
?Motion by R. Gray to approve the minutes of 11/13/2007 as amended; Second by R. Hayes
Vote: 8-0-1
Abstains: B. FitzGerald
BUDGETS
ADVERTISING/REG ASSOCIATION
Notices & Publications
J. Hoch states there is a decrease of $300 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $1,800 to $1,500 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
J. Hoch states this is the part of the Budget that was added to the Budget last year. States in years prior it was in the Executive budget
Town Report Expense
J. Hoch states there is a decrease of $5,363 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $16,758 to $11,395 in the 2008 Proposed Budget
J. Hoch states there is a possibility of produce less pages depending on the Warrant.
R. Latham asks if we produced 1,500 hundred books last year and are we doing a bulk mailing with the Warrant.
J. Hoch states yes.
R. Latham asks if we produce bulk mailing how much will be produced.
J. Hoch states approximately 3,000.
J. Penta asks where the cost of the Budget booklet falls.
J. Hoch states we are capable of producing enough copies in house.
N. Bouchard asks if he has thought about mailing and paper so more people can be reached.
J. Hoch states that is a possibility. States the numbers were about $400 to $500 for each distribution.
M. Conte asks if there is any consideration being given to it being sent electronically to people who can receive it that way.
J. Hoch states yes that is also an option being looked at.
Ø Motion by R. Gray to take under consideration the Advertising/Reg Association Budget of $25,543 ; Second by R. Hayes
VOTE: U/A (Motion Carries)
CEMETERIES
Part Time Position
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $3,825
General Supplies
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $500.
Repairs
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $1,500.
Grounds keeping
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $3,770 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $6,970 to $10,740 for the 2008 Proposed Budget.
J. Hoch states the number in the 2008 budget is more reflective of the 2007 Budget.
R. Latham asks why this budget is up almost up 50%.
J. Hoch states the November 7th numbers include mowing that have not hit the books yet. States the $ 6,670 number was a bad number.
R. Gray asks if we had a contract in previous years.
J. Hoch states this is the first year we have had a contract.
B. FitzGerald states the present contractors have done a great job in the upkeep of the property.
M. Conte asks if the same grounds keeping company is doing the Library and Recreation fields.
J. Hoch states the Library has their own contract and the Recreation field numbers will be coming back shortly.
N. Bouchard states the amount is going up drastically.
J. Hoch states the number he is using from the contractor is the lowest number he received this year.
R. Hayes asks how high the bids came in and if the Committee can get that information.
J. Hoch states he can get that information and get that to the committee.
R. Hayes asks about the time and the hours that are being spent working at the Cemetery.
J. Hoch states those are the numbers he received.
Ø Motion by R. Hayes to take under consideration the Cemeteries Budget of $16,665 ; Second by B. FitzGerald
Motion: U/A (motion carries)
TOWN INSURANCE
Property Liability
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $441 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $53,434 to $53,875 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Deductible Property Liability
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $4,000.
Ø Motion by R. Gray to take under consideration the Town Insurance Budget of $57,875; Second by B. FitzGerald
Motion: U/A (motion carries)
GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Permanent Positions
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $3,528 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $32,356 to $35,884 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Part time Positions
J. Hoch states there is a decrease of $9,967 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $26,442 to $16,475 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Overtime
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $6,000.
R. Hayes asks if we are actually reducing the overtime position.
J. Hoch states it will be going from a 40 hour position to a 38 hour position.
Uniforms
J. Hoch states there is a decrease of $470 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $2,000 to $1,530 in the 2008 Proposed Budget
Telephone & Communication
J. Hoch states this line has increased $223 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $377 to $600 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
R. Gray asks how many Nextel phones we have being used in the Town
J. Hoch states he will find out that information.
R. Gray asks if anyone has talked to Nextel about different plans they have.
J. Hoch states they have.
Training
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $200.
General Supplies
J. Hoch states this line has decreased $663 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $4,463 to $3,800 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Gasoline
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $140 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $520 to $660 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Grounds Maintenance
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $15,523 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $10,622 to $26,145 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
J. Hoch states going into last year the numbers were not great. States the second issue was they were going to buy a tractor snow blower and try to do the work themselves but they did not purchase it. States these 2008 numbers are more realistic.
Vehicle Maintenance
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $150.
Vehicle Repair
J. Hoch states this line has decreased $250 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $1,000 to $750 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Equipment Purchases
J. Hoch states this line has decreased $7,250 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $8,000 to $750 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Town Hall Electric
J. Hoch states this line has increased $600 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $12,600 to $13,200 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Town Hall Heating Fuel
J. Hoch states this line has increased $4,750 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $5,750 to $10,500 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Town Hall Building Maintenance
J. Hoch states this line has decreased $2,874 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $6,474 to $3,600 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
New item
Replacement trash barrels
J. Hoch states the new item is Replacement trash barrels at $1,200.
J. Penta asks how many barrels will be purchased for $1,200.
J. Hoch states approximately six barrels
R. Hayes asks if that is just the barrel or the device that goes inside
J. Hoch states it is the barrel itself.
R. Gray asks where we stand with the renovations and will they be done before the end of this year.
J. Hoch states no it will not be done until after the New Year.
Town Hall Building Repair
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $2,000
Safety Complex Telephone
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $108 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $900 to $1,008 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
J. Hoch states it is the cost of providing a pay phone at $84.00 per month.
J. Sherman states this is to provide a service to people who need it.
J. Penta asks what the net cost is.
J. Hoch states it is possibly $83.00 per month.
Safety Complex Electric
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $30,000.
Safety Complex Heating Fuel
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $4,619 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $17,281 to $21,900 for the 2008 Proposed Budget.
R. Hayes asks if that is gas.
J. Hoch states it is.
J. Sherman asks the last time an energy audit was done on that building.
J. Hoch states he will check.
Safety Complex Maintenance
J. Hoch states there is a decrease of $900 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $4,650 to $3,750 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Safety Complex Repairs
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $3,000.
Museum Telephone
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $336.
Museum Electric
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $360 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $840 to $1,200 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Museum Heating Fuel
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $719 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $2,741 to $3,460 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
Museum Maintenance
J. Hoch states the line remains unchanged at $250.
Museum Repairs
J. Hoch states there is an increase of $50 from the 2007 Approved Budget of $250 to $300 in the 2008 Proposed Budget.
J. Hoch states this increase is due to the fact there were numerous broken windows last year that needed replacement.
Courthouse Maintenance
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $500.
Courthouse Repairs
J. Hoch states this line remains unchanged at $500.
R. Latham states the largest increase is in Grounds Maintenance. Asks if the shrubs, the cleaning, and sprucing up was done in previous years.
J. Hoch states he budgeted poorly in 2007 and his numbers should have been higher.
J. Penta asks if the tractor on the 740 line can be removed.
Ø Motion by R. Gray to take under consideration the General Government Buildings Budget of $188,448; Second by R. Hayes
Motion: U/A (motion carries)
J. Penta asks J. Sherman why the Personnel Budget was not accepted by the Board of Selectmen
J. Sherman states a majority of the Board of Selectmen felt that Budget was too high; specifically the Health Insurance portion of it.
R. Gray states his concern with the Board of Selectmen putting it off it may have a significant impact on a lot of different budgets in many different ways. States he would like to have a couple of weeks to review the entire budget.
J. Sherman states you can always add meetings in December.
R. Gray states he would like the Board of Selectmen to understand there is short time frame for the Budget Committee to review all the Budgets and start the discussion on them.
ADJOURNEMENT:
J. Penta declares meeting adjourned at 8:49 pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Selwa M. Moured
Recording Secretary
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