TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday - April 18, 2007
Committee Members Present: Chairman Joe Pitre, Arthur Capello, Mike Morin, Ann Titus, Debra Cantwell, Gail Ellis, Selectman's Rep. Paula Proulx and School Board Rep. Steven Durrance.
Public Present: Todd Lefebvre and Steven Henry
Chairman Joe Pitre called the meeting called to order at 7:02pm
Open Seats on the Budget Committee:
1. Arthur Capello motioned to move the open seats available part on the agenda to 1st on the agenda, Ann Titus seconded. Motion passed with all in favor.
2. Arthur Capello moved to accept Walter Mills resignation, Gail Ellis seconded. Discussion followed that the resignation was received by Chairman Joe Pitre today and that he did try to call Walter but got no response. This committee was in consensus that Walter is a great asset to the committee and that they would like to see if he just needs a leave of absence for a little while. Gail agreed to call Walter to see what he would really like to do. Arthur Capello amended his original motion to table accepting Walter Mills' resignation until the next meeting, Gail Ellis accepted the amendment. Motion passed with all in favor.
3. There is currently one seat open on the budget committee and Todd Lefebvre and Steven Henry both were interviewed for the position tonight. Debra Cantwell motioned to hold the vote tonight to fill the one open seat on the budget committee, Ann Titus seconded. Discussion followed that Gail would like to vote both interested parties in next month if Walter insists on resigning or make a decision between the two then, so that one or the other does not feel second best. Debra Cantwell rescinded her motion, Ann Titus agreed. Debra Cantwell motioned to call the vote tonight for the open seat, Arthur Capello seconded. Discussion was held that Gail would like to request the voting be done by ballot, Michael Morin agreed. Chairman Joe Pitre and Paula
Proulx were opposed to ballot voting. Motion carried. The vote was taken with 4 in favor of Todd, 3 in favor of Steven and 1 abstention; Todd Lefave is the newest Budget Committee member. Ann Titus will call Todd and inform him of this appointment.
4. Minute Approval:
a. Arthur Capello moved to accept the 12-12-06 minutes as amended, Mike Morin seconded. Motion carried with Steve Durrance and Paula Proulx abstaining.
b. Ann Titus moved to accept the 12-19-06 minutes as written, Debra Cantwell seconded. Motion passed with Arthur Capello, Gail Ellis, Steve Durrance and Paula Proulx abstaining.
c. Arthur Capello moved to accept the 12-20-06 minutes as written, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion carried with Paula Proulx and Steven Durrance abstaining.
d. Arthur moved to accept the minutes of 1-31-07 as written, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion carried with Mike Morin, Gail Ellis, Paula Proulx and Steve Durrance abstaining.
e. Arthur moved to accept the 2-7-07 minutes as written, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion passed with Gail Ellis, Steve Durrance and Paula Proulx abstaining.
f. Gail Ellis moved to accept the minutes of 2-9-07 as written, Ann Titus seconded. Motion carried with Mike Morin and Steve Durrance abstaining.
g. Arthur Capello moved to accept 2-13-07, 2-15-07, 2-26-07 minutes as written, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion withdrawn.
h. Arthur Capello moved to accept the minutes of 2-13-07 as amended, Ann Titus seconded. Motion carried with Mike Morin, Paula Proulx and Steve Durrance abstaining.
i. Arthur Capello moved to accept the 2-15-07 minutes as amended, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion carried with Steve Durrance, Mike Morin and Paula Proulx abstaining.
j. Arthur Capello moved to accept the minutes of 2-26-07 as written, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion carried with Paula Proulx, Mike Morin and Steve Durrance abstaining.
h. Arthur Capello moved to accept the minutes of 4-4-07 as amended, Deb Cantwell seconded. Motion passed with Paula Proulx and Steve Durrance abstaining.
5. Bylaw Update: Gail Ellis moved to table the bylaw discussion until the next meeting, Steve Durrance seconded. Discussion followed that Ann strongly recommends getting this done as soon as possible but Gail stated she would like to wait until next month so that she has ample time to read over the draft bylaws. Motion passed with all in favor.
6. Flood Update Discussion: Mike and Arthur questioned how the Town is doing in response to the many damaged roads as a result of Monday's flooding. Paula responded that the Dept. of Homeland Security just asked for an estimate of the damages and the Town suffered approximately $250,000-$300,000 in damages not including the River Rd and Ten Rod Rd. Bridges. It appears that FEMA should assist with these costs but the Selectman are unsure at this time. Steve Durrance reported that the high school has some ceiling tile damage and had to contract an engineer because the secondary pond was not working properly.
Deb questioned if any plans have been made to address the mosquito breeding that might occur with all the standing water and the possible health risks that it might bring. Paula responded that the Town did not budget for any type of spraying. Deb went on to question if the water has been tested in the Town or at the school. Paula responded that Dale Spague, Water Department Director, regularly checks the Town water but she did not see any plausible contamination.
7. Town Budstat Review: Arthur questioned what UCC stands for. Joe answered that it is the Uniform Commercial Code that is used for big-ticket items. Arthur requested to have Pam Merrill come to the next meeting to explain how the reports are set-up so that this committee can understand the format. Arthur also questioned what happens to encumbrances if they are not spent? Paula responded that it depends on how the encumbrance was written but typically the funds go back to the general fund.
Paula reported about and answered the following questions;
a. How is the encumbered Highway Salt line overspent? Paula will check.
b. Chairman Joe Pitre questioned if the excavator was bought yet? Paula responded that it was but at a cheaper rate because the Highway Department Director, Joel Moulton sought out three bids like the Town requires and found the Volvo excavator to be cheaper at $125,060 but equal in service and equipment.
c. The Quint firetruck is 75% paid for and expected to be delivered in May. Mike asked if we do acceptance testing and Paula was unsure but she will check with the Fire Chief. Mike also asked if the firehouse staff are trained on the new truck and Paula responded yes.
d. $37,937 was approved by the Selectman for engineering to start to replace the Ten Rod Road Bridge.
e. $23,100 was approved by the Selectman for Joel Moulton to begin the bridge maintenance on the remaining bridges.
f. $24,134 was expended on the new Expedition Police Cruiser
g. The $10,000 that was budgeted for the library has not been asked for yet.
h. The Selectman would like this committee to appoint two members to the CIP committee.
i. Arthur questioned if Paula is still acting as Town Administrator. Paula responded no that Gerry is taking care of the day to day business now.
j. Deb requested that the town budget's be done prior to January next year. Paula responded that the Budget Committee would just need to request the proposed budgets when they are ready for them.
8. School Budstat Review: Steve Durrance reported and answered questions about the following items:
a. Out of District Placement costs are up. The district is currently seeking state approval to accept placements from other districts to help create revenue. The committee asked for the difference between this year's budgeted costs and the 05-06 expenditure.
b. It was questioned why the school budget only has 5% left when there is more than 5% of the school year left. Steve stated that Supertindent, Michelle Langa said she feels confident that the school can stick within the budget.
c. Title 1 monies should be expended with the next 4-6 weeks as they get ready for summer programs and next year. Joe asked for an explanation of what the difference is between the many title programs, Steve will get this for the next meeting.
d. Paula questioned why the bus repairs are encumbered; generally only contracts are encumbered. Steve will check.
e. Deb questioned why the fuel for the buses is overexpended by about $20,000. Steve will look at the contract to see what the price per gallon and the number of gallons were that were contracted and used and compare that to last years budget. Paula added she would like to know how funds can be encumbered in this line when it is already overexpended?
f. Deb questioned why the heating oil lines for the three school buildings are so different. VVCS has only spent 1/3 of their budgeted amount where as HWMS and the HS are overexpended.
g. Deb quetioned the health insurance costs, for example the VVCS Principal's Office is overexpended by $20,497.33 with only three people included in this line and at least one is getting a buyback. This committee requested an explanation of these overexpenditures and the difference in what was budgeted compared to what was expended. Steve will search out these answers.
h. Arthur commented that he noticed the teachers/paras' course reimbursements were frozen though the Principal course line was overexpended. Why is that? Steve will check. Steve will look into this.
i. Why is line 5310 - Page/Fax/Telephone line overexpended?
j. Deb questioned where the stockpile of airfilters went that were in the annex last July and was there a problem that the air filters needed to be overexpended? Steve will look into this?
h. Arthur questioned the emergency repair line and if there was an insurance claim put out and if so what the deductible is? Steve will check.
i. Arthur questioned if Middleton is up to date with thier tuition payments? Steve stated he believes so but he will double check.
j. Gail quetioned what the non-negotiated salaries are? Steve said these are employees who negotiated separate salaries and or increases with the previous Superintendent.
k. Gail asked for an explanation of the entire first block on page 20 of the budstats. Steve will work on this.
l. Gail questioned what is the homeless set aside/Title 1 line? Steve will get clarificatioon.
9. CIP Appointments: Mike Morin and Gail Ellis volunteered to sit on the CIP committee and Arthur Capello offered to be an alternate. Chairman Pitre will forward these names to the Selectman.
Debra Cantwell motioned to adjourn, Gail Ellis seconded. Motion passed with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:56pm. Next meeting to be held on May 23, 2007.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
_________________________
Ann Titus, Secretary
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