TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Friday – February 6, 2009
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Mike Morin, Ann Titus, Brian St. Onge, Arthur Capello, Cindy Snowdon, Chris Somma and Jim Horgan.
Members Excused: Steve Henry
Selectmen's Rep: Gail Ellis
School Board Rep: Joe Pitre
Public Present: Dan Merhalski, Marty Gilman, Tony Mincu, Dennis Roseberry, Kathy Seaver, Joel Moulton and Paula Proulx
1. Planning & Codes Budget Proposal (Dan Meralski, Director of Planning and Community Development presenting):
A. Dan explained that the director salary has a 3.12 COLA increase.
B. Dan stated that the master plan line has been eliminated because it is complete. Mike asked if it is available for the public and Dan replied that is has been complete since February of 2008 and it’s completion was announced at Selectmen and Planning Board meetings.
C. Dan explained that the Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) line was reduced to $2000 because the Selectmen decided to not renew their membership but to actually leave $2000 in the line for 45 hours of SRPC time at an hourly rate. He explained that the planning office gets a lot of maps and information from SRPC and they also do a lot of grant researching.
D. Dan pointed out that the printing, postage and travel lines are all decreased.
E. Mike asked why the telephone line is level funded when other departments have increased this line and Dan replied that he feels it will be adequate.
F. Dan explained that the subscriptions and memberships have been eliminated because he did not feel the department utilized them.
G. Dan explained that the planning board minute taking line was moved into this budget, but that he is trying to get a UNH intern to take the minutes of these meetings to save the town money.
H. Mike asked if the 2008 balance from this budget will be going into the general fund and Gail said yes.
I. Cindy asked if there is money in this budget for an upgrade to the GIS (Geographic Information System) computer system and Dan said no, that he feels the town has a sufficient version of this system and if he needs a higher version he can contact SRPC for that work.
J. Cindy commented that with the downturn of the economy and the sewer moratorium development is down and asked if there are any decreased in salary. Dan said no, that his office is very busy with enforcement issues, looking at zoning to make the town more efficient and attracting new businesses. Cindy commented that it appears Dan is helping with the wastewater facility as well. Dan replied that he has been attending the meetings on the Economic Stimulus Package and other grants.
K. Dan summarized the 12 zoning amendments that will be on the warrant and are available for review in the planning office and on the website.
L. Arthur asked if Dan is looking at work force housing and such. Dan replied that there is no anticipated need to change the ordinance at this time for work force housing but that the planning board will be working on zoning changes in regards to wind turbines.
M. Dan explained that the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) was funded through 50% of the building fees but due to the economic downturn this is not going to be enough. The Selectmen have put forth a warrant to increase the fees to 100% and placed $15,000 in a line to cover the CEO salary. Also, the secretary salary line has been reduced because the department has gone to a part time secretary.
N. Brian asked where the items are in the budget that get paid through fees and funds because money is not supposed to be expended without taxpayer appropriation. Paula explained that when the items like the CEO were set up to be paid out of such funds, it was through a warrant and the permission to expend for those purposes was given then. Cindy asked if the fees collected by the Planning and Codes department all go to fund the CEO. Dennis Roseberry, CEO, said yes, the junkyard permits, mobile home park licenses and such all do, but he also does not derive a lot of fees from violations because he tries to settle violations himself instead of getting attorneys involved.
O. Tony stated that Dennis has taken on the health officer responsibilities as well. Mike asked if there is a reduction somewhere in the budget because the town use to stipend a health officer. Tony said the emergency management line was reduced by $1500.
2. Highway and Landfill Budget Proposal (Joel Moulton, Director presenting):
A. Mike asked why the salary line is lower this year than it has been in the past. Joel replied that he found an error today when reviewing the budget with Pam and one full time employee is not included in the line.
B. Mike asked if Joel came out okay with the highway salt line in 2008 and Joel said yes.
C. Mike commented that the training line was not expended in 2008, yet it was budgeted again. Joel said he didn’t do the training in 2008 due to his busy schedule and some personnel issues but he does have T-2 trainings and grader trainings scheduled for this year.
D. Arthur asked if the salt line increase is a monetary or quantity increase and Joel explained it is monetary because the cost went up.
E. Mike asked if residents get fined when the push snow across or into the road. Joel said he can report it but it is up to the police department and the Selectmen to enforce it.
F. Arthur asked what the major projects are that are included in this budget. Joel responded he has maintenance for Governors Road, Ridge Road and Chestnut Hill Road figured into this budget. Cindy said the Planning Board had an application in front of them in which the applicant said Joel was replacing a culvert on Governors Road. Joel replied that at the TRC (Technical Review Committee) meeting he told the applicant he had plans to replace the culvert but it would be in the future because it is not in this budget. Cindy asked if Orange Street will see any drainage work this year and Joel replied that the Selectmen have slated those repairs to be done with the State flooding reimbursement, if and when it is received.
G. Arthur asked if the increase in the paving line is monetary or quantity and Joel said the cost of the materials went up, but the quantity is the same.
H. Mike asked if the $6600 in the budget is to purchase a trailer for the machinery and Joel said yes they are going to purchase a used 20 ton trailer. (This figure is based on quotes).
I. Mike asked what the culvert and catch basin line will fund. Joel replied there are numerous failed basins and culverts in town that need to be replaced and he would like to replace cross culverts on Hornetown and Ridge roads.
J. Arthur asked if the cutting edges line is up due to quantity or monetary increases. Joel explained that last year he spent $16,000 on the cutting edges for the plows alone but that this money came out of encumbrances. Right now carbide for the edges is at $65-$70 a foot, so to replace the cutting edges on the plows alone will be $19,000 and that does not include the grader or excavator edges and teeth. Joel stated that $15,000 will not cover the cutting edges he needs for the year. Cindy asked the Selectmen why they would cut the line when they know there is not enough and Mike said there was a $54,000 surplus last year so he should be okay. Joel replied that there was a budget freeze and he does not expect to have any surplus this year.
K. Brian asked if any guardrails are planned for Meetinghouse Hill Road. Joel replied he is planning on guardrails for sections for Meetinghouse Hill and Sheepboro Roads.
L. Mike commented that the bridges and railings line is up $5000. Joel explained that he is looking do to large repairs to the Spring Street bridge and general maintenance on the other bridges.
M. Arthur asked Joel if he expects the landfill permit to be extended past 2010. Joel replied that recent reports show elevated levels of mercury and magnesium at the landfill so DES (Department of Environmental Services) may flag that and order the landfill closed. He further explained that CMA engineers are working on the town behalf to extend the life of the landfill as long as possible, especially due to the wastewater facility that the town needs to construct. Mike asked how much is set aside for the landfill closure and Tony replied that there is $1.3 million set aside as of 2008. Joel said it will cost $3.5-$5 million to close the landfill depending on the type of cap and it will cost about $75,000 to open a transfer station and that he does have a conceptual plan for one. Cindy asked if the theft of the dump stickers has been solved and Joel explained that he turned the information of to the PD and they are investigating it.
N. Chris asked if the town gets revenue from the recyclables, like the cardboard, metal, cans, and plastic. Joel said yes, but he is not sure what line it goes in. Gail said those funds go in the landfill charges line of the remittance report.
O. Arthur asked if Joel has a large repair scheduled for the landfill loader. Joel replied yes, the loader is 21 years old and needs an overhaul to keep it running.
P. Mike commented that there was $500 budgeted last year for river maintenance and this year the line reads $10,000. Joel said there is a dramatic increase because he has to dredge the river and repair the levee, though he is hoping to get assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers again.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2009 at 7pm.
Arthur Capello motioned to adjourn, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with Mike Morin and Joe Pitre abstaining.
Meeting adjourned at 8:51pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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