TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday – November 24, 2009
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Mike Morin, Jim Horgan, Chris Somma, Brian St.Onge, Ann Titus, Chris Biron and Cindy Snowdon.
Members Excused: Arthur Capello and Sam Cataldo
Selectmen's Rep: Gail Ellis
School Board Rep: Ken Dickie
Chairman Mike Morin opened the meeting at 7:03pm.
1. Review of Minutes:
A. Ann Titus motioned to accept the 10-28-09 minutes as presented, 2nd Jim Horgan. Discussion: Chris B. asked why a warrant article would be needed to pull out the SAU budget for Town scrutiny. Mike explained that the SAU Board is made up of Middleton and Farmington School Board members and their budget has never undergone Budget Committee review. Mike said both towns would have to create warrants to do so. Ken commented that before this is done someone might want to check with legal counsel because he doesn’t believe a town budget committee could scrutinize the budget and that probably a separate committee with members of both towns would have to be created. Mike commented that all the information is
available to those who ask and that the meetings are all open to the public where people can offer their opinions. Motion carried with Cindy Snowdon and Chris Biron abstaining because they were absent.
2. Answers to Questions Raised in the Minutes:
A. Brian asked if Gail found out what “payment in lieu of taxes” is for and Gail explained that Frisbee’s Family Care of Farmington is tax exempt according to a court ruling but entered into a settlement agreement with the Town to pay this payment in lieu of taxes each year. (a copy of this agreement is attached to these minutes.)
B. Mike asked if Gail found out where the Town stands as far as revenue. Gail replied that revenue is down about $275,000 because the taxes were due later but that Kathy Seaver expects to finish the year a little higher than last year.
C. Brian asked why “highway department misc.” is overspent and Gail explained that Joel said it is due to advertising for RFPs to follow the Town’s purchasing policy.
D. Brian asked why the “culvert and catch basin” line is overspent and Gail explained that various culverts and catch basins were needed this year and not budgeted for. (These explanations are in a memo dated 7/7/09 by Joel Moulton and are attached to these minutes.)
3. Review Town Budstats:
A. Brian asked why the PD gas line is not spent and Gail replied the line has not been charged to yet by Pam.
B. Mike asked how much is in the Unreserved Fund Balance account and who manages it. Gail replied the Board of Selectmen are comfortable with the balance but she will check to see how much it is and who manages it.
C. Mike asked if Joel Moulton is comfortable with his remaining salt line and if the Selectmen are going to encumber what is left. Gail replied Joel is comfortable and that the Selectmen have not discussed encumbrances yet.
D. Brian commented that he noticed the PD has spent money from the budget for building repairs but has not yet spent the encumbrance and questioned why. Gail replied that the PD has done many repairs.
4. Review of Town Remittance Report:
A. Brian asked for an explanation of line that reads “5/26/09 – 2009 1st Half Tax Interest.” Gail replied she assumes it is a penalty for late taxes but she will check.
B. Brian asked for an explanation of “fee amount” on the same page and Gail replied she would check.
C. Brian asked what programs are included on the “Various programs” that were paid $11,335.10 on page 7 of the report. Gail replied she would check.
D. Brian asked what the line “town title fee” is for and Gail replied she would find out.
5. School Expenditure Report:
A. Brian asked why the out of district tuition is overspent by $392,331.08. Ken explained that this is an unpredictable budget line each year because if a new student comes into the district that needs services the Town cannot provide they are then mandated to send those students to where they can receive the services. Brian followed up by asked why the line only budget for $33,000 and Ken said he would look into it further. Mike commented that there is no line for out of district tuition for HWMS 4-6 and 7-8.
B. Gail asked what FLA is and Ken explained it is the Farmington Learning Academy which saves the Town a lot of money because we are keeping those students in town.
C. Chris B. asked what the section titled “2211 – Improvement of Instruction Services” is for and Ken replied that he would check.
6. Old Business:
A. Jim asked what the purpose of the default budget is, how it is derived and who suffers when it is passed. Ken explained that the default budget covers all contractual agreements and only the necessities to run a school. The default budget is what the schools must work with if the proposed budget is not passed which is what happened this year. As a result of the default budget being in place this year the schools had to cut nine positions. Jim stated that he is not sure people realize what the kids lost with the cut and that the proposed budget had a minimal tax impact over the default budget.
Cindy asked if the administration has looked into bringing back any of those cut positions and Ken replied that it is a fine balance of what to bring back or not, though taxpayers should realize that big business will not be attracted to Town without the schools being accredited and in order to do so we need specific programs. Also, as far as he knows the positions are not being proposed to be brought back; the only new positions he is aware of that are being proposed though they haven’t been discussed by the School Board yet are a VVCS Assistant Principal and full year secretaries at the schools.
B. Ann commented that it has been very helpful to attend the School Board budget meetings.
C. Ken explained that any warrants proposed by the school will be worded “no tax impact” and right now they are looking to do some building and grounds maintenance. Cindy asked if they have looked at the walkway between HWMS and FHS and Ken said no, but he would talk to Scott about it. Ken explained that right now they are looking at sealing the bricks at VVCS and FHS because this was never done and will increase the life of the buildings and also the retaining wall and retention ponds.
D. Gail asked what the School Board is looking at for merit raises and Ken replied right now they are proposed at 3%.
E. There will be no meeting on December 23, 2009.
Jim Horgan motioned to adjourn, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried at 8:44pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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