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TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 11, 2010
356 Main Street, Farmington, NH
Committee Members Present: Mike Morin, Jim Horgan, Arthur Capello, Brian St. Onge, and Ann Titus.
Committee Members Absent: Cindy Snowdon, Chris Somma, Chris Biron and Sam Cataldo
Selectmen’s Representative: Gail Ellis (arrived at 8:22pm)
School Board Representative: Ken Dickie
Town Staff Present: Town Adminstrator Tony Mincu, Fire Chief Richard Fowler
Public Present: Paula Proulx (Selectman) and Gerry McCarthy (Selectman arrived at 8:38pm)
At 7:03pm, Chairman Mike Morin opened the meeting and the public hearing for the Town budgets.
- Mike reviewed each budget sheet and asked if there were any questions from committee members or the public. Arthur pointed out that there is a new format this year in that the benefits associated with the employees of each department are now budgeted under their budgets rather than as one lump sum in the Administrative budget.
- Arthur asked what the $163,000 in paving is proposed to be spent on that is budgeted in the paving and rebuild/repave lines. Paula replied that Joel did have a list but that she did not have that information with her and noted that the Selectmen did review his budget carefully. Arthur noted that he is going to make a recommendation to cut this line by $20,000 and take those funds from the CIP account.
- Arthur asked if the $8000 that is being budgeted in the building maintenance under the Ambulance budget can be taken out of the buildings and grounds CIP fund. Tony replied that there is a minimum amount in this account and it could easily be spent on one emergency roof replacement; he would not recommend using this fund for yearly maintenance.
- Arthur commented he is in favor of going forward with the Selectmen’s recommendation of flat-funding the library budget and that he thinks they can move forward with this budget without cutting services.
- Arthur noted that he is going to propose cutting the Hay Day line in half to $2,500 and support the other half of the fireworks through fundraising.
- Arthur asked if there is any logic with the Conservation Commission budget request and Jim (who is a member) noted they have quite a few projects in mind for kiosks, parking lots, and some management plans.
- Arthur noted he would like to cut the Economic Development line to $5000 and level fund the COAST bus service. A discussion was held on both sides of the argument where some commented that this should be level funded like all other requests especially when all our town departments are showing a decrease. On the other hand, COAST will most likely cut the most important runs to the Town in order to prove their point that they requested a certain amount and we denied it. Paula said if the runs that bring residents to back and forth to work and doctors appointments are cut than those people will most likely come to the town to apply for welfare and therefore we would be paying more in the long run.
- The committee reviewed the proposed warrant articles.
Mike closed the public hearing at 8:13pm.
Arthur Capello motioned for a short recess at 8:13pm, 2nd Brian St.Onge. Motion carried.
Meeting reconvened at 8:25pm. Gail Ellis joined the meeting.
- The Committee went back through the budget page by page.
- Arthur Capello motioned to cut the rebuild/repave line from $93,215 to $73,215 with the $20,000 that was cut to come from the road improvement CIP fund, 2nd Jim Horgan. Discussion followed in which Mike asked if the Selectmen are agents to expend this CIP fund and Tony said yes. Paul then explained the projects that Joel has earmarked for this money. Ken asked if the CIP fund has any specific projects planned and Paula explained that it is currently earmarked for the repaving of the Main Street that will be pulled up to complete the water infrastructure and drainage updates that are due in the next few years. Motion carried with Jim Horgan, Arthur Capello, Brian St. Onge, and Ann Titus in
favor and Ken Dickie and Gail Ellis opposed.
- Arthur noted that the Highway budget has an actual increase if you compare to the 2008 and 2009 budgets. Gail commented that the budget is actually a reduction because in 2008 and 2009 there were many encumbrances due to the major floods we had experienced for those two years and this year’s proposed budget is a true number for the department.
- Brian St.Onge motioned to reduce the highway budget by $3500, 2nd Arthur Capello. Discussion followed where Arthur noted the new bottom line for this budget would be $1,083,772.83. Motion failed with Jim Horgan (yes), Arthur Capello (abstain because he is not in favor of bottom line cuts), Ken Dickie (no), Brian St. Onge (yes ), Gail Ellis (no) and Ann Titus (no).
- Arthur Capello motioned to reduce the Hay Day line to $2250 and make up the difference with fundraising, 2nd Brian St. Onge. Discussion followed in which Ann noted that she would be more in favor of starting off small and reduce it only by $1000 to see how the fundraising efforts go because it is a popular event that brings the community together. Motion failed with Brian St. Onge (yes), Arthur Capello (yes), Jim Horgan (no), Ken Dickie (no), Gail Ellis (no) and Ann Titus (no).
- Ann Titus motioned to reduce the Hay day line by $1000 and make up the difference with fundraising, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with Jim Horgan (no), Arthur Capello (yes), Ken Dickie (yes), Brian St.Onge (yes), Gail Ellis (yes) and Ann Titus (yes).
- Arthur Capello motioned to cut the Conservation budget by $1000, 2nd Brian St.Onge. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Arthur Capello motioned to reduce the Economic Development line from $10,000 to $5,000, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with Jim Horgan (yes), Arthur Capello (yes), Brian St.Onge (yes), Ken Dickie (no), Ann Titus (abstain) and Gail Ellis (abstain).
Review of Warrant Articles:
- Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 3 as amended to reflect a new bottom line of $5,612,657, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried – Jim Horgan (yes), Arthur Capello (yes), Ken Dickie (yes), Brian St. Onge (abstain), Gail Ellis (no) and Ann Titus (yes).
- Brian St.Onge motioned to recommend Article 4 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Ann Titus motioned to recommend Article 5 as written, 2nd Gail Ellis. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 6 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 7 as written, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 8 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 9 as written, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 10 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Gail Ellis motioned to recommend Article 11 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Arthur Capello motioned to recommend Article 13 as written, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Arthur noted that with the cuts made tonight the tax rate should be done about $0.05.
- Next regular meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2010.
- The MS-27 will be available for signatures on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
Arthur Capello motioned to adjourn, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried with all in favor at 9:17pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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Chairman, Michael Morin
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