Town of Greenfield
Budget Hearing Minutes
Thursday– February 11, 2010 – 6:30 pm
Present: Selectmen - Chairwoman, Karen Day; Selectman, Aaron Kullgren; Selectman, Jarvis Adams
Administrative Assistant, Debra Davidson taking minutes
Selectwoman Day opened the Budget Hearing at 6:30 pm. She began by reading the various warrants.
Day began by reading Warrant Article #1 referencing the amendments to the Zoning Ordinances.
Eric Leonardi asked if anything less than 200 sq. ft. would need a building permit.
Hopkins discussed this, explaining the Town is currently complying with the state regulations.
Amendment #2 – Katherine Heck asked if you are allowed to put a secondary accessory unit on a property, yet the State stipulates you cannot have more than one dwelling on a property, how can this be done.
Hopkins stated the State does not stipulate that, it is a local zoning ordinance.
Amendment #3 – Planning Board Chair, Gil Morris explained the purpose of this is that there were duplicate ordinances in our zoning ordinance, there is a little conflict between them, and this amendment is eliminating the duplicate ordinance. Basically, being renamed.
Explanation as to why the board may require an applicant to erect a structure that would simulate the proposed tower.
Amendment #4 – No questions or comments – Selectman Adams discussed this is a section with modifications
Amendment #5 - No questions or comments
Warrant Article #2 – Petition article – No questions or comments
Warrant Article #3 – To utilize $50,000.00 from fund balance for the purpose of utilizing the funds for exterior painting of the Meeting House & Town Office Building.
Day explained the Hillsborough County Correctional Facility might be able to complete the painting of the buildings. Day stated that references are available upon request.
Discussion followed as to the quality and/or integrity of the work.
Loren White stated they did the interior of the Fire Station and did an excellent job.
Selectman Day moved on and read Article #3
Article #4 – Myron Steere spoke for the Budget Committee indicating the committee thinks there is not enough funds budgeted for retirement.
Al Burtt asked about funding for ambulance. It was explained this was the figure provided by the Town of Peterborough.
Article #5– Capital Reserve Funds for the Town Office Building Energy Efficiency – Ken Paulson asked about holding public hearing before expending funds. It was explained the Department of Revenue Administration did not accept this amendment to the articles in 2009. A public hearing is not necessary, it is a courtesy, it cannot be mandated, and however the Board will not spend any funds without holding a public hearing first.
It was explained there is $9,500 left in the original CRF.
Discussion of the boiler followed
Article # 6– CRF for Fire/Rescue Apparatus - $10,000.00 – Hopkins asked why this is cut to $10,000 when originally the town asked for $20,000 per year.
Adams & Kullgren answered by stating these are the only two CRF in 2010, times are tough and budgets are tight.
Bruce Dodge asked the status of new fire apparatus grant.
Acting Fire Chief, Loren White responded that it is on a month-to-month basis. He explained, it continues to be a waiting game. The department will keep fighting.
Ken Paulson asked the current projected cost for replacement of apparatus
White stated $200 - $250 thousand dollars, the price keeps going up year to year to be fully outfitted.
Kullgren asked what are the options for used equipment.
White replied that it would not comply with today’s standards, but if the equipment complies to the year of manufacture standards and it meets those standards, that would suffice.
Day asked what is the possibility of using military vehicles.
White responded stating that there is a possibility there, but it wouldn’t have the resemblance or uniformity of fire equipment. They would need training. He has apprehensions about this option.
Article #7 – Fire Dept. $74,101.00 – No questions except Why is mutual aid in the Fire budget and not the ambulance. Loren explained mutual aid is dispatch; the ambulance is more municipal government.
Article #8 – Highway Dept. - $515,859. –
Bruce Dodge asked how large is the crew on the highway department?
Kevin McDonald replied there are four full timers.
Dodge asked what is the plan for the summer.
McDonald stated he does have a road management plan; he is in the process of making arrangements to purchase software to begin the plan and have it on the computer. The program will provide data about town roads, which will then generate what roads are in need and should have attention. McDonald further discussed the reconstruction system; he will then be able to project their plan. It is his intention to maintain the roads that have already been worked on to a level they will not continue to deteriorate. Working on the same program for culverts. He has a plan to replace the most detrimental culverts this summer; they will be working on 4 or 5 this summer. He will maintain tree cutting, and will be using the correctional facility to do this project. He has no intention of rebuilding any roads this
year. Mtn. Road is a priority; there are a lot of drainage issues, as is a culvert that is on Slip Road.
Bob Marshall questioned the 70k for Road Reconstruction.
McDonald stated that is for the reconstruction plan, indicating the highway crew can do most of the work, but he will need to sub some of the project out.
Myron Steere commented this is all good stuff and once process is up and going, he would like to see some time scheduled with the budget committee so they can implement it into the Capital Improvement Plan.
McDonald stated he would do this.
McDonald stated is he also looking into a drainage line plan. Again, Mtn. Road should be considered for this plan.
Dodge questioned vehicle reimbursement of $11,800.00.
Day explained that is a part of McDonald’s compensation package.
McDonald stated it is more of a mileage reimbursement; he tracks his mileage and gas. He logs between 50-60 hours/week. He does a lot of driving around.
Linda Dodge asked why do we still have the $1 amount line items.
McDonald said that is the mystery question.
LDodge asked about part time wages and why do we have that line item.
McDonald said each person has a specific role, he further explained during the winter months, uses a part-time person to fill in if someone is sick, or some emergency comes up. Also, this part time person will be able to do some of the maintenance on small jobs around town. Working towards having our own personnel do small maintenance, jobs rather than hiring it out
BMarshall asked about the status of our protection of salt mounds, are we in compliance? If not what is the plan.
McDonald stated there are changes forthcoming. The pile is supposed to be covered, the base is down, however if salt is mixed in with the sand it does require some sort of a cover. There are changes coming and he is following legislature. Currently the salt/sand is covered. As of right now we are not in compliance.
Bmarshall what are we doing about becoming compliant?
McDonald explained he is exploring a pole barn as an option, possibly using the correction workers as well to build this barn. In the event the DPW shed is relocated, he does not want to spend a lot of money this summer until he is more certain as to what is going to transpire. Next year he will have a more concrete answer. There could be penalties if not compliant.
BMarshall asked if there is someone working on a plan for the CIP for the DPW.
Adams explained that the Board is looking into relocating the DPW to the 16-acre town owned property located, near Greenvale Cemetery. However, we need to go before the DES and get permits and have a forestry plan in place before anything can begin to move forward.
BMarshall asked if the budget reflects the amount of money that is actually needed.
McDonald said for the 2010 budget yes, he plans on moving forward this summer.
Myron recommended he go to the Planning Board as he moves forward.
George Rainier asked if East Road has had any topcoat, or if there are any plans to finish the job.
McDonald said there is no topcoat yet due to budgetary constraints; East Road, Slip Road and Mountain Road are the three priorities. Top priority at this time is Slip Road; therefore East Road is not going to be able to be done this year.
George Rainier asked about traffic counts.
McDonald said that is part of the program he is going to get, it is monitored by GPS and you have access to the data to enter into the system.
Kevin O’Connell asked if it is possible to oil and chip anymore?
McDonald stated yes you can, the cost is tiny compared to paving, however it peals off with the plows and the winter weather.
Article #9 – Library $72,150.00 – No discussion, no questions.
Article #10 – Police Department $207,241 – No discussion, no questions.
Article #11 – Recycle - $107,952 – Myron Steere asked what were the revenues for 2009. $10,000+ - Matt Blanchard explained the metal prices are increasing.
Selectwoman Day commented that the School Board representative is going to provide an update on the school budget. John Gryval stated he is not expressing his opinion either way. He discussed articles 10 & 11, articles 6-9 he indicated are housekeeping items, he gave an explanation on articles 4 –5, article 3 (the budget) was discussed, and last article 1 (the bond) was discussed.
Linda Dodge thanked Gryval for being a member of the school board; she thinks he does a good job.
Myron Steere asked if the budget, bond and teacher contract pass, what does that do to the taxes. Gryval replied that if all pass the increase on a $200,000 house is approximately $100.00.
Al Burtt asked to throw a challenge to the Selectmen. He stated they have done yeomen work to get here tonight, he would like to have a gut feeling as to what is going to happen to our tax rate when the Governor cuts the budgets.
Kullgren replied by stating the Board already knows that Shared Revenues have been zeroed out of the budget, however Rooms & Meals tax has increased. At this point, the town portion of the tax rate should either remain flat or even decrease.
Myron thanked everyone for their hard work.
Budget hearing adjourned at 8:15 pm.
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