Town of Lyme
Budget Committee
December 14th, 2005
7:00PM
Fire Station Training Room
APPROVED DECEMBER 28TH , 2005
Present at this meeting: Selectmen: Judith Shelnutt Brotman, Richard Jones, & Peter Bleyler. Budget Committee Members: Gibb Cornwell, Josh Kilham, Chairman Barney Brannen, David Caffry, Wayne Tullar, Freda Swan, & Mike Smith. School Board Representative: Laszlo Bardos. Administrative assistant: Carole Bont, Bookkeeper/Selectmen’s Secretary & Scribe: Dina Cutting. West Central Mental Health representative: Ron Michaud.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Chair Brannen.
1) Mr. Bardos moved to accept the minutes of the December 7th, 2005 meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. The majority of the Budget Committee members did not wish to vote on the minutes at this time. Mr. Bardos & Mrs. Swan agreed to withdraw the motion. The minutes will be voted at the December 28th, 2005 meeting.
2) At tonight’s meeting the Budget Committee will review the following issues:
· Chief Field’s response to the Budget Committee’s questions from the previous meeting.
· Hand out spread sheet of the new health benefits costs.
· Review e-mails from Lee Larson and Jeff Lehmenn (see attached e-mails).
· Ron Michaud will be speaking on behalf of West Central Mental Health.
· Review and tentatively vote on the proposed budget.
3) Mr. Michaud reviewed how West Central Mental Health is serving various communities in the Upper Valley. In the past West Central Mental Health has calculated their request from towns at $1.00 per resident. This year they are requesting $1.05 per resident, Lyme’s contribution will be ($1,785.00). They ask all towns to help by contributing financially to the costs of services. West Central does do some fundraising events through out the year. Mr. Michaud thanked the Town of Lyme for supporting West Central in the past and hopefully in the future.
4) The Budget Committee reviewed and discussed the e-mail from Mr. Larson. Mr. Smith spoke in favor of supporting the $15,000.00 for work that needs to be done in order to complete the Towns Master Plan. The Master Plan is a necessary document to have up to date in order to support the Town’s Planning and Zoning. The Budget Committee and Selectmen discussed the fact that the town’s undesignated fund balance is very healthy. This fund is for emergencies and this is one the town could use it for. Followed was a discussion concerning the aquifer mapping and the community attitude survey. In the past money has been put in the budget for various parts of this project and they have not been completed. Mrs. Swan informed the Budget Committee there are Planning Board members that are ready and excited about
working on this project. This is what the Town needs to get it done. The Budget Committee would like to have a copy of the projected time line of this project.
*Mr. Cornwell moved to increase the recommended amount for the Master Plan line from $3,000.00 to $15,000.00. An increase of $12,000.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. The motion was voted as followed: Mr. Cornwell, Mr. Kilham, Mr. Caffry, Mrs. Swan, & Mr. Smith in favor. Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman & Mr. Brannen abstained. Mr. Tullar opposed. The motion passed.
5) Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman handed out the memo from Chief Field. Mr. Brannen thanked Chief Field for the memo. Mr. Brannen commented the questions that were discussed at last weeks meeting were about what direction the police department was headed. Are the police going to be more of an investigative department? Or is the Police Department going to be more of an out in the community department.
6) Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman handed out the health insurance comparison spread sheet. This is a per month cost. Three employees choose to increase their insurance from single to family or 2 person coverage. The Budget committee thanked the Selectmen for the spread sheet.
7) Welfare Trust Fund: The Budget Committee and Selectmen discussed the need for some kind of Trust or Capital Fund for the Town Poor line in the budget. This would be a warrant article and the Budget Committee would need to vote on this at a later date. It was the sense of the Budget Committee that the Town Poor budget line could really be an issue some day. It would be best for the town to have a fund much like the Special Education Fund.
*Mr. Caffry moved to set up a Trust Fund for the town poor money. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. The Selectmen will gather and present the accounting information for this fund at a later meeting. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
8) 2006 proposed budget: Mr. Brannen thanked Mr. Rountree for his spread sheet comparing present budget figures to past budget figures. It was very helpful. Mr. Brannen reminded everyone that the following votes are non-binding votes.
Lines 4130-4139: Mr. Cornwell moved the executive budget at $111,752.81. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Lines 4140-4149: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Elections, Reg and Vital Statistics budget at $62,920.29. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Lines 4150-4151: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Financial Administration budget at $111,235.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4152: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Revaluation of Property budget at $69,703.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4153: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Legal budget at $35,000.00. Seconded by Mr. Bardos. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4155-4159: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Personnel Administration budget at $59,271.00. Seconded by Mr. Caffry. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4191-4193: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Planning and Zoning budget at $72,395.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4194: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the General Government Building budget at $17,675.00. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4195: Mr. Smith moved the Cemeteries budget at $ 52,608.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. The Perpetual Care line has an off-setting revenue line of $31,000.00.The Cemetery Commission will be using a donation to create a Cremation Garden. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4196: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Insurance budget at $41,058.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4197: Mr. Smith moved the Advertising and Regional Association budget at $2.300.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4199: Mr. Cornwell moved the Other General Government budget at $100.00. Seconded by Mr. Caffry. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Mr. Brannen asked if any Budget Committee member needed to take a break at this time. Mr. Caffry wanted all Budget Committee members to realize that the increase to the town’s budget alone is 3%.
Line 4210-4214: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Police budget at $171,472.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. Followed was a discussion concerning wages, hazardous work and competitive wages for the Police Department. The Budget Committee had asked for a breakdown of wages and did not receive it. The Selectmen informed the Budget Committee the Chief received a non-standard pay increase this year; the officer received a 5.1% wage increase. There is 100 over-time hours in this wage and salary line for the Chief and the officer. The Chief does not qualify as an exempt employee. Followed was a discussion concerning police coverage and the cost of additional coverage. The Budget Committee again commented that they would like to discuss the direction the police department is going.
The motion was voted as followed: Mr. Tullar, Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Swan, Mr. Bardos, and Mr. Kilham in favor. Mr. Caffry and Mr. Cornwell opposed. Mr. Brannen abstained.
Line 4215-4219: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Ambulance budget at $37,700.00. Seconded by Mr. Tullar. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4220-4229: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Fire budget at $ 41,450.00. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4290-4298: Mr. Caffry moved the Emergency Management budget at $2,175.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4299: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Other Public Safety budget at $14,333.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4312: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Highway & Streets budget at $ 550,575.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. Followed was a brief discussion concerning the wood pellet furnace and the cost of wood pellets. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4316: Mr. Caffry moved the Street Lighting budget at $3,204.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4323: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Solid Waste Collection budget at $22,174.00. Seconded by Mr. Caffry. Mr. Bleyler reported the revenues are going to be ahead of what the Committee thought for this year. If the town purchases a compactor and expands the hours at the Transfer Station for next year the added payroll will be offset by the savings in having fewer haul charges. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4324: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Solid Waste Disposal budget at $64,500.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4415-4419: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Health Agencies & Hospitals & Others budget at $14,935.00. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4441-4442: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Administration & Direct Assistance budget at $5,350.00. Seconded by Mr. Kilham. The warrant article for the Town Poor Trust Fund will be voted on before the budget at Town Meeting. This way if the warrant article does not pass the money can be added back into the regular budget. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4520-4529: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Parks & Recreation budget at $57,812.00. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. In response to Mr. Lehmenn’s e-mail it was clarified that the Beach Activities Supervisor is already a full time town employee. This position is not creating a new position that would potentially add to the cost of benefits. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4550-4559: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Library budget at $131, 552, 00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. The motion was voted as followed: Mr. Tullar, Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Swan, Mr. Bardos, Mr. Kilham, and Mr. Cornwell voted in favor. Mr. Brannen & Mr. Caffry abstained. This motion passed.
Line 4583: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Patriotic Purposes at $750.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4611-4612: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Administration & Purchase of Natural Resources at $1,300.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4711: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Principal-Long Term Bonds & Noted at $30,000.00. Seconded by Mr. Smith. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4721: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Interest-Long Term Bonds & Notes at $23,575.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4723: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Interest on Tax Anticipation Notes at $11,000.00. Seconded by Mrs. Swan. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4901:Mrs. Swan moved the Land budget at $100.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4902:Mr. Caffry moved the Machinery, Vehicles & Equipment budget at $187,407.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4903: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Buildings budget at $15,000.00. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4909: Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman moved the Improvements Other Than Buildings at $133,904.00. Seconded by Mr. Caffry. Followed was a brief discussion concerning who should be responsible for the crosswalk. Mr. Bardos reported that the School Board has not discussed this issue. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line4915: Mr. Smith moved the To Capital Reserve Fund at $253,962.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones compared their spread sheets on the Capital Reserve Funds. There were some differences between the two spread sheets. Mr. Smith commented he would look closer at Mr. Jones’s projections and revisit this at the next meeting if necessary. These are tentative votes. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Line 4916:Mr. Caffry moved the To Expendable Trust Funds at $34,000.00. Seconded by Mrs. Shelnutt Brotman. This is increased by $19,000.00 for the Town Poor Trust Fund line. This motion was voted unanimously in favor.
9) The next Budget Committee meeting is December 28th, 2005 at 7:00 pm in the Fire Station Training Room. At this meeting the Department Heads will have an opportunity to come and speak to the Budget Committee.
At 9:00pm Mr. Bardos moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Cornwell. The motion was voted unanimously in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Dina Cutting
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