A video recording of this meeting is on file with the Office of the Town Clerk, is available for public viewing during normal business hours, and will be retained in accordance with the New Hampshire Municipal Records Board rules established under RSA  33-4:4, or for a minimum of 24 months

B U D G E T    C O M M I T T E E
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
November 5, 2013
Draft

A business meeting of the New Durham Budget Committee was called to order at 7:08 PM in the Town Hall located off Main Street.

Present:
David Curry, Budget Committee Chairperson
David Shagoury, Budget Committee Co-Chairperson
Terry Jarvis, Selectman’s Representative
Adam Buehne, Budget Committee Member
Anthony (Tony) Bonanno, Budget Committee Member
J. R. Jones, Budget Committee Member
Rudolph (Rudy) Rosiello, Budget Committee Member

Also Present:
Jeremy Bourgeois Town Administrator
Vickie Blackden, Financial Officer
Laura Zuzgo, Minute Taker

Approval of Minutes:
Motion by David Shagoury, second Terry Jarvis, to approve the Joint BOS/Budget Committee minutes of September 16, 2013 as written. Vote was unanimous with 1 abstention.

Chair Curry recognized Dean Stimpson for his services to the Town.  He has served in one capacity or another for over 43 years.  He started as an auditor in 1971.  He served a total of 25 years as a Selectman,  plus as a co-member of the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Budget Committee.  He was the custodian of the Town Hall from 1987 to 2013.  He knew the inner workings of this Town.  He was also the bartender at the Foxy Johnny’s Restaurant.  He resigned from the Budget Committee this year due to health issues.  He is currently at the Colonial Hill Nursing Home and Chair Curry stated he plans to stop in and see him.  He hopes that in some fashion the Town will do something to show him their appreciation.  Chair Curry stated he appreciated the way Dean could cut to the quick and get the Committee back on track.  He appreciated the wisdom and knowledge that Dean Stimpson brought to the table.  Selectman Jarvis added that he was also a Captain on the volunteer Fire Dept. and was a great teacher and mentor.  David Shagoury stated he was also a professional firefighter in Massachusetts before moving to New Durham.

Election of Officers:
Selectman Jarvis nominated David Curry as Chairman, second by Rudy Rosiello.  Vote was unanimous.

Selectman Jarvis nominated David Shagoury as Vice Chairman, second by David Curry.  Vote was unanimous.

Board of Selectman Review:
•	Locked in prices for oil, gas, diesel, & propane
•	Health insurance provider is changed from LGC Health Trust to School Care with a savings of $7,000.  Chair Curry asked if it was a qualified plan.  Yes it is.
•	Set Tax Rate 
•	Property, Liability, & Worker’s Compensation is changed from LGC to Primex for additional savings – signed a three year contract, moved two years ago.

Third Quarter Review:

Acct 4130 Executive:
•	Line 580 Meetings/ Conferences is over due to increased interest in workshops and seminars.
•	TA contract expires in March 2014.  BOS will be deciding to renew contract or hire a TA.  If they go with contract they should anticipate a 5% increase.

Acct # 4140 E&R
•	Budget on track

Acct 4150 Financial Administration
•	Software paid in January

Acct 4152 Assessing
•	Budget on track

Acct 4153 Legal Expenses
•	Budget on track

Acct 4155 Personnel Administration 
•	Raises moved to appropriate Accts.

Acct 4191 Planning Board
•	Advertising costs will be offset with revenues
•	Registry fees will be offset with revenues

Acct 4192 Zoning Board of Adjustment
•	Advertising costs will be offset with revenues
•	Registry fees will be offset with revenues

Acct 4194 General Government Buildings
•	 Water system needs to be serviced
•	Budget on track

Acct 4195 Cemeteries
•	Budget on track

Acct 4196 Insurance
•	No accidents to date
•	Budget on track

Acct 4199 Other General Government
•	Budget on track

Acct 4210 Police
•	Car washes necessary to remove salt from undercarriage of cruisers during winter months. Officers are responsible for washing the cruisers during spring, summer, and fall.
•	Trying to keep the server running until end of December when they will be changing over to the Strafford County server.
•	Chief has indicated he needs to start budgeting more for building maintenance as the building is getting older.  He has had repairs to the boiler.  Question asked is: How old is the boiler and what is the expected service life remaining?

Acct 4220 Fire
•	Major expenses for primer pump and 2 gauges.  Question asked is:  How is he planning to pay for major expenses of primer pump and gauges?  The Committee assumes  it would come from line 631 Equipment Maintenance.  If not, then where is it going to come from?
•	Extra time has been spent training new staff after Deputy Chief left in November of 2012.
•	Lt. Roy and Capt. Smith have left the department and duties have had to be shifted.

Account 4240 Building Inspection/Code Enforcement
•	Budget on track

Account 4290 Emergency Management & Forestry
•	No money spent year to date as there have been no disasters
•	Budget on track

Account 4299 Other Public Safety
•	BOS increased officer hourly rate but not detail price. It is difficult to budget for outside details so the Chief has asked BOS to create a revolving fund.

Account 4312 Highways & Streets
•	Warrant Article purchases for the Loader and 4x4 pick-up have been completed 
•	Highway building improvements are scheduled to be completed in approximately 4 weeks

Account 4316 Street Lights
•	Budget on track

Account 4319 Equipment Mechanic
•	Town mechanic has asked the BOS to use CRF to cover first quarter major expenses.  The BOS wants to wait until the end of the year to see what is left in the budget.

Account 4324 Solid Waste Disposal
•	Quonset Hut construction issues were explained to the Committee by Selectman Jarvis.  She stated the project is still under the $18,400 voted on at Town meeting.
•	Budget on track

Account 4411 Health Officer
•	Budget on track

Account 4414 Pest Control/ACO
•	Budget on track

Account 4415 Health & Other Agencies
•	Money is paid out near the end of the year, after 2nd tax bills are due.

Account 4441 Welfare
•	Laura Zuzgo, Welfare Officer, reported there has been an increase in activity over the last two weeks.
•	Budget on track

Account 4520 Parks & Recreation
•	The Committee asked the Director to please submit a quarterly report.  
•	Budget on track

Account 4550 Library
•	Book Drop Box disintegrated
•	Budget on track

Account 4583 Historian
•	Budget on track

Account 4612 Conservation
•	Budget on track

Account 4711 Long Term Bonds & Notes
•	Budget on track

Account 4721 Int- Long Term Bonds & Notes
•	Budget on track

Account 4901 Land & Improvements
•	Budget on track

Account 4902 Capital Outlay/Equipment
•	Budget on track

Account 4903 Capital Outlay/Buildings
•	Budget on track

Account 4909 Improvements Other Than Buildings
•	Budget on track

Account 4912 Transfer to Other Funds
•	Budget on track

Account 4915 Capital Reserve Funds
•	Budget on track

Account 4916 Expendable Trust Funds
•	Budget on track.

Discussion and Review:
•	Tax rate has gone from $6.85 in 2013 to $6.19 in 2014
•	BOS decided to buy down the rate with $100,000 from the unassigned funds and the $62,500 voted on at Town Meeting.
•	Unexpected return of funds from health insurance in the amount of approx. $40,000.  The BOS voted to pay $25,000 toward the School District bill for the bond.
•	The unassigned fund balance now has 9.2%.
•	Question asked: Does the Town have a policy on the percentage to be maintain by the Town?  A policy has been considered and tabled by the BOS in FY 2013 and it continues to be a criticism of the auditors.

Revenue:
•	Approximately 1/3 outstanding – new tax bills & CRF’s
•	At 2nd quarter review, the Committee asked for a report yr to date in comparison with last year.  The Committee did not receive the report they were looking for.
Budget Meeting Schedule:
•	The Committee would like a copy of the BOS questions and the Department answers. 
•	Two meetings in November the 13th and the 20th
•	Three meetings in December the 4th, 11th, and 18th
•	One meeting in January on the 8th.

Other Business:
•	IT Committee has presented their recommendations to the BOS
•	Possible new server by the end of 2013
•	An informal poll of the employees was conducted concerning health insurance
•	Committee members can pick up budget books
•	Salary lines reflect raises given this past year
•	BOS has not made a decision on raises, whether it will be a merit based raise, a COLA, or no raise at all.

Adjourn:
Motion Terry Jarvis, second J. R. Jones to adjourn the meeting.  Vote was unanimous
The meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM.

Next Meeting:
The next meeting will be help on November 13th at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall.

Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Zuzgo

Next Meeting
7 PM Wednesday, November 13th, 2013 
At the New Durham Town Hall

A video recording of this meeting is on file with the Office of the Town Clerk, is available for public viewing during normal business hours, and will be retained in accordance with the New Hampshire Municipal Records Board rules established under RSA  33-4:4, or for a minimum of 24 months.