BUDGET COMMITTEE
Minutes of the September 10, 2009 Public Meeting
*Minutes are FINAL approved by Committee Vote
ATTENDANCE X = Present, E = Excused
ELECTED OFFICIALS |
ROLE |
TERM EXPIRES |
x |
Charlene Andersen, Chair |
Capital Improvement Program Rep |
2010 |
x |
Kyle Barry |
School Building Advisory Committee Rep |
2011 |
x |
Chet Batchelder |
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Rep |
2012 |
x x |
Scott Curry |
Impact Fee Committee Rep |
2010 |
x |
Donna Danis |
Capital Improvement Program Alternate |
2012 |
x |
John Decker, Outgoing Chair |
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Alternate |
2011 |
x |
Michael Koester, ViceChair |
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Alternate |
2011 |
x |
Lovely Love |
Board appointed Member at Large |
2010* |
|
|
Appointed by Committee to fill Term |
2010* |
|
|
|
|
|
Other Board Members |
REPRESENTING |
|
x x |
Gary Anderson Selectman |
Board of Selectman (BOS) |
2012 |
x |
Dave O’Brien School Board |
Nottingham School Board |
2011 |
AGENDA
7:00 pm Call to order and introductions
7:05~ Introduce BC Secretary Jill Sunde
7:10~ Review minutes from 4/30/09
7:15 Cable Franchise Committee – Brian Stucker
7:30~ Schedule Progress – Charlene Andersen
8:05~ HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Report – Chet Batchelder
8:10~ CIP Committee Report – Charlene Andersen
8:15~ School Building Committee Report – Kyle Barry
8:20~ School Default Budget Subcommittee – Michael Koester
8:30 pm Other Business & Roundtable
7:00 pm CALL TO ORDER-INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Andersen called the meeting to order. The committee went around the table and introduced themselves. The members welcomed new BC secretary Jill Sunde.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
7:03 pm Batchelder moved the minutes be approved and motion second. Minor changes in minutes required correcting a committee member’s name and deleting “introduction” which had been duplicated in error. Amendment accepted. Minutes passed with Scott Curry abstaining.
7:06 pm CABLE FRANCHISE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT:
Brian Stucker from the Nottingham Cable Franchise Committee presented a report to the members.
Current Comcast Cable contract will expire July 20, 2010. The initial contract began 20 years ago, 1990 and has involved three other companies. The Advisory committee has sent residents of Nottingham who are current cable subscribers a survey about the service, changes, satisfaction, etc. The survey is open to all town residents not just subscribers. Of the fees subscribers pay, 3% of the monies return to the town, no firm figures were available but the estimated value is $35,000.00. The town is then able to use these funds as the Board of Selectman (BOS) approve. The committee is researching how the fees can be allocated towards newer equipment purchases, providing service down Town roads with no cable, how future developers of subdivisions will be able contribute or pay in full the fees involved in providing cable. The
Advisory Committee is still learning about the subtleties of the contract, comparing other towns’ contracts, gathering feedback from other Nottingham committees, residents, the school, and the Comcast as well.
The Budget Committee asked a variety of questions regarding the contract: concerns expressed that the next contract not be for 20 years, training on new equipment, availability of channels, digital versus analog, and companies under consideration. The BC encouraged more distribution of surveys to residents via email and websites.
ACTION: Stucker assured the Budget Committee (BC) will received future reports regarding the process and recommendations of the Cable advisory committee and he or another member will be back to present updates.
7:35 pm MEETING SCHEDULE PROGRESS
Chair Andersen raised concern about the current schedule for BC meetings. Contact with School Administrative Unit (SAU) 44 may require future change to the schedule. Curry raised the question if the BC was already behind per the schedule, particularly the SAU schedule. O’Brien stated the SAU hopes to fill the position of Business Manager soon. Confirmed an Audit of the financials of the SAU is nearing completion. Once the figures are available, O’Brien will share details with the BC. Adding that the SAU intends to keep to the schedule of the first draft “Review and Question Submittal” for November 19, 2009. Chair Andersen wants to give members of the BC a week to review the Budget request before the scheduled meeting with the District to review on December 17, 2009. The public hearing is January
14, 2010, with the Deliberative Session set for February 3, 2010.
ACTION: Chair Andersen will contact SAU Superintendent Dr. Michael Ludwell regarding the dates.
O’Brien will send information to members as it becomes available.
7:50 pm REPORTS
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Report – Batchelder
Next meeting September 14, 2009
CIP Committee Report – Chair Andersen No meeting scheduled.
School Building Committee Report –Barry
Reported Nottingham school enrollment projections ranged from high of 766 to low of 671, average
figure of 728, for school year 2018-2019. The figures are from a revised Enrollment Projection report dated August 2009. The original projection from the January 2008 projected 681 students for the 2017-2018 school year. The committee is seeking the community’s input regarding the three options 1) Expand the school on existing site. 2) Build a new school. 3) Consider a cooperative building arrangement with Strafford School District. The committee will have a table at Nottingham Day on September 19, 2009 to provide education to the community.
SCHOOL DEFAULT BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE – KOESTER
No meeting scheduled. Koester, Danis, and Love set a date for September 17, 2009. O’Brien will advise the School Board of the date. Koester will call members and confirm location.
IMPACT FEES SUB-COMMITTEE – CURRY
Analyzing data, and meeting with the Mayberry Associates to draft the Ordinance for the next Town Meeting continues. Property Developers would be charged Impact Fees when building sub-divisions within the town limit. The size of the sub-division development has not been set. The monies collected from the fees would add additional funds to the Recreation Department and the School.
8:02 pm OTHER BUSINESS
O’Brian shared the Nottingham School District will have a Non-Audit Report soon.
Chair shared an email directed to the BC requesting a change in reporting of from Quarterly to Monthly Tax collection of properties. Chair wondered why the BC received the email, as it would be the BOS responsibility for changing. Gary Anderson of the BOS will submit concerns to the BOS at their next meeting. Discussion continued on subject of properties the town owns. Properties considered “land locked” (no roads leading in, boarding on other properties that were just left to the town when property owner died). Suggestions for disposable of these properties to landowners on their boarders may be of value to the town.
Koester raised the justification of empty buildings maintained by the town as is requested by the Historical Society. Anderson reported no BOS discussions held about empty buildings, but is a top priority for him. Chair recommends there may be missed Block Grant funding opportunities to maintain these buildings.
Curry would like to resign from the Impact Fees Sub-Committee and provide a suggestion for whom else to serve. There have been approximately four AD Hoc meetings with developer Mayberry Associates. The priority is to have a Warrant Article ready for Town Meeting. Donna Danis volunteered.
Koester asked if members would be interested in ride sharing to the upcoming Budget Finance Workshop in Bedford, NH on October 22, 2009. Chair encouraged others to sign up if they had not been to one of the workshops before. Koester and others going will coordinate driving together.
8:20 pm ROUNDTABLE Chair
Members go around the table for one last opportunity to present concerns.
8:22 pm ADJOURN
Motion made and seconded. Unanimous vote to adjourn.
DRAFT: Submitted 09/14/2009
Jill Sunde
FUTURE MEETING DATES OF INTEREST
10/08/2009 Town Budget - Revenues
10/22/2009 First Quarter School Financials Third Quarter Town Financials
11/22/2009 Town Budget - Draft 1
All meetings are at the Town Offices Conference Room 1 and start at 7 pm.
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