Town of Nottingham
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Minutes of the December 10, 2009 Public Meeting
Approved by Committee December 17, 2009
Attendance (X = present, E =excused) |
Members at Large |
Role |
Term Ends |
X |
Charlene Andersen |
Chair, Capital Improvement Program Rep. |
2010 |
|
Kyle Barry |
School Building Advisory Committee Rep. |
2011 |
X |
Chet Batchelder |
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Rep. |
2012 |
X |
Scott Curry |
Impact Fee Committee Rep. |
2010 |
X |
Donna Danis |
Capital Improvement Program Alt. |
2012 |
X |
John Decker |
School Building Advisory Committee Alt. |
2011 |
X |
Michael Koester |
Vice Chair, HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Alt. |
2011 |
|
Lovely Love |
Board appointed member at large. |
2010 * |
X |
Doug Simmons |
Board appointed member at large. |
2010 * |
* member appointed by committee to fill vacancy, term will be up at next election. |
Other Board Membership |
Board Representing |
Term Ends |
X |
Gary Anderson |
Selectmen Representative |
2012 |
|
Dave O’Brien |
School Board Representative |
2011 |
Agenda
7:00 Call to order, introductions, Review minutes from 12/3
7:15 Town Departments (note: order/times subject to change)
7:15 Assessing Board
7:30 Highway
7:45 Recreation
8:00 Police
8:15 Fire
8:30 Committee Reports
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Report – Chet
CIP Committee Report - Charlene
School Building Committee Report – Kyle
Impact Fee Study Committee – Scott/Donna
School Board Representative Report – David
BOS Representative Report - Gary
8:40 Other Business & Roundtable
Call to Order and Introductions
Chair Andersen called the meeting to order at 7:03PM.
The committee went around the room and introduced themselves.
Also in attendance; John McSorley, Jason Neuman, John Fernald, Janet Horvath, Gunnar Foss, Jaye Vilchock, Scott Canney, Heidi Seaverns, Heidi Carlson, Peter Bock, Mary Bonser, Charlie Brown
Review minutes from 11/12/09
Motion made by Mr. Batchelder/Seconded by Mr. Decker, to accept the minutes of 12/03. During discussion, several corrections were made and the motion was restated. The motion passed; 6 yea/0 nay/abstentions: Koester, Simmons
Assessing Board - 7:28PM
John McSorley (Chair) and Jason Neuman reviewed the Revaluation of Property account (01-4152.10-xxx) with the committee. They stated that line 392, AS Valuation Update, the largest increase in the amount of $69,700 was to perform a full evaluation as the last being in 2005. They indicated that this figure had been negotiated down from the original bid. This increase was offset some in the reducing lines 390, AS Contract Assessor and 391, AS Data Verification, as these are evaluation maintenance lines that will not be needed as much with the full evaluation. Additionally $300 was added to support members to go to the annual conference in November as well as $100 increase in the annual software maintenance fee.
Highway – 7:38PM
John Fernald started with a review of the Highway account (01-4312.10-xxx). Mr. Fernald indicated that he budgeted for additional maintenance in line 022 where he has been following the manufactures service plan with the dealer on two of the vehicles. This equates to 4 services a year for each at 250 hours with the 1000 hour service to be more significant. Line 028, HYW Sand/Gravel/Stone was also increased by $10,000. This line has not seen an increase in the last several years and supported 24 miles of road. Mr. Fernald indicated there were minor increases in the phone (line 220) and drug testing (line 350) lines. He also indicated that a new truck planned in the CIP would not be requested this year.
Mr. Fernald went on to discuss the Shim & Sealcoat (01-4319.10-xxx) and Construction – Reconstruction (01-4313.10-xxx) accounts where he indicated that the shim and sealcoat request was the same as last year and the warrant article request for the Kennard road work was the same as last years request for Deerfield road.
Danis questioned fuel, where the estimate is 2.75 at the same usage. Mr. Curry noted that the main highway department budget is approximately 8% over last year with the inclusion of the new loader (line 025) voted in last year bringing other items such as maintenance into reality.
Recreation – 8:02PM
Janet Horvath reviewed the Parks and Recreation account (01-4520.10-xxx) with the committee. Indicating that the salaries (line 010) was increased to include additional hours for the assistant throughout the course of the year in support of writing policies. This line also increased returning the lifeguard figure to previously supported amounts. The REC Equipment/Supplies/Maintenance (028) line included a $1,000 for the replacement of a lifeguard chair.
Mr. Batchelder asked about the recreational revolving fund and any planned uses. Ms. Horvath expressed her desire that the fund would help fund a recreational complex or ball field and that studies would be needed to plan for such.
Ms. Andersen asked about the life expectancy of the new life guard chair and Ms. Horvath indicated that there is a 7-10 year expected life of a new chair which cost around $1,000.
Ms. Horvath indicated that the after school enrichment program and wider horizons program was added this past year where the fees collected pay for supplies but does not pay all the expenses such as the classes run by the recreation department. Other program summaries included that soccer attendance was up, flag football was consistent with last year but down the prior year and that the number of concerts was reduced by one due to funding.
Mr. Batchelder asked Mr. Brown to look into the oversight of the Recreational revolving fund by the Trusties of the Trust Fund. Ms. Horvath indicated that there was also a change in funding from the state grants where the grant was paid for next year already and would show in the recreation revolving fund but would be missing in next year’s.
Police – 8:20PM
Chief Foss reviewed the Police Department (01-4210.10-xxx) account with the committee. He indicated that funds from PD Salary P/T (line 012) were moved to PD Salary F/T (line 010) in the current year as salaries were increased as a result of filling an open position. This increase was carried forward into the budget. It was noted that there is also a small increase in PD Rock Cty Atty (line 016) and a slight decrease in PD Dues/Conferences (line 024). PD Cruiser (line 043) was again funded to support a new 2100 Crown Vic cruiser. This was a $0 budget last year as the PD was able to forgo a new cruiser last year. Peter Bock indicated that the select board negated a cruiser last year and affirmed that this is needed for next and is fully supported by the select board. An amount of $450
is included in PD Equip/Procure/Maintenance (line 044) to support the changeover/replace equipment to from the old cruiser to the new, yet the budget on this line is down overall. A figure of $500 was requested in PD Radio Repair (line 046) to replace rechargeable batteries in the radios that are not hold the charge the way they should.
Fire – 8:31PM
Chief Vilchock started with a review of the Fire department account (01-4220.10-xxx). He indicated that there was a change in the calculations for salary. Since the state allows up to 52 regular hours for firefighters, the department was changing the way that the full time firefighters were to be paid moving some of the F/R Full Time Overtime Salary (line 011) to F/R Full Time Salary (line 010). Mr. Curry requested clarification of the fund swapping between the overtime and full time lines as the committee was unable to get the figures of the swap to balance. Chief Vilchock further indicated that the F/R Part Time Salary (line 011) was needed to fill in for when a full time employee was unable to work. He went on to say that the skid unit, which was indicated to be replaced in the CIP, was
replaced this past year after and accident and funded around 50% by insurance. Chief Vilchock indicated that the $4,100 in F/R Service Contracts (line 014) was for an exhaust cleaning service contract that is supposed to be cleaned twice a year. This service was performed at $1,190 this past year. The F/R Supplies/Equipment (line 038) is to fund a toughbook laptop and two vehicle mounts. There was much discussion on the need for a toughbook as several laptops could be bought for the cost of a single toughbook. The F/R Vehicle Maint (line 042) includes funds to convert the old cruiser to replace the fire department car and a rebuild of the pump on engine #3. F/R Lease/Purchase (line 043) of $59,945 is to fund the payments for the new engine. Also mentioned were F/R Dispatch (line 018) is covered in the county tax rate, F/R Medical Supplies (line 020) is covered in the ambulance fund. F/R Breathing Apparatus (line 022) budget was
decreased $1,000 as the equipment passed gone through its 5 year testing and was not due for the next test until 2014. F/R Dues (line 024) is up a little where uniforms/cleaning, office supplies, equipment/office and equipment maintenance (lines 032, 036, 038 & 044) are down.
Chief Vilchock then discussed the Ambulance account (01-4220.20-xxx) with the committee indicating that AMB Telephone (line 220) was in support of 2 cell phones in the ambulance one for voice and one for data. He reminded us that this was funded through a warrant article pulling funds from the Ambulance fund.
The chief also indicated that there would be a $50,000 request in a warrant article to add to the capital reserve fund.
Ms. Andersen inquired about the lights at the station all night long and what the plan was to limit the use of these lights. The chief indicated that light were off on the inside other than 2 emergency light and that the lights were left on outside for safety reasons.
Planning Board – 9:14PM
Ms. Andersen invited Scott Canney to discuss the Planning Board (01-4191.10.xxx) account. Mr. Canney spoke to the increase in the PB Planner (line 011) to $25,000 to include $10,000 for an update to the Master Plan as well as updates to workforce and zoning modules by Jack Mette. This in effect is stage two to the HCPP work.
Motion made by Mr. Curry/Second by Mr. Koester, to vote on a sense of the committee regarding line item 01-4191.10-011 (PB Planner). Voting in the affirmative was Koester, Curry, Andersen, Batchelder, Anderson and Simmons, abstaining Decker and Danis who indicated that they supported the idea but needed further justification via quotes for the $10,000 figure.
HCPP Grant Advisory Committee Report – 9:39PM
Mr. Batchelder indicated that the consultant is finalizing the report for submittal and the committee is virtually completed. Electronic copy will be included and Mr. Batchelder indicated that the town owns all of the results.
CIP Committee Report – 9:46PM
Ms. Andersen reported that the committee met this past Tuesday and indicated that some of the 2016 information has not come in yet. The next meeting is scheduled for December 16. She suggested that the committee should start looking at long term forecasting based on some of the past experience after the budget cycle.
School Building Committee Report – 9:51PM
Mr. Decker reported that he attended the December 8 meeting in Mr. Barry’s absence. He indicated that the meeting was lightly attended and discussions centered around potential options for classroom expansions and the survey that is expected to be mailed with the community news letter. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 5 with agenda topics of; educational specifications, the committees working matrix and an update on the school facility.
Impact Fee Study Committee Report – 9:53PM
Mr. Curry indicated that they have not met. Ms. Andersen indicated that she was going to call the consultant.
School Board Representative Report – 9:55PM
Ms. Andersen reported that Mr. O’Brien requested that questions regarding the school budget get forwarded to Jack Caldon.
BOS Representative Report – 9:56PM
Mr. Anderson discussed that there had been a meeting about single source recycling.
Other Business/Round Table – 9:58PM
Ms. Andersen indicated that we would not meet with the School Department until 7:45 at our December 17 meeting. The committee made the decision to start meeting the meeting at 7:15 with a review of the minutes.
There was a reminder that the tax rate sheet calculation was still due to the committee as well as a new request for a analysis summary on the current tax collection.
Committee members welcome Doug aboard.
Motion to Adjourn
Motion made by Ms. Danis/seconded by Mr. Batchelder to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 10:04 PM.
Respectively submitted,
John Decker
Future Meeting Dates of Interest
12/17 School Budget – Final Review including tax impact & Town Department Heads (if needed)
01/07 School Budget – Final Review Including Tax Impact
Action Item Tracking
Action Item |
Who |
Assigned |
Status |
Explanation of FD salary changes |
Vilchock |
12/10 |
|
Tax rate calculation sheet |
Anderson |
12/10 |
|
Tax collection analysis summary |
Anderson |
12/10 |
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