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Minutes
Selectmen’s Budget Workshop
October 23, 2006
8:05 AM Chair Bonser opened the meeting.
Members: Mary Bonser, Peter Bock, Bill Netishen, Town Administrator Charles Brown and Heidi Seaverns.
Department Heads present: Heidi Carlson, Jay Starr, John Fernald, Phil English, Paul Colby and Janet Horvath.
The first department scheduled was Fire/Rescue. Jay Starr, Chief and Heidi Carlson, Deputy Chief were in attendance to present the budget. Salaries were figured at 4% COLA for the full time personnel, the part time and overtime wages remain the same. The service contracts line has decreased because a portion of this request has been allocated elsewhere within the budget (dues line and publications line). This line deals with insurance billing, firehouse software, defibrillator maintenance contract, and compressor (fills air bottles) maintenance contract. Ms. Carlson stated that the Board should begin to think about either increasing the stipend and/or additional full time personnel as the number of calls and administrative work has increased dramatically. She also stated this was not a request for this year. The
department is at a critical point in terms of calls vs. available personnel. The increase in call volume is easy to see however the amount of administrative work required to keep the department going is not reflected in those numbers. The Board would like a narrative describing the Chief’s position and the work associated with it. Ms. Carlson stated that she would contact Newmarket Dispatch in regard to their fee. She had heard that they are planning some capital improvements and as a result, the fee the Town pays may increase. The supply line shows an increase. The department is going to set up first in bags for the fire trucks. These bags would have the same supplies as the bag in the ambulance and could be used at a call when the ambulance is already at another call. This would allow personnel responding to start treatment if necessary while waiting for another ambulance to respond. Ms. Carlson also stated that it is getting increasingly harder to get supplies from the
hospital. The publications line is increased so the NFPA codebooks can be updated which should be done yearly. The department would like to put more focus on training in 2007 and as result; the training line is increased. The department put eight members through EMT Basic training and three through EMT Intermediate training in 2006. They would like to have the funds available for more advanced training for those members that are willing and able to do it. Since the department no longer has an explorer program, they would like to make every training opportunity available to those who are interested. OSHA has implemented a regulation regarding safety vest/jacket for all those personnel that will be involved in or near a roadway. The vest/jacket must have reflective striping visible 360 degrees around. The uniform line reflects the purchase of these vest/jackets. They will be compliant for Route 4 traffic (based on speed limits, traffic flow, etc.). The department would like to begin
the replacement of fire hoses. The newest four-inch hose is 18 years old and the cost to replace the hose is $ 500 per 100 feet of house. The Matching Grant line is matching funds (10%) for the grants that the department will apply for. There first choice is for a diesel exhaust system for the new fire station. Having no further questions from the Board, both the Chief and Deputy Chief left at 8:35AM.
The next department budget to be discussed was the highway. John Fernald was in attendance to present the budget. Mr. Brown informed the Board that there is a problem with ledge on either side of the Freeman Hall Bridge and this would delay the opening of the bridge. Most likely, the ledge will need to be blasted, and any change in construction needs to be okayed by DOT before it is done. Board members wondered why they didn’t know about the ledge before beginning the project. Mr. Fernald explained that the borings done for the project were only done in the immediate area of the bridge. The discussion went back to the highway budget. Mr. Fernald stated that salaries for the department were increased by 4 %. Mr. Brown has added a line for clerical support for the department. He told the Board that the Road Agent does
all this administrative work at home on his own computer. The Selectmen’s office staff can perform this work for the Road Agent and this line will track that expenditure. There are a number of lines in the budget that do not appear to be spent down such as mowing and culverts. This money was used during the floods and is reflected in the last line of the budget- 5/06 Flood. These lines will not be spent down so the budget does not go over the bottom line figure. The parts, equipment maintenance and supplies lines are all being increased-these have been overspent in the past few years. The salt line is unchanged. The price of salt per ton has dropped but last year was a mild winter and the Town has ownership of more roads. The fuel line was increased by 10%. Construction/Reconstruction article amount is $ 192,500. This will be for about 3000 feet of road on Flutter Street and 2500 feet on Deerfield Road. Mr. Fernald stated he might be able to get more done with this money.
This project would finish Flutter Street. He does not plan to encroach on anyone’s property-the road will follow the same footprint-as he did on Gebig Road. The Shim/Sealcoat line is $ 220,000. The Road Agent stated that it is very important to maintain the roads once you have gotten them to A/B status (good construction). As an example, Mr. Fernald stated that Deerfield Road, Flutter Street and Kennard Road are all F’s. Mr. Fernald stated that he may have to buy a 2-yard sander but he will purchase that out of the operating budget, if needed. The only other warrant article for the Highway department is the $ 50,000 contribution to the Capital Reserve Fund for equipment. A brief discussion followed about upgrading the end of Priest Road (500 feet). The Road Agent thinks the work should be done. The work would cost $ 18,000. The Board thanked Mr. Fernald for his time and he left the meeting.
The Police Department was the next scheduled budget to be discussed. The Chief stated that the salary line reflects the 4 % increase. The salary line also includes an additional officer to be hired around June 07. The Chief is proposing to add an additional officer because of the increased demand for services and the increased population in Town. There has been no additional officers added to the department since 2001 and the population of the Town has increased by 18%. The hiring of this additional officer would allow 24-hour coverage in Town. The officer that is attending the Academy graduates on November 17th, 2006. At that point, the department will still be down an officer. Chief English informed the Board that he has a candidate for that position. He is certified part time. If he completes the
hiring process and is hired in time, the Chief will send him to the next Academy, which starts in January with a March graduation. The Board asked the Chief to provide them with population numbers as well as staffing numbers from the surrounding Towns. The uniform line is increased due to the hiring of an additional officer as well as providing replacement uniforms for the other members of the department. The service contract line reflects budgeting for networking the computers at the department and the purchase of additional licenses for software. Currently, there is one computer that has the incident reporting software on it and officers have to wait until the computer is free to write their reports. The new cruiser is in the operating budget. Mr. Brown informed the Chief that the Board will most likely reduce the cruiser line by at least $ 5000 and they will use the money in the CRF established for replacement vehicles towards purchase of this vehicle. The Chief told the Board
that he would be able to furnish a trade in value for the old cruiser, so it would be possible to drop that line even further. The Chief has proposed a warrant article in the amount of $ 24,443 for the purchase of an Expedition for the department. This vehicle would not be used as a patrol vehicle. The Chief reminded the Board that there have been no additional vehicles added to the fleet since 1988. Project 54 will furnish the lights, sirens and etc; the Town will need to purchase a radio and decals for the vehicle. The Chief would like two additional phones lines for use in emergency situations. This would allow the business line and fax line to remain free if there was an emergency such as the incident on Route 4 when the individual threatened to blow up his house. Since the Board had no further questions at this time, the Chief left at 9:55AM.
Paul Colby stepped forward to present the Building Inspector and Emergency Management budgets. The Building Inspector budget overall has decreased by $ 900.00 from last years. The budget reflects a 4% salary increase, and increase in the mileage budget, and the purchase of new codebooks for 2007. The Emergency Management budget is a new budget and is a work in progress. The grant line reflects match money; typically grants require a 10-50% match. The equipment line is for the purchase of cones, barriers and POD supplies. Mr. Colby and Mr. Brown will do additional work on this budget.
The Board decided to hold another budget meeting on October 26, 2006 at 8:00AM.
The last budget to be discussed was the Recreation Department. Janet Horvath presented the budget. The only major change from last year’s budget is she is proposing to make the Director’s position full time. She informed the Board that she is working 40 hours a week now. The department has taken on the soccer program as well as flag football and both are taking up a lot of time to administer. Ms. Horvath informed the Board that people are always asking for additional programs to be started. Mr. Brown stated he would hate to loose Ms. Horvath from the Selectmen’s Office but she has said that she would still put together the Town Report. Ms Horvath stated that the Recreation departments in other towns produce their annual reports. The Board will consider her request. Having no further questions from the
Board, Ms. Horvath left the meeting.
Chief English brought the Board members the information they had asked for about the surrounding Towns populations and Police staffing numbers.
Mr. Brown informed the Board he would like them to consider providing vacation and holiday benefits to the permanent part time employees. He proposes to give ½ day of vacation per month and ½ holiday pay to employees that work 15-20 hours a week and ¾ day of vacation per month and ¾ holiday pay to those employees who work at least 25 hours a weeks. He went on to state that he did not think this would have a significant impact to the budget since he budgets for a full year of those positions. The Board would like to see actual numbers and then they will consider the idea.
10:43 AM Motion: Bonser, second Bock to adjourn.
Vote: 3-0 in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heidi Seaverns
Approved as corrected
10/30/06
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