BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
January 14, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m..
ROLL CALL
Kristin Lewis Savage, Chair
Martha Sumner, Vice Chair
Tricia Holt
Ben Sadewicz
David Gerns
Darrell Britton, Excused
Dennis Heffernan
Barry Weymouth, Arrived 6:37 p.m.
John Sherman, Selectmen Ex-Officio
Also Present: Sean Fitzgerald, Town Manager; Joyce Ingerson, Selectmen; Robert Gray, Selectmen Chair (arrived 6:55 p.m.) and Department Heads
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Joyce Ingerson, Plaistow Selectmen
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
B. Sadewicz moved, second by M. Sumner, to approve the minutes of the January 04, 2014 meeting. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 7-0-0 U/A.
B. Sadewicz moved, second by D. Gerns, to approve the minutes of the January 07, 2014 meeting. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 6-0-1 (Holt abstaining).
BUDGET REVIEW:
S. Fitzgerald offered a memo with some additional changes to the 2014 budget that had been made by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) at their recent meeting.
Tax Collector’s Budget:
S. Fitzgerald noted that some numbers had been accidently changed and voted on. The corrected numbers needed to be voted on again. The correct bottom line for the Tax Collector’s 2014 budget should be $50,816.00, an adjustment of $6,324.00.
Human Services Budget (Social Service Agencies):
S. Fitzgerald explained that the BOS had voted to decrease the Human Service Agencies line by $5,000.00, which represents the amount that would have been given to the Sad Café. He added that BOS had serious concerns over the current operations at the Sade Café and did not want to give them monies that they couldn’t be sure would be properly used.
M. Sumner asked if the Sad Café was seeking additional funding from the Town.
J. Sherman explained that the $5,000.00 was the same amount as last year, and that was why the budget would be decreased with the illumination of the donation.
There was a discussion regarding the issues that the BOS had with providing funding to Sad Café. It was noted that there application was quite late and did not contain details of how they intended to use the money. It was also noted that there had been a change in leadership with the Board of Directors of the Sad Café and they were going in a different direction than their charter.
B. Weymouth arrive 6:37 p.m.
J. Sherman noted that there was a motion to reduce the amount to $1,000.00, which was defeated.
D. Heffernan asked if other contributing towns had been polled regarding their contributions to Sad Café.
J. Sherman offered he was not aware of any polling.
S. Fitzgerald added that he believed there had been significant decreased in funding. He reiterated that they was a new director; new board; they were late with their application; missing information and it was challenging to verify what their plan was for the upcoming year.
J. Sherman noted that in 2013 Atkinson provided $1,500.00; Kingston provided $1,000.00; and Danville $1,800.00.
It was suggested that the Committee take a vote on the correction to the Tax Collector’s 2014 Budget.
S. Fitzgerald reminded that the change was a correction.
B. Sadewicz moved, second by T. Holt, to approve the Tax Collectors Budget in the amount of $50.816.00. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
K. Lewis Savage asked what the vote was regarding the motion to reduce the funding to Sad Café to $1,000.00.
J. Sherman noted that it was 2-3-0. He added that the motion to reduce the funding to zero was 3-2-0. J. Sherman offered that had the vote to reduce the funding to $1,000.00 passed he was prepared to make an additional motion to withhold the funds until further into the year.
B. Sadewicz suggested that one of the reasons the they were struggling may be because the Town isn’t providing funding.
J. Sherman offered that the budget they provided showed that they would be viable without the funding from Plaistow. He noted that they projected $60,000.00 in revenues with $40,000.00 in operating costs, the overage to be used to clear an $18,000.00 arrearage in their building rental fees.
B. Sadewicz offered that he would be voting no on this issue as he felt that Sad Café was a wonderful venue that was needed by the children in the community.
B. Weymouth agreed, noting he had played guitar there many times.
D. Heffernan suggested a motion to change the amount.
K. Lewis Savage questioned why this issue was coming to the Committee at the last minute.
J. Sherman replied that due to the change in directorship at Sad Café their application was very late. He made a correction to the revenue figures that Sad Café had provided noting the anticipated revenues were $84,000.00 and expenses were $60,000.00 with the rest going to paying the back rent.
K. Lewis Savage offered that the Sad Café was obviously an organization in need, but she expressed concerns over throwing good money after bad. She questioned if this matter could be taken up at Deliberative Session. K. Lewis Savage noted that the Budget Committee had already voted to approve the amount of $59,482.00 (the amount without $5,000.00 to Sad Café) and she was inclined to leave it that way pending further information and review. She suggested that matter be brought up again at Deliberative Session. K. Lewis Savage added that no one was saying that the Sad Café was a bad organization, but that there were concerns. She added that the money could be put in the budget and then the BOS could decide not to expend it. She noted that she verified that the Budget Committee did vote on the
$59,482.00 amount reiterating that it should be discussed at Deliberative Session where the status of the Sad Café could be evaluated to see where they were heading.
B. Weymouth offered that they were just trying to better themselves.
J. Sherman noted that in their presentation to the BOS they said they take in $50,000.00 in admissions.
D. Gerns asked if there was a way to manage the money to insure stability.
J. Sherman reiterated that if there had been any funds approved by the BOS he had intended to make a motion to send a letter to Sad Café to explain why the monies were reduced and what could happen depending on the path they went down.
K. Lewis Savage suggested that the meeting move forward to get to the Public Hearing and the matter could again be discussed after that.
J. Sherman offered that the application could be photocopied and distributed to the Committee.
K. Lewis Savage stated that the approved amount for the Human Services budget would remain at $59,482.00 pending further discussion.
It was noted that the bottom line request for the 2014 budget was $7,883,499.00
REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS OF WARRANT ARTICLES
The Committee reviewed changes to specific Warrant Articles. It was noted that the Articles had been re-ordered and sequentially renumbered.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (POLICE UNION)
Article P-14-24: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $41,444.80 for the current fiscal year and to approve the items included in the proposed 9 year collective bargaining agreement reached between the Town of Plaistow and Teamsters Local 633 Union comprised of Police Officers, Dispatchers and Administrative staff. The contract calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits:
Calendar Year |
Increase % |
Estimated Gross Payroll Cost |
Estimated Health Insurance Savings |
Estimated Net Contract Cost |
2010 |
0% |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
2011 |
0% |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
2012 |
0% |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
2013 |
0% |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
2014 |
2% Wage |
$41,444.80 |
$6,006.88 |
$35,437.92 |
2015 |
2% Wage |
$33,580.74 |
$13,551.66 |
$20,029.08 |
2016 |
2% Wage |
$30,188.94 |
$16,356.98 |
$13,831.96 |
2017 |
2% Wage |
$27,830.64 |
$17,174.83 |
$10,655.81 |
(Recommended by the Board of Selectmen 3-2-0 on 01/13/14) and the Budget Committee)
[Intent: This seven-year police contract averages increases to the salary matrix of less than 2% per year (plus non retroactive step increases for those who are eligible). The contract reduces the rate of cost sharing for health insurance from 90/10 to 85/15% over the term of the contract. The savings from the health care reduction is estimated to be $57,488.78 over the years of the contract (2010-2017). The estimated health care cost savings achieved through this contract represents approximately 40% of the total cost of the wage increase. The contract also calls for minimum usage of ETO Tine for all member of the unit(reduction of annual Earned Time Off (ETO) buyout); ETO time “HardCap” for all members of the unit capping financial liability of the Town; ETO time buy out reduced from biannually to
annually (January). This agreement is for the period from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2018.]
S. Fitzgerald noted that there had been an agreement reached between the Town and the Teamsters Local 633 Union. He explained the matrix associated with the agreement and the changes to the ETO buyback system.
D. Heffernan asked if the Committee members could get a copy of the contract.
J. Sherman offered that the vote of the Union did not happen until last Friday, which is why this is a last minute addition to the Warrant.
S. Fitzgerald noted that close to half of the wage increases were paid by concessions from the Union.
D. Heffernan asked if anyone was grandfathered in at a 90/10 split for the healthcare insurance.
S. Fitzgerald replied that no one in this unit was grandfathered.
J. Sherman noted that the chart shows that the Union has been without a contract for four (4) years and there is nothing retroactive in this agreement.
K. Lewis Savage offered that she had been living these negotiations and was confident that negotiations were done in good faith.
J. Sherman added that he urged all voters to approve the Warrant Article.
There was discussion regarding the fact that if agreement had not been reached in time to place this Article on the Warrant then a costly Special Town Meeting may have been needed at a later date.
M. Sumner moved, second by D. Heffernan, to recommend Article P-14-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement (Police Union) as present. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
REPLACEMENT OF THE FIRE DEPARMENT COMMAND VEHICLE
Article P-14-23: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate $50,000 to replace the 2003 Ford Expedition Command Vehicle for the Fire Department and to withdraw the funds from the Fire Department Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund and the Public Safety Impact Fee (Fire Appartus Sub-allocation) for this purpose?
(Recommended by the Board of Selectmen (5-0-0 on 1/13/14) and the Budget Committee (0-0-00; and this funding is included in the 2014-2019 Capital Improvement Program as approved by the Planning Board.)
Appropriation: $50.000
Withdrawal from Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund -$35,000
Withdrawal from Public Safety Impact Fee (Fire Apparatus Sub-allocation) -$15,000
$0
[Intent: The existing 2003 Ford Expedition Command Vehicle was the first Command Vehicle for the Fire Department, and was purchased, in part, from an outside source. This vehicle is used on a daily basis by the Fire Chief for both emergency response and routine department business (fire prevention, code enforcement/inspections, etc.). It is also used by the Officers when the Fire Chief is out of Town for an extended period. The estimated replacement cost is approximately $50,000. Expending $15,000 of the Sub-allocation of the Public Safety Impact Fee is also necessary due to the length of time they are allowed to be held by Statute (6 years)).]
S. Fitzgerald noted that they were able to identify $15,000.00 in the Public Safety Impact Fee and $35,000.00 in the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund and this was an appropriate way to expend those monies. He added that if Public Safety Impact Fees are not spent within six (6) years of being collected then they have to be returned to the developer.
K. Lewis Savage noted that the Committee had seen this Article before there had just been a change in the way it was being funded.
J. Sherman offered there was other funding available, just not for apparatus. He added this had the side benefit of better accounting for the Impact Fees.
B. Sadewicz moved, second by T. Holt, to recommend Article P-14-23 Replacement of the Fire Department Command Vehicle in the amount of $50,000. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
K. Lewis Savage noted that the Budget Committee Meeting would be suspended at 7:10 p.m. and would resume after the Public Hearing on the Budget.
K. Lewis Savage opened the Public Hearing on the 2014 Proposed Budget at 7:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Kristin Lewis Savage, Chair
Martha Sumner, Vice Chair
Tricia Holt
Ben Sadewicz
David Gerns
Darrell Britton, Excused
Dennis Heffernan
Barry Weymouth
John Sherman, Selectmen Ex-Officio
Also Present: Sean Fitzgerald, Town Manager; Joyce Ingerson, Selectmen; Robert Gray, Selectmen Chair and Department Heads
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by John McArdle, Plaistow Fire Chief
J. Sherman noted that the meeting was also posted for the Board of Selectmen should something need to be acted upon at this Public Hearing.
K. Lewis Savage reviewed the proposed 2014 Budget from the MS-7 noting the following:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
4130 – EXECUTIVE - $292,894 ($16,548 increase)
- Increases include: selectmen, town manager and permanent positions salary increases
Decreases include: rental/leases and technical supplies
ELECTION/REGISTRATION/VITAL STATISTICS - $118,178 ($9,3444 increase)
Comprised of 2 budgets: elections and town clerk
4140 – ELECTIONS - $18,600 ($ 5,988 increase)
- Increases due to number of elections this year
4140 – TOWN CLERK - $99,578 ($3,356 decrease)
- Training costs increased
- Office supplies decreased
FINANCIAL ADMINISTATION - $300,801 ($7,032 decrease)
Comprised of 4 budgets: Finance Administration, Assessor’s Office, Tax Collector, Financial accounting
4150 – FINANCE ADMINISTRATION - $93,384 ($2,885 decrease)
- Increase due to data processing, training, and office supplies
- Decrease in professional audit
4150 – ASSESSOR’S OFFICE (including human resources administration) - $148,022 ($ 3,879 decrease)
- Increase in salary
- Decrease in Assessor’s contract, data processing, supplies and mileage
4150 – TAX COLLECTOR - $50,816 ($216 decrease)
- Increases in data processing
- Decreases in training
4150 – FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (Treasurer, Budget Committee & Trustees) - $8,579 ($52 decrease)
- Decrease is due to mileage
4153 – LEGAL EXPENSE - $40,000 Level Funded
4155 – PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION - $1,709,823 ($102,080 increase)
- Increases due to retirement contributions, health insurance and workers compensation costs and employee incentives, mostly items mandated by outside agencies
PLANNING AND ZONING $92,014 ($6,594 increase)
Comprised of two budgets Planning and Zoning
4191 – PLANNING - $84,904 ($6,621 increase)
- Increase in salary, mapping, attorney fees, postage, equipment and impact fee update
- Decrease in periodicals and mileage
4191 – ZONING - $7,110 ($27 decrease)
- Decrease in books and expense reimbursement
4194 – GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS - $179,305 ($7,699 decrease)
- Increase in uniforms, vehicle maintenance, mileage, service contracts, maintenance
- Decrease in heat, repairs
4195 – CEMETERIES – $0
Now in with Highway/Public Works
4196 – INSURANCE (town liability, building etc) - $ 83,000 – Level Funded
- Calculated on overall town property value
4197 – ADVERTISING AND REGIONAL ASSOCIATION (notices, town report, dues) - $ 25,771 ($669 increase)
- Increase costs associated with notices and publications and dues
OTHER GENERAL GOVERNMENT - $33,311 ($2 increase)
Comprised of 2 budgets: cable and conflict of interest
4198 – CABLE - $ 32,711 ($1 decrease)
- Consultant costs decreased, but new equipment increased by same amount
4199 – CONFLICT OF INTEREST - $600 ($3 increase)
- Reduction in Training costs but increase in postage
PUBLIC SAFETY
4210 – POLICE and ACO - $1,849,736 ($15,386 increase)
- Increases were in salaries, prosecutor, union contract, rentals and leases, equipment purchase, gasoline, capital equipment purchases,
- Decreases were in data processing, equip maintenance/repair, officer salaries (due to census changes), uniforms, telephone/communications
4220 – FIRE - $537,836 ($9,663 increase)
- Increases were in salary, uniforms, data processing, fees, events, training, hazmat, equipment maintenance, gasoline, supplies
- Decreases were in telephone/communications, medical services, mileage, bunker gear
4240 – BUILDING INSPECTION - $114,582 ($ 6,546 increase)
- Increase in salary, gasoline, vehicle maintenance/repair and consulting
4290 – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - $23,994 ($4,000 increase)
- Increase due to equipment purchase
HIGHWAYS AND STREETS
4311 – HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION - $287,361 ($8,184 increase)
- Increases due to salary, gas and oil
- Decreases due electric, heating, equip maintenance
4312 – HIGHWAYS AND STREETS - $558,300 ($3,360 increase)
- Increase due to repairs, equip purchases, traffic supplies, street sweeping
- Decreases due to rentals and leases
4316 – STREET LIGHTING - $97,000 - Level funded
SANITATION
4323 – SOLID WASTE COLLECTION - $515,000 - Level funded
4324 – SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL (Landfill) - $47,000 - Level funded
WATER DISTRIBUTION
4332 – WATER SERVICES - $45,505 ($10,552 decrease)
- Increases in uniforms, mileage, fuel and equip purchase
- Decreases in salary, electric and waterline repairs
HEALTH & WELFARE
4411 – ADMINISTRATION (Health Department) - $ 79,542 ($100 increase)
- Due to medical services/employee flu shots
4414 – PEST CONTROL (Animal Control) – now in with PD budget
4419 – HEALTH AGENCIES (Human Service Agencies) – $ 59,482 $6,880 decrease)
Organizations that the town contributes to on a regular basis to help provide affordable services to residents
- Sad Café no longer funded and SeaCare Health
- Slight increase in Rockingham Meals on Wheels
ADMINISTRATION AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE $33,090 – Level Funded
Comprised of 2 budgets: Welfare administration and Welfare assistance
4441 – WELFARE ADMINISTRATION - $740 - Level funded
4442 – WELFARE – DIRECT ASSISTANCE - $32,350 - Level Funded
CULTURE & RECREATION
4520 – RECREATION - $ 211,382 ($462 increase)
- Increase in part-time employees, telephone, electric, concerts; holiday events
- Decrease in director salary, training, supplies, mileage, summer transportation, youth disbursements
4550 – LIBRARY - $511,282 ($17,132 increase)
- Increases are due to salary, social security, insurance, retirement, supplies, technical services and legal
- Decreases as in the telephone and gas budget lines
4583 – PATRIOTIC (Memorial Day) - $1,000 - Level funded
4589 – CULTURAL (Old Home Day) - $26,619 - Level funded
CONSERVATION
4611 – Administration & Purchase of Natural Resources (Conservation Commission) - $9,690 ($1,553 increase)
- Increase Due to water testing and supplies
DEBT SERVICES
4711 – PRINCIPAL DUE ON LONG TERM BONDS - $0 - Level fund
- No bonds are in existence
4721 – INTEREST DUE ON LONG TERM BONDS - $0 - Level fund
- The Town has no bonds at this time
4723 – INTEREST DUE ON TAN’s (tax anticipation notes) - $1 - Level funded
- Place keeper should the town need any tax anticipation notes in 2014
The total proposed budget for 2014 is $7,883,499 which is a $162,748, or 2.1%, increase over the 2013 budget of $7,720,751.
K. Lewis Savage asked of there were any questions or comments on the proposed budget. There were none.
J. Sherman offered thanks to the Department Heads from the Board of Selectmen for their well prepared, detailed presentations and quick response to question.
K. Lewis Savage, on behalf of the Budget Committee, echoed Mr. Sherman’s praise.
WARRANT ARTICLES
It was noted that the first Article P-14-01 is the slate of officers.
M. Sumner moved, second by T. Holt, to waive the reading of the full warrant article. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
Article P-14-02 – Operating Budget - $7,883,499
It was noted that the default budget, which is calculated based on last year’s budget with adjustments for certain mandated items such as contracts and completed projects, is greater than the currently proposed budget. The default budget is $8,030,101.
Article P-14-03 – Highway Department Equipment Capital Reserve Fund Deposit - $78,000
This Article is routinely put on the Warrant to put away monies for the orderly replacement of Highway Department Equipment.
This article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and by the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
It was noted that the current balance in the Highway Department Capital Reserve Fund is $128,828.96.
J. Sherman noted that all the current balances for all the Capital Reserve Funds have been researched and the numbers updated in the appropriate Warrant Articles after each intent statement. He added that it was a good indication that the Town is in a good financial state.
Article P-14-04 – Replace Police Mobile Radios - $31,500
This Article is proposed for the replacement of six (6) mobile radios for the Police Department and is year two of a two-year plan.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-05 – Communications Radio Repeater Enhancement - $31,000
This article proposes to spend monies from the Unexpended Fund Balance for the purchase of two (2) wireless canopy repeaters to be installed on Route 108. The total cost of the project is $62,000 and the other $31,000 is a developer contribution. This Article is proposed as non-lapsing until the project is completed or until June 30, 2016, whichever is sooner.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-06 – Communications Radio Dispatching System Capital Reserve Account and Associated Deposit - $25,000
This Article proposes to establish a Communications Radio Dispatching System Capital Reserve Account with an initial deposit of $25,000. The funding is proposed to come from the Unexpended Fund Balance and Board of Selectmen would be the authorized agents to expend the funds in this Reserve Account.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-07 – Replacement of Police Department Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) - $9,900.
This Article proposed to withdraw $9,900 from the Unexpended Fund Balance to purchase six (6) new AED units for the Police Department.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-08 – Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund Balance - $105,000
This Article routinely appears on the Warrant to deposit monies into the Fire Department Capital Reserve Account to allow for the orderly replacement/purchase of Fire Department vehicles.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
It was noted the current balance of the Fire Department Reserve Fund account is $118,753.40.
Article P-14-09 – Establishment of a Recreation Plan Capital Reserve Fund and Associated Deposit - $50,000
This Article proposes to establish a Recreation Plan Capital Reserve Fund account with an initial deposit of $50,000. The purpose of this account would be to set aside monies for the implementation and/or completion of recreation projects included in the Town’s Strategic Recreation Plan.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-1-0 and the Budget Committee 9-0-0.
Article P-14-10 – Replacement of Fire Department Cardiac Monitor and Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) - $34,600
This Article proposes to raise $34,600, $17,000 from the Medical Equipment Revolving Fund Balance and $17,600 from taxes for the replacement of one (1) of the Fire Department’s cardiac monitors and one (1) AED.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-11 – Cell Tower Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund Deposit - $125,000
This Article proposes to add $125,000 to the existing Cell Tower Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. The reserve fund is set up for work that will be necessary repair/maintain the water/cell tower, which is a good source of income for the Town.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-1-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
The current balance of the Cell Tower Capital Reserve Fund is $163,240.07.
Article P-14-12 – Building Systems Capital Reserve Fund Deposit - $11,519.16
This Article proposes to deposit $11,519.16 to the Building Systems Capital Reserve Fund Account, which is established for unexpected repairs that may be needed to any of the Town’s buildings.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 3-2-0 and the Budget Committee 7-0-0.
The current balance in the Building Systems Capital Reserve Fund is $7,980.72.
J. Sherman noted that this Article was recommended by a vote of 7-0-0 where the majority of the other articles were voted at 8-0-0. He suggested that the Committee revote this Article so the votes that appear on the Warrant are consistent.
Article P-14-13 – Engineering Activities for the Replacement of the Fire Suppression System Fire Pumps and Pump House - $7,500
This Article proposes to withdraw $7,500 from the Unexpended Fund Balance account to review of the existing fire suppression system pump and pump house and begin engineering associated with the replacement of same.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-14 – Fire Suppression Pump and Pump House Capital Reserve Fund Deposit - $70,000
This Article proposes to raise $70,000 to deposit to the Fire Suppression Pump and Pump House Capital Reserve Account, which was established for the orderly replacement of these items.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 4-1-0 and the Budget Committee 9-0-0.
The current balance in the Fire Suppression Pump and Pump House Capital Reserve Fund is $140,055.35.
Article P-14-15 – Replacement of the Water Department Truck - $50,000
The Article proposes withdrawing $50,000 from the Water User Fee Account for the purpose of purchasing the replacement and outfitting of the Water Department truck.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-16 – Replace Fence and Sign at the Town Cemetery - $30,000
This Article proposes to raise $30,000 for the repair and/or replacement of the wrought iron fence along Elm Street in front of the Town Cemetery and the replacement of the Cemetery sign.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-17 – Transmitter Equipment for the Cable Department - $15,000
This Article proposes to withdraw $15,000 from the Unexpended Fund Balance to purchase Cable Department Transmitter Equipment to replace outdated equipment.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
Article P-14-18 – Conservation Fund Balance - $10,000
This Article routinely appears on the Warrant to raise monies to be deposited into the Conservation Fund, which is used to purchase land, easements and/or other land rights to preserve the natural environment.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0 and the Budget Committee 8-0-0.
The current balance in the Conservation Fund is $54,992. The current balance in the Forestry Fund is $26,841.
Articles P-14-19; P-14-20; P-14-21 and P-14-22 are not Budget related.
Article P-14-23 Replacement of the Fire Department Command Vehicle - $50,000
This Article proposes to raise $50,000; $35,000 from the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund and $15,000 from the Public Safety Impact Fee (Fire Apparatus Sub-allocation) for the replacement of the 2003 Ford Expedition Command Vehicle.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0. It was noted that the Committee reviewed this Article earlier in the evening.
B. Sadewicz moved, second by T. Holt, to recommend Article P-14-23 in the amount of $50,000. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
Article P-14-24 – Collective Bargaining Agreement (Police) - $41,444.80
This Article proposes to raise the sum of $41,444.80 for the current fiscal year and approve the items in the proposed nine (9) year collective bargaining agreement reached between the Town of Plaistow and Teamsters Local 633 Union. The details of this Article were discussed earlier in the evening.
This Article is recommended by the Board of Selectmen 5-0-0.
M. Sumner moved, second by D. Heffernan, to recommend Article P-14-24 in the amount of $41,444.80 and to approve the items in the nine (9) collective bargaining agreement with Teamster Local 633. There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
R. Gray noted the he didn’t like to speak at Budget Committee meetings because J. Sherman was the representative, but he would be bringing the suggestion back to the Board of Selectmen that the Articles be re-ordered so that Collective Bargaining Agreement is further up in the order. He added that he felt this was an important Article and the order should reflect that.
K. Lewis Savage agreed and offered that she didn’t this the Committee would object to re-ordering.
S. Fitzgerald noted that Article P-14-05 (Communications Radio Repeater Enhancement - $31,000) was noted as being non-lapsing for Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) purposes. He added that all Articles lapse after one (1) year unless they are specifically worded as non-lapsing. S. Fitzgerald noted that Attorney Sumner Kalman had reviewed the language.
J. Sherman added that the default for a Warrant Article is one (1) year so there needed to be language in the Article that would make it non-lapsing, but not indefinitely.
K. Lewis Savage reiterated her earlier comments about this being a good budget with only a slight increase. She again applauded that efforts of all involved.
S. Fitzgerald added his thanks to the Budget Committee members. He noted that they were reflective of this year’s Town Report theme, which is “teamwork.”
K. Lewis Savage closed the Public Hearing on the 2014 Proposed Budget at 7:45 p.m.
K. Lewis Savage re-opened the suspended Budget Committee meeting at 7:47 p.m.
It was noted that there was one Article, P-14-12 (Building Systems Capital Reserve Fund Deposit - $11,519.16) with a 7-0-0 vote while all others had votes of either 8-0-0 or 9-0-0. It was decided to re-vote to recommend this Article
M. Sumner moved, second by T. Holt, to recommend Article P-14-12 in the amount of $11,519.16 to be deposited in the Building Systems Capital Reserve Fund) There was no discussion on the motion. The vote was 8-0-0 U/A.
The topic of discussion returned to the funding of The Sad Café.
K. Lewis Savage noted that the Committee had received copies of The Sad Café’s application for funding. She added that there were three (3) members of the BOS present that could answer additional questions.
J. Ingerson offered that her son also used to go to The Sad Café when it was substance free. She noted that there was a lot of guess work with their application, but the bigger problem for her was that they were contemplating a program for a BYOB venue. She added that there was no management plan in place and there were just too many uncertainties. J. Ingerson noted that they do a great job but she couldn’t vote to commit the Town’s money without knowing how it would be spent.
K. Lewis Savage questioned what the harm would be to include it in the budget and just not expend it until the Town could see what’s going on.
R. Gray noted that the BOS could vote to, or not to, expend the monies.
K. Lewis Savage offered that she could see both sides, the need for funding and the struggles for The Sad Café and the concern of the BOS that any monies donated by the Town be spent appropriately.
J. Ingerson said that she could consider a lower amount.
K. Lewis Savage suggested that if there was money in the Budget then The Sad Café could be sent a letter noting the concerns of the Town and saying that there is $X available and to get all or part of it you have to do X, Y, Z. She added that the problem was that if there was no money put into the budget there would be none available to assist The Sad Café should they be able to improve their situation.
T. Holt offered that she knew they were trying to get an older crowd by bringing up bands from Boston. She added that it might not be the right fit for Plaistow.
M. Sumner reported about an incident she read in the paper where a group was not welcome to come back because there were incidents of beer bottles being left around.
J. Ingerson offered that their original mission was great, but they have gotten away from that and can’t show a plan for how they intend to get back there.
M. Sumner noted that every few years The Sad Café comes in looking for assistance because they are about to lose their lease. She added that she would have thought they would have gotten it together by now. M. Sumner reiterated that they were three (3) months late in submitting their financial assistance request.
J. Sherman added that if they could get a plan in place he would again consider the funding request.
D. Gerns offered that he would like to see some funding in the budget with provisos from the BOS on how it is expended. He noted it sounded like they were trying to expand their base and were losing focus. D. Gerns added that he agreed that they needed to be refocused before public funds are expended. He further noted that there were other ways to support The Sad Café without funding; he suggested that they could be assisted with their strategic planning.
R. Gray noted that he was a big procedure person and they did not have their application in even close to on time. He suggested that the matter be taken up again at Deliberative Session, where perhaps support could be increased. He added that at this point in the process he wasn’t agreeable to changing the vote of the BOS not to fund The Sad Café. He added that it needed to be made clear exactly what any funding would be supporting. He agreed that it would be best to put them in touch with agencies that could assist them with their actual business plan.
K. Lewis Savage stated that the best way to deal with this matter would be to bring it up for discussion at Deliberative Session. She added that would give an additional three (3) weeks to gather information and think about how best to proceed.
D. Heffernan agreed, noting that being able to review the application earlier in the process would have been helpful.
J. Sherman offered that the evening it was to be presented there all five members of the BOS were not present which added slightly to the delay. He noted that he would personally have supported including $1,000 in the budget for The Sad Café, but he was trouble by the fact that they might be looking to allow a BYOB situation.
J. Ingerson noted that Michelle Curran extended her apologies for missing the meeting as she had a prior commitment.
K. Lewis Savage noted whether or not to provide assistance for The Sad Café in the 2014 budget would be addressed at Deliberative Session.
J. Sherman stated that the Board of Selectmen had no intention to confer or cast any votes at this meeting.
Committee Reports
There were no committee reports at this meeting.
Old Business
There was no old business discussed at this meeting.
New Business
There was no new business brought forth at this meeting.
K. Lewis Savage adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
Dee Voss
Recording Secretary
| 
