SUNAPEE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Town Budget Hearing
Town Office Meeting Room
Tuesday, January 14, 2014-7:00PM
Present: Fred Gallup Chairman, Shane Hastings, Joshua Trow, Suzanne Gottling and Donna Nashawaty, Town Manager
Absent: Emma Smith Vice-Chairman
Also Present: See Sign-in Sheet
Chairman Gallup opened the public hearing at 7:05PM.
Chairman Gallup suggested that instead of doing the whole budget presentation that the Board address any questions or concerns the public have on the budget. Donna Nashawaty and the Board reviewed the articles that will be on the 2014 Town Warrant.
Peter Urbach asked if the balances of the cash reserve funds could be available, it would be helpful in making the decision to support the warrant article.
Spec Bowers asked if there would be a hydro warrant article this year. Chairman Gallup stated that there hasn’t been very good yields out of the Hydro Plant the last couple of years because the “flows” have been down. Chairman Gallup went on to say that, the Board really did not have a discussion regarding an article this year. Charlotte Brown asked what the amount in the Hydro Fund was. Donna Nashawaty stated at year-end that there was $446,000, of that $446,000; $250,000 is the required amount to set aside to replace the generator. Donna Nashawaty went on to say that the Hydro made about $110,000 this year, in part because the Town sold the “rec credits” on the open market to make additional income. After some discussion, $100,000 will be used to pay down the Safety Service building loan.
Motion add a warrant article to expend $100,000 from the Hydro Fund to reduce the payments of the Safety Services Building by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. After more discussion, the amount changed to $125,000. Motion was amended to add warrant article to expend $125,000 from the Hydro Fund to reduce the payments of the Safety Services Building by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. David Bailey asked if the $125,000 could be used towards one of the proposed warrant articles to help “knock down” the proposed Town Tax rate. Chairman Gallup relied that the money must be used for a capital improvement project that has been approved already. Chairman Gallup explained that the money could not be used towards any of the unapproved articles in case they were not passed. Donna Nashawaty explained initially when the hydro warrant article was written, it was very specific; it had to go to the Town for a vote and on
what project the money would go towards.
Donna Nashawaty explained the (town portion) of the 2014 tax rate calculation.
Chairman Gallup gave the proposed operating budget, $6537, 357, and the default budget, $6454, 109 totals for article 17. These figures represent the Town budget, as well as the Water, Sewer and Hydro.
Chairman Gallup closed 8:26pm
Selectman Gottling proposed an agenda item at the next Board of Selectmen’s’ meeting; the Board would develop a plan for how to solicit information about the use of the old library building.
The Board assigned the numerical order of the warrant articles and recommended the following:
•Motion to recommend article to purchase F-350 (H1) from CR w/trade by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Trow. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to purchase and equip fire tanker by Selectman Hastings, seconded by Selectman Trow. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to add to Fire Apparatus CR by Selectman Trow, seconded by Selectman Hastings. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to add to the Town Buildings Maintenance CR by Selectman Gottling, Selectman Trow. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to purchase commercial leaf vacuum by Selectman Hastings, seconded by Selectman Gottling. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to add to Conservation Commission Fund by Selectman Trow, seconded by Selectman Hastings. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to add to Cemetery Trust from Fund balance by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to add to Milfoil Control Non CR by Selectman Hastings, seconded by Selectman Trow. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to expend from Dirt Road CR for Stagecoach Road by Selectman Gottling, seconded by Selectman Hastings. Unanimous
•Motion to recommend article to expend from Hydro Fund to reduce the payments of the Safety Services Building by Selectman Trow, seconded by Selectman Gottling. Unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 8:42PM
Submitted by,
Barbara Vaughn
Administrative Assistant
Approved: _____________
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Frederick Gallup, Chairman Emma Smith, Vice Chairman
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Shane Hastings Suzanne H. Gottling
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Joshua Trow
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