MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
WILLINGTON BOARD OF FINANCE
Town Office Building
40 Old Farms Road
March 13, 2003
7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Members Absent:
Lynn Brown, Chairman Robert Hipsky, Jr., Vice-Chair
Mary Goodrich, Alternate Henry Becker
Jim Harvey
Bill Hodge
Kathy Blessing
Paul Schur, Alternate
Chrmn. Brown called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M.
Motion made by J. Harvey to seat M. Goodrich for R. Hipsky. Seconded by B. Hodge. All in favor, motion carries.
Motion made by B. Hodge to seat P. Schur for H. Becker. Seconded by J. Harvey. All in favor, motion carries.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion made by M. Goodrich to accept March 11, 2003 minutes as submitted. Seconded by B. Hodge. All in favor, motion carries.
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Board of Selectmen’s General Government budget request 2003-2004:
John Patton was present to discuss the Selectmen’s General Government budge proposal. The request represents an overall increase in the Selectmen’s portion of the General Government budget of $19,090 or 0.78% over last year’s approved budget. The largest increase is attributed to increased employee benefits and projected increases in worker’s compensation, liability, auto and property insurance. These costs alone are expected to increase by $44,000 or 16.79%. He explained that some changes are being evaluated that could possibly reduce the expenditures by $75,000.
Selectmen’s General Government Budget request by department:
111 – Selectmen Request of $100,669, a $279 or 0.28% increase
130 – Accounting Services Request of $146,652, a $1,479 or 1% decrease
134 – Assessor Request of $69,024, a $3,635 or 5.56% increase
137 – Revenue Collector Request of $69,041, a $271 or 0.39% increase
141 – Town Council Request of $30,000, same as last year
181 – Town Office Ops. Request of $60,600, same as last year
182 – Town Hall Ops. Request of $3,200, same as last year
183 – Consulting Engineers Request of $23,000, a $2000 or 8% decrease
184 – Forest Management No request, eliminated
200 series:
211 – Police Protection Request of $1,000, a $4,000 or 80% decrease
212 – School Guard Request of $2,642, a $77 or 3% increase (wages)
233 – Public Safety (EHHD) Request of $22,400, a $410 or 1.86% increase
300 Series:
311 – Public Works Request of $620,663, an $18,308 or 2.87% decrease
342 – Cemetery Request of $2,000, same as last year
351 – Transfer Station Request of $274,460, a $6,104 or 2.27% increase (salary step)
500 Series:
503 - Capital Projects Request of $47,000, a $48,000 or 50.53% decrease
504 – Capital Reserve Request of $185,000, a $95,000 or 105.56% increase (future projects)
510 – Accrued Sick Request of $11,500, same as last year
511 – Dog Fund Request of $15,800, an $18 or 0.11% decrease
513 – WYFSS (incl. Seniors) Request of $42,941, a $259 or 0.60% decrease
800 Series:
811 – Social Security Request of $67,000, a $2,000 or 3.08% increase
821 – Unemployment Comp Request of $10,000, a $9,000 or 900% increase
831 – Employee Insurance Request of $125,000, a $15,000 or 13.64% increase
841 – Pension Fund Request of $29,500, a $6,500 or 18.06% decrease
851 – Insurance Request of $70,000, a $25,000 or 55.56% increase
871 – Miscellaneous Request of $5,000, same as last year
900 Series:
910 – 2000 general bond Request of $204,445, an $8,370 or 3.93% decrease
910 – 1995 general bond Request of $54,280, a $1,880 or 3.35% decrease
910 – 1990 general bond Request of $119,700, a $7,350 or 5.79% decrease
930 – Capital Expenditures Request of $21,000, a $19,000 or 47.5% decrease
Motion made by K. Blessing to accept the Selectmen’s Budget request as presented excluding those requests which were previously acted on. Seconded by M. Goodrich. All in favor, motion carries.
John Patton requested that the Board reinstate the money cut from the Assessor and Revenue Collector’s budget requests. He said that the requests were very trim and the amounts were necessary. After much discussion the following motions were made:
Motion made by M. Goodrich to reinstate the $635 that was cut from the Assessor’s budget request. Seconded by P. Schur. Aye votes from M. Goodrich, J. Harvey, L. Brown, B. Hodge and P. Schur. K. Blessing abstained. Motion carries.
Motion made by M. Goodrich to reinstate the $271 that was cut from the Revenue Collector’s budget request. Seconded by P. Schur. Aye votes from M. Goodrich, K. Blessing, L. Brown and P. Schur. J. Harvey and B. Hodge voted nay. Motion carries.
NEW BUSINESS General discussion of the Town, Region and State financial/budget situation.
CORRESPONDENCE No significant correspondence
GOOD & WELFARE None to report
ADJOURNMENT Motion made by B. Hodge to adjourn at 9:18 P.M. Seconded by
J. Harvey. All in favor. Motion passes.
The next meeting will be held Thursday March 20, 2003 at 7:00 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi A. Leech, Secretary
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