Budget Committee Draft Meeting Minutes
May 21st, 2020 6:30pm
Members – Marlene Freyler (Select Board Rep joined at 6:53pm), Justin Dohrn, Doug Southard,
Mark Fournier and Laurie Colburn joined the meeting via a Zoom meeting.
Timothy Mckenna was absent
Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator was present
Pledge of Allegiance
New Business:
- Elect new Chair/Vice Chair roles
Motion: Mark Fournier motioned to appoint Laurie Colburn as Chair.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 3-0 in favor, Laurie Colburn abstained
Motion: Doug Southard motioned to appoint Mark Fournier as Vice Chair.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 3-0 in favor, Mark Fournier abstained
- The Committee discussed filling a vacant Budget Committee Member seat, held by Marlene Freyler prior to her election to the Select Board. The Committee will request a notice be posted in The Bridge seeking volunteers and will revisit this subject at the next meeting.
- The Committee reviewed the minutes from the February 20th, 2020 meeting.
Motion: Mark Fournier motioned to approve the minutes of February 20th, 2020.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 5-0 in favor
- The Committee discussed 1st Quarter, 2020 expenditures and did not identify any areas of concern but did ask Karen about 2020 revenue. Karen outlined that vehicle registration revenue is down by about $30,000 but the office believes that is a timing issue and it will be resolved as Emergency Orders are rolled back. She does have concerns regarding the 2020 State Rooms & Meals as well as Highway Block Grant funding, approximately $85,000 and $100,000 respectively. There is some COVID-19 relief available which the Town is pursuing.
- Laurie asked the Committee about thoughts on spending more time, prior to the budget preparation, digging into specific areas of the budget and comparing expenditures to other communities of similar size, demographics and geography and reviewing this information with the Department Heads prior to the budget season kickoff. The other members agreed and the Committee will establish member to department responsibilities at the next meeting. Mark suggested also taking time to spend “a day in their shoes” partnering with Departments to understand in more detail their department objectives. Again, all agreed.
- Mark and Doug asked about Budget Committee responsibilities and
several training opportunities were shared as well as a discussion regarding
access to the Committee’s bylaws. Laurie will try to get an electronic copy of
the budgeting handbook, produced by the New Hampshire Municipal Association,
and distribute this to all members. Reviewing the bylaws will be added to a
future agenda as well.
Motion: Marlene Freyler motioned to adjourn at 7:11pm.
Second: Mark Fournier
Decision: 5-0 in favor
Future Business:
- The next Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for June 18th, 2020.