Joint Meeting with the Select Board
Present: Jen Richardson (Chair), Kim Firth (Vice Chair), Laurie Colburn, Justin Dohrn, Tim McKenna, Kim Firth, Beth Downs (Select Board Representative), Chip Meany (Select Board)
Absent: Dawn Gezelman, Marlene Freyler (Select Board)
Also attending: Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Meeting called to order at 7:03 pm
New Business:
Etiquette Review: Jen reminded everyone that in order for everyone to hear and understand what is being said, please have one person speaking at a time.
Old Business:
Review minutes from September 19, 2024 meeting
Motion: Beth Downs moved to approve the minutes from the September 19, 2024 meeting as written.
Discussion: Minutes should show that Laurie Colburn attended via zoom.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 6-0, All in favor with amendment of Laurie attending virtually.
Review of Survey Responses:
Kim reported the results of 88 responses to the survey. [A PDF of the presentation can be found separately.] The article about the survey will appear again in December Bridge and on posters around town. The results will be final at the end of December.
School Board Meeting Update: Kim reached out to Eric Gregoire but didn’t reach him. She reached Jim Bibbo, Bradford’s representative on the KRSD Municipal Budget Committee.
Jim Bibbo shared that there will be an overall increase in the budget of about 2% which would be about a $1.00 increase in the tax rate. The teacher’s contract isn’t set as yet and he anticipates an increase, voted by the taxpayers. This could have an effect on the tax rate. The School Board is working on a capital improvement plan to make major repairs. Jim said the costs of capital investments will not impact 2025 budget, but will in 2026.
The Budget Committee discussed when and how to get school funding information to the public. There was an idea to have an info session at the district level. Karen mentioned that it would be more effective to have a meeting in Bradford. The matter was left undecided.
Department Budgets:
Community Action Program: Representatives from Community Action Program explained that the $10,500 line item helped pay for year-round activities at the Mountain View Senior Center, food pantry, Meals on Wheels, and the resource center. These activities impact the lives of over 1000 area residents.
Parks & Recreation, Patriotic Purposes: Devin Pendleton reported that these department line items will remain the same as 2024. Without wages the expense request is $10,750. The 2024 budget with wages was $21,509.
Library: Jason Grey and Devin Pendleton presented the budget request for 2025. The request is the same as 2024: $95,479. The committee asked about an increased electricity expense. Jason explained that electricity has increased due to mini-splits installed in 2024, but there is a saving in fuel oil. The Budget Committee suggested that the Library pursue the lower rate of electricity from Bradford Community Power.
Fire Department & Rescue Departments: Without wages the expense Fire Department request is $110,000. The 2024 request was $112,000. Grants received by the Fire Department during 2024 for energy saving, training and equipment have totaled about $35,000. The Rescue budget request is $9,700. The 2024 request was $$9,150. Rescue Contract Service request is $80,000, in 2024 the request was $95,000. In 2024, the ambulance contract has been reviewed resulting in a $24,000 saving to Bradford in 2025 and beyond.
Police Department: Ed Shaughnessy, Police Chief, presented the budget request.
Overall budget request is $110,000 without payroll, about $3,000 less than 2024. Notes from Ed Shaughnessy sent by email previous to the meeting:
- Wages – PD Grant Funded for $8200 is a grant from the NH Dept of Highway Safety. It is offset by a revenue line item outside of our department budget.
- Conferences/Training is up as I moved an item (Taser training recert) from the training supplies line item. This training use to be a refresher training but is now one class with active and new instructors attending. Due to that the cost has risen from $175 in years past to now almost $500. This is an important item as we need to recert as a department every year. Sgt. Flanagan is our taser instructor.
- Telephone dropped slightly as we are up and running with the new phone system. Last year’s budget included a small installation/upgrade charge which I have dropped off.
- Software Support is up as our record management system yearly dues increased slightly. This is still the best platform for us to use as a smaller department. Other options are up around 10K for the year.
- Dispatch is down as we dropped off the 9k upgrade charge from last year. This upgrade fee is once every 5ish years.
- Dues/Subscriptions is up slightly as we now have two digital speed limit signs. Each sign has a yearly fee if we want to be able to pull reports and stats from them.
- Supplies/Training is down as I moved the taser recert training over to conferences and lowered the amount of training ammo we order for next year. I believe we have enough in inventory to complete all required training next year without leaving us short. I have always tried to stay one year ahead on ammunition bc in years past it could take between 6 months and a year to get in.
- Rental expenses are up because rent went up $50 a month.
- Protective vests is up from last year but down from two years ago. The cost of vests has gone up over the years from 750 to 1k. Vests need to be replaced every 5 years from manufacturer date. This is due to warranty, liability and reliability. Reasoning is that due to contact with the body, sweat, wear and tear and exposure to the elements the fabrics break down.
Kim Firth asked Ed for his reaction to the budget survey which indicated that about one-half of the responses (45 of 88 responses) showed that the amount of money we spend on the Police Department is too high. The discussion led to the conclusion that ultimately the voters will decide the amount to spend on police services. Two members of the Committee said the discussion was not pertinent.
Agenda for next meeting:
Joint meeting with Select Board, November 21: Appearances for budget review: Highway, Transfer Station, Executive, Town Clerk
Review survey results.
Important Dates:
CIP Presentation to the Planning Board is Tuesday, November 26, 2024 during regular Planning Board meeting.
Target Date for Public Hearing on the 2025 budget is January 30, 2025 (must happen by Feb. 14th; noticed by Feb. 7th)
The last date to submit a petitioned warrant article is February 4, 2025.
Adjourn
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn the meeting.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 6-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 8:37 pm
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary