The Budget Committee Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll call –Laurie Colburn (Chair), Doug Southard, Beth Downs, Jen Richardson (via ZOOM), Tim McKenna, Marlene Freyler (Select Board ex-officio), Mel Pfeifle, (Select Board), Andrew Pinard (Select Board) and Karen Hambleton (Town Administrator) in attendance.
Receipt of Correspondence:
- Review of Minutes
The Committee reviewed the minutes of the December 16, 2021 meeting.
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the minutes from December 16, 2021.
Second: Doug Southard seconded the motion.
Vote: 6-0 in favor
The Committee reviewed the minutes of the January 6, 2022, meeting.
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the minutes from January 6, 2022.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 6-0 in favor
Review of Budget and Expenditures:
- Interim Chief Jim Raymond and Chris Frey (private citizen who used to do the fire department budget) – Chris explained how he came up with the numbers that were submitted in October. He said the figures were based on what was spent so far and dividing what was left in the remaining months of the current year. He said there is no way he can predict what a new Fire Chief will want when they come in. Chris said there is a need for a Virtual Medical Responder training in place in Bradford which offers some virtual assistance before Rescue arrives to a house. He said there are also some members that need to be trained. There was some discussion regarding training. Tim asked if they keep track of who responds to each Fire/Rescue call. Chris said not at this time. Tim said he would like to know the context as to where the numbers came from. Doug and Chris will get together to discuss the budget and get back to the Budget Committee and Select Board.
- Preliminary Feedback from Select Board on Warrant Articles – Andrew stated they had a constructive discussion about the warrant articles. He said they followed the CIP for most of the warrant articles. Andrew said there will be some contingencies.
o Fire Department Station Repair Fund – Andrew said there is a warrant article to paint the fire department and if that passes, the $3,000 won’t go in because it would have been put aside to paint.
o Salt and Fuel Fund – Andrew said there was a conversation with the Road Agent, and they discussed whether they could find $1,000 within our budget to meet the needs of the salt and fuel fund out of another budget line.
o Town Equipment Repair Fund – The Board is looking to repurpose this fund to make major repairs and purchase new or used equipment. Andrew said that at the last Select Board meeting they approved the purchase of a used dump truck for $60,000 to replace the one that was totaled. The monies in this fund were not available to help with the purchase because the fund was designated as a repair fund. Hence the change.
There was discussion on the bottom line of the budget. - Executive – $219,013.44 – No concerns regarding this line.
- Election, Registration & Vital Statistics – $8,139 – Karen would like to add $3,100 to the elections line item to purchase two new computers for the Supervisors of the Checklist because they are still using Windows 7.
- Financial Administration – $103,391- No concerns regarding this line.
- Revaluation of Property – $28,700 –
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the $28,700 for Revaluation of Property.
Second: Tim McKenna seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Legal – $30,000 – Skip for now.
- Employee Benefits – $1 for Employee Benefits
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the $1 Employee Benefits line.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Planning and Zoning – $21,476 – Laurie proposed removing $5000 from this line. It will be discussed further later.
- General Government Buildings – $83,800 – Karen would like to add $500 to this line to cover the difference between adding improved antivirus software on all Town computers and discontinuing another software program.
- Cemetery – $25,000
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the $25,000 budget.
Second: Laurie Colburn seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Insurances – $91,700
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the line item for insurances.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Other General Government – $6,050
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept the line item in other general government
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 3-0 (2 abstained, 1 not present) – will be revisited in two weeks. - Police Department – $595,007.86 – Wait for next meeting.
- Fire Department – Wait for next meeting.
- Rescue Squad – Wait for next meeting.
- Rescue Contract Services – $57,200
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept Rescue Contract Services as $57,200.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 3-0 (2 abstained, 1 not present) – will be revisited at the next meeting. - Code Enforcement – $26,550 – Wait for the next meeting.
- Emergency Management – $500
Motion: Laurie Colburn motioned to make this line item $1.
Second: Tim McKenna seconded the motion.
Vote: 2-2 (1 abstained, 1 not present) – will be revisited at the next meeting. - Highway – Will be revisited at the next meeting.
- Bridges – $35,000
Motion: Beth Downs motioned that the Select Board consider moving this appropriation to a warrant article funding the 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 3-0 (3 abstained) – Will be revisited at the next meeting. - Street Lighting – $2,200
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to accept this line item.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Solid Waste Collection – Wait for the next meeting.
- Solid Waste Disposal – $23,600 – Wait for the next meeting
- Inoculations – $1
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept inoculations for $1
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Welfare – $7,467.85
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Welfare Payments – $29,520
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Parks and Recreation – Wait for the next meeting.
- Library – $8,2560 – Wait for the next meeting.
- Patriotic Purposes – $18,000 –
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Jen Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote: 4-1 (1 abstained) - Community Center – $22,450 –
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Other Conservation – $1,000 –
Motion: Beth Downs made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Marlene Freyler seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained) - Long-term Notes – $48,000 – Wait for the next meeting.
- Interest on TAN Notes – $4,000
Motion: Marlene Freyler made a motion to accept this line item.
Second: Beth Downs seconded the motion.
Vote: 5-0 (1 abstained)
Additional Business:
- Doug Southard – Big Picture Overview – Doug said they now have a more complete calculation for Bradford.
Future Business:
- Next meeting – January 27
- Important Dates
o February 11, 2022 – Last date to hold 1st Public Hearing (must be noticed by February 4, 2022).
o February 22, 2022 – Last date to provide Select Board with annual budget.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 p.m.
Second: Doug Southard seconded the motion.
Minutes submitted by Donna Long, Recording Secretary.