Present: Jen Richardson (Chair), Kim Firth (Vice Chair), Laurie Colburn, Justin Dohrn, Tim McKenna (arrived 6:41), Dawn Gezelman, Beth Downs (Select Board Representative), Marlene Freyler (Select Board), Chip Meany (Select Board).
Also attending: Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm
Review minutes from December 12, 2024 meeting
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the December 12, 2024 meeting minutes as written.
Second: Laurie Colburn
Decision: 6-0, all in favor
Highway Cost Analysis – leasing, renting, purchasing equipment:
Information regarding a “lease-to-own” option, and other options for purchasing and leasing of a truck and backhoe were presented. Pam Bruss gave an explanation of how the Capital Improvement Plan had been adjusted to accommodate late-year requests from the Highway Department. The sense of the Budget Committee was not to recommend purchase of a truck and backhoe. A decision was not reached. The Committee will wait for a Select Board decision.
Economic Development – update on funding request: This request was removed from the Economic Development budget line during the December 16, 2024 Budget Committee meeting and added to the Other Govt Buildings line. It was also reduced to $1.
Budget Survey Results: Kim Firth presented a power point showing information gathered from a survey administered by Kim for the Select Board. The purpose of the survey, available online during October and November 2024, was to encourage civic engagement, increase transparency, and hear from the community about budget priorities. There were 132 responses. Results can be found on bradfordnh.org, or in the Town Office during regular office hours.
Town Meeting Preparation: Kim led this discussion with suggestions from the 2024 presentation. The sense of the discussion was that each committee member would take responsibility for part of the presentation. Decisions about this will be made at the next meeting.
Vote on Operating Budget:
Executive Department, Account 4130
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $243,610 for account 4130, Executive.
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Election, Registration & Vital Statistics, Account 4140
Discussion: The Committee decided to remove $400 from supply line for computer not needed at this time.
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $4,600 for account 4140. Election, Registration & Vital Statistics
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Financial Administration, Account 4150
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $105,368 for account 4150, Financial Administration
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Revaluation of Property, Account 4152
Motion: Tim McKenna moved to approve the amount of $47,500 for account 4152, Property Revaluation
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Legal, Account 4153
Motion Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $45,000 for account 4153, Legal
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Employee Benefits, Account 4155
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1.00 for account 4155, Employee Benefits
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Planning & Zoning, Account 4191
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $13,138 for account 4191, Planning & Zoning
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
General Government Buildings, Account 4194
No Vote: Adjust spreadsheet and vote at January 30th meeting. Lines adjusted by Select Board in their December 16, 2924 meeting: Handyman, Town Landscaping, Grant Writing
Cemetery, Account 4195
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $25,000 for account 4195, Cemetery
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Insurances, Account 4196
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $113,560 for account 4196, Insurances
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Other General Government, Account 4199
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $9,500 for account 4199, Other General Government
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Police Department, Account 4210
Motion: Justin Dohrn moved to approve the amount of $637,134 for account 4210, Police Department
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Fire Department, Account 4220
Motion: Tim McKenna moved to approve the amount of $159,000 for account 4220, Fire Department
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Rescue Squad, Account 4225
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $9,700 for account 4225, Rescue Squad
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Rescue – Contract Services, Account 4226
Motion: Dawn Gezelman moved to approve the amount of $80,000 for account 4226, Rescue-Contract Services
Second: Laurie Colburn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Building Department – Code Enforcement, Account 4240
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $26,780 for account 4240, Building Department-Code Enforcement
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Emergency Management, Account 4290
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1.00 for account 4290, Emergency Management
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Highway Department, Account 4312
Discussion of Gravel Line Item.
Motion: Dawn Gezelman moved to approve the amount of $737,630 for account 4312, Highway Department
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Bridges, Account 4313
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1.00 for account 4313, Bridges
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Street Lighting, Account 4316
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $2,400 for account 4316, Street Lighting
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Solid Waste Collection, Account 4323
Motion: Beth Downs moved to approve the amount of $100,910 for account 4323, Solid Waste Collection
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Solid Waste Disposal, Account 4324
Motion: Dawn Gezelman moved to approve the amount of $31,100 for account 4324, Solid Waste Disposal
Second: Laurie Colburn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Inoculations, Account 4415
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1.00 for account 4425, Inoculations
Second: Justin Dohrn
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Welfare, Account 4441
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $7,468 for account 4441, Welfare
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Welfare Payments, Account 4445
Motion: Kim Firth moved to approve the amount of $30,177 for account 4445, Welfare Payments
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Parks and Recreation, Account 4520
Reduced Select Board budget of 23,759 by $1,000
Motion: Dawn Gezelman moved to approve the amount of $22,759 for account 4520, Parks and Recreation
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 6 in favor, 1 not in favor
Library, Account 4550
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $95,479 for account 4550, Library
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 5 in favor, 2 not in favor
Patriotic Purposes, Account 4583
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $5,450 for account 4583, Patriotic Purposes
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Community Center, Account 4589
Motion: Justin Dohrn moved to approve the amount of $38,550 for account 4589, Community Center
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Other Conservation, Account 4619
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1,200 for account 4619, Other Conservation
Second: Kim Firth
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Economic Development, Account 4652
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1.00 for account 4652, Economic Development
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Long Term Notes, Account 4711
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $209,000 for account 4711, Long Term Notes
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Interest on TAN Notes, Account 4723
Motion: Laurie Colburn moved to approve the amount of $1,000 for account 4723, Interest on TAN notes
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Voting on Warrant Articles: Will be taken up at January 30th meeting.
Public Hearing: February 6, 2025, 7:00 PM. Second Public Hearing, if needed, February 13, 2025
The last date to submit a petitioned warrant article is February 4, 2025.
Adjourn:
Motion: Justin Dohrn moved to adjourn the meeting.
Second: Dawn Gezelman
Decision: 7-0, all in favor
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary