TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
6:30PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Dick Keller, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:35pm with Beth Rodd, George Cilley, Jon Marden, Gary Wall, Don Jackson and Marge Cilley, Secretary present.
Review and Consideration of January 26, 2012 Minutes:
Motion was made by George Cilley to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Jon Marden. Gary Wall was absent at that meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
Eileen Kelly, Chair – Town Hall Restoration Committee:
Eileen Kelly, Chair, Town Hall Restoration Committee stated the following: “The mission of the Town Hall Restoration Committee is to restore the Town Hall to a functional building for municipal services and community use. The best investment for the town is to modernize the building to provide for the town’s present needs, as cost effectively as possible, so that it can continue to serve Bradford for many years to come, consistent with its historical character.”
Eileen stated that this committee has been working since October, frequently twice a week. Several of the members have attended a Town Hall Mentoring Retreat with the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. Eileen Kelly passed out Jeff Taylor’s report on the Town Hall Forum held on January 14th.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief spent two hours with the Committee, giving them a lot of input.
Last Monday, Richard Monahon, Architect from Peterborough spent two hours with the committee and was at the town hall this morning to see what the situations is. Mr. Monahon would meet with the committee regularly, and would do all the coordination. He also stated that he is capable and willing to speak to any size groups if required.
Eileen Kelly emphasized the responsibility of the committee to do the restoration of the town hall the right way, do it effectively, efficiently and smartly.
Mr. Monahon proposed to provide the following for the Town’s use:
Schematic design for the replacement of the foundation with a full foundation with attention to the water conditions that have been observed.
Schematic design for the full code compliance for occupancy of the upper two levels of the building to meet both the requirements of the International Building Code, NFPA101, and the ADA.
Review of automatic fire suppression systems requirements and coordination with historic building fabric.
Implementation of energy retrofit recommendations from previous studies.
At this time, Eileen Kelly, Chair advised there is a great amount of studies already done that is available for anyone doing the work, and that will save the town a lot of money.
All work will be in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic preservation as outlined in the study by Christopher Closs.
Preliminary square footage cost estimates for the building for use in establishing budget for bond issue for use on or before the March 2013 town meeting.
Fees for the work described above will be a lump sum of $13,000.00.
Eileen stated that what they are asking for tonight is the Budget Committee’s approval and recommendation of the following Article:
Motion was made by Gary Wall “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000) to obtain architectural services to evaluate the Bradford Town Hall.” Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0, unanimously.
Jon Marden expressed his appreciation for the committee taking the time to do the job right.
Carl Rubchinuk, Unity Rigging attended the town hall walk through this morning and commented that the front of the building does not need foundation work, but the back does. Peter Michaud, Division of Historic Resources was also present at this mornings walk through.
Discussion of the Selectmen’s January 31, 2012 meeting transpired.
Warrant Articles Discussed follow:
Article________To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand Dollars ($13,000.00) to obtain architectural services to evaluate the Bradford Town Hall and complete design recommendations to restore the building to code compliance, safety and utility for the town. The goal is to modernize the landmark building through grants, matching funds, and capital reserves to phase the improvements and improve the utility of the space. (This represents $.06 of the tax rate.) Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Article_______Town Hall Restoration Resolution: In anticipation of Bradford’s 225th anniversary, to see if the town will vote to support renovation of its Town Hall – with origins dating to 1797 – to revitalize the community and serve future generations, thereby furnishing the key ingredient of community support to win outside grants and matching funds for this project.
Article ________. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to be placed in the Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund. (next recertification to be in 2015). Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee Recommends unanimously (This represents $.05 on the tax rate).
Article _______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) to be placed in the Gravestone Repair Expendable Trust. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This is $.02 of the tax rate)
Article _______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred Forty Dollars ($35,240.00) to purchase and outfit with equipment a new all wheel drive police cruiser. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.16 of the tax rate)
Motion was made by Beth Rodd to approve $35,240. 00 to purchase and outfit the police cruiser. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0, unanimously
Article ______: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to be placed in the Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend (This is approximately $.11 of the tax rate)
Motion was made by Jon Marden to raise $25,000.00 to be placed in the Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Seconded by George Cilley. Nay Votes 6-0
Motion defeated unanimously.
Article _______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Two Thousand Dollars ($34,000.00) to purchase replacement communications equipment to accommodate new federal regulations for the Fire and Highway Department. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee ________________. (This is approximately $.15 of the tax rate)
Budget Committee passed over this Article because of discrepancy in amounts: $32,000.00 vs $34,000.00.
Article ______. To see if the Town will vote to withdraw Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) from the Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund and to purchase replacement communications equipment to accommodate new federal regulations for the Fire and Highway Departments. Selectmen unanimously recommend (?). Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (No effect on the tax rate).
Article______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be placed in the Ambulance Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This is approximately $.05 of the tax rate).
Article ______. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred and Six Thousand Dollars ($106,000.00) for the ambulance service for the town. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. All money will come from fund balance and no amount will be raised by taxation. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (No effect on the tax rate)
Article _______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) to be placed in the Highway Department Heavy Equipment Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee___________. (This is approximately $.14 of the tax rate).
Budget Committee held off on this for wording “Capital Reserve Fund?
Article _______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be placed in the Salt and Fuel Emergency Capital Reserve. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This is approximately $.05 of the tax rate)
Article _______. To authorize the town to enter into a Five Year lease/purchase agreement for a Highway Department Grader. The total cost of the Grader is Two Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Dollars ($272,700.00). This lease would be funded as follows: Cost: $272,700 less $68,000 (EPA grant) less $32,000 (fund balance from 2011 Repair Warrant) less trade in of $25,000. Net cost would be $147,000.00 to be raised by taxation. The lease payments would be $33,000.00 per year for five years (pending interest rate at time of signing) to be raised by taxation. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee___________. (This is approximately $.15 of the tax rate)
Budget Committee held off on this for clarification: “Non lapsing fund” not undesignated?
Article ________. To see if the town will authorize the selectmen to accept a grant from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for the Clean Air initiative in the amount of Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars ($68,000.00) to be applied to the first year’s payment of a five year lease/purchase agreement to purchase a new Highway Department Grader. This article is contingent upon the passage of Article _______ (Grader Lease/Purchase). Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee___________.
Budget Committee has questions regarding the wording of this Article.
Article ______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Forty Eight Thousand Dollars ($48,000.00) for Bridge Design. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend. (This represents approximately $.22 on the tax rate)
Motion was made by Beth Rodd to approve this Article. Seconded by Jon Marden.
Motion Nay votes carried 6-0. Motion defeated.
Article ______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($375,000) for road reconstruction of East Main Street, Old Warner Road, Howlett Road and Greenhouse Lane. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend. (This represents approximately $1.60 of the tax rate)
Motion was made by Jon Marden to approve $375,000 for road reconstruction. Seconded by Don Jackson. George Cilley was out of the room. Nay votes 5-0. Motion defeated.
Article__________To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty thousand dollars ($140,000) for the paving of East Main Street following the installation of sidewalks and bike lanes. This will be a non lapsing appropriation pursuant to RSA 32:7 and will not lapse until the funds are spent or December 31, 2017. This article will be passed over with the passage of Article______. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends.
Motion was made by Beth Rodd to raise $140,000 for the paving of East Main Street. Seconded by Jon Marden. Motion carried unanimously 6-0.
Article ______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) for asphalt road repairs and shimming. This will be non lapsing and continue until the project is complete or December 31, 2017. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee does not recommend. (This represents approximately $.23 of the tax rate)
Motion was made by Don Jackson to reject the Article to raise $50,000 for asphalt road repairs and shimming. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried to reject the Article carried unanimously 6-0.
Article ______. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Town Building Emergency Repair Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.05tax of the rate)
Article _________. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to be placed in the Town Building and Facility Renovation Capital Reserve Fund. Selectmen unanimously recommend and the Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.05 of the tax rate)
Article ________. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to fund the Boat Launch. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.02 of the tax rate.)
Article _________. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($2,750) to support the Bradford Newbury Sutton Youth Sports. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends. (This represents approximately $.01 of the tax rate.)
Article ________. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to the Main Street Improvement Capital Reserve. Selectmen unanimously recommend. Budget Committee unanimously recommends (This represents approximately $.05 of the tax rate)
The Budget Committee questioned the discrepancies in amount on Articles that represents the tax rate.
Motion was made by Jon Marden to increase #4130 Executive, Budget Committee amount by increasing $14,000, from $113,623.28 to $127,623.28.
Motion seconded by Don Jackson. Dick Keller, Chair opposed. Motion carried 5-1.
Motion was made by Garry Wall to reduce the Budget Committee’s Police Budget #4210 by $10,000.00 on the bottom line, making the new number $305,163. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion was made by Don Jackson to decrease the Highway Budget #4312 by $10,000.00 to Four hundred thirty five thousand six hundred eighty four dollars ($435,684.00). Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0.
The first $10,000 difference was in wages. Budget Committee’s total voted on 12-22-2011 was $198,609.00. Selectmen’s budget was $208,609.
Motion was made by Don Jackson to decrease the highway Budget #4312 by $10,000.00 to Four hundred twenty five thousand six hundred eighty four dollars ($425,684.00) seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion was made by Gary Wall for the General Govt. Building #4194 to be reduced to Fifty four thousand ninety seven dollars ($54,097.00. Seconded by Jon Marden. Motion carried unanimously 6-0.
Motion was made by George Cilley to reduce Employee Benefits #4155 to Two hundred eighty six thousand seven hundred seventy five thousand dollars ($286,775.) Seconded by Jon Marden. Motion carried unanimously 6-0.
Vacation buy back is not showing on Employee Benefits was noted.
Dental insurance was changed to $6,000.00 by the Budget Committee.
Article_______To see if the town will adopt the provisions of RSA 41:14-a to grant the selectmen the authority to acquire or sell land, buildings, or both was discussed by the Budget committee regarding the 50 registered voters as opposed to the usual 25.
Next scheduled meeting: Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 5:30pm.
Motion to adjourn made, seconded and carried 9:00pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Marjorie R. Cilley,
Secretary