TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
5:30PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Dick Keller, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:30pm with Gary Wall, Don Jackson, Jon Marden, George Cilley, Beth Rodd and Marge Cilley, Secretary present. Jack Meaney, Selective Representative arrive at 7:10pm.
Review and Consideration of February 2, 2012 minutes:
Motion was made by George Cilley to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Gary Wall. Motion carried 5-0. (Beth Rodd arrived at 5:41pm)
A sheet was handed out to Board members and made available to the public for “Bradford Budget Committee Recommendations on 2012 Warrant Articles”: and on the flip side, “Revised 1-30-2012 – 2/7/2012 Operating Budged Score Card”.
Review and Recommendations on outstanding Warrant Articles:
Article 11
Discussion took place regarding #11 on the Warrant Articles Fire Dept. Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. Initially, the budget committee had recommended twenty thousand ($20,000.00) and would now like to increase it by $5,000. In order to do this, Motions made on January 26, 2012 and February 2, 2012 would have to be rescinded.
Reasoning for doing this is to bring it up to the CIP recommendations as well as the Selectmen and Fire Department’s recommendations.
Motion was made by Don Jackson to rescind the motion made on January 26, 2012 and on February 2, 2012, for the Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve, limiting that Budget to Twenty thousand ($20,000) Dollars. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion was made by George Cilley to add Five thousand dollars ($5,000) to the Twenty Thousand ($20,000) that was recommended for the Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve. Seconded by Gary Wall. Motion carried 6-0.
Article 15,
Highway Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve, was being held off on until determination was made if it was General expenditure or Capital Reserve. According to Cheryl Behr, Administrator it is Capital Reserve as indicated in the latest printing of the Warrant.
Motion was made by Jon Marden to recommend Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) for the Highway Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund., Article 15. Seconded by Don Jackson.
Jon Marden withdrew his Motion, Don Jackson withdrew his second.
Motion was made by Gary Wall to recommend Article 15 remain as written as Thirty Thousand dollars ($30,000) to be placed in the Highway Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Seconded by Jon Marden. Dick Keller voted Nay. Motion carried 5-1.
Article 17:
Dick Keller, Chair advised there was an amendment received this afternoon to this Article. Cheryl Behr advised a Non lapsing fund does not have to be released by Warrant Articles, it is an accounting procedure. The $32,000 would automatically go into Fund Balance. Language of the Article was discussed at length, including the repair of the town grader non lapsing appropriation ($32,000) remaining as funded by Article 16 from 2011 town meeting. Cheryl Behr advised the $38,000 estimated annual lease payment is an estimate at this time. Jon Marden questioned if there is something in writing stating if we purchase the grader, then the $68,000 from the EPA Grant would be forthcoming to which Cheryl answered yes.
Motion was made by Beth Rodd to recommend Article 17 for the lease/purchase of a new grader in the amount of Two hundred seventy two thousand seven hundred dollars ($272,700) and broken down as presented in the Article as amended. Seconded by Jon Marden. Motion carried 6-0.
Article 12:
To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Two Thousand Dollars ($32,000) to purchase replacement communication equipment by authorizing the withdrawal of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) from the Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund with Thirty two thousand dollars ($32,000) to be raised by taxation.
Conversation discussed “To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of: the total amount should be Thirty Seven Thousand ($37,000), not $32,000 with the withdrawal of $5,000 from the Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund with a balance of $32,000 to be raised from taxation. Dick Keller, Chair advised the board passed this article on January 26, 2012.
Motion was made by Gary Wall to recommend amending Article 12 to read: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty Seven Thousand Dollars ($37,000) to purchase replacement communications equipment to accommodate new federal regulations for the Fire and Highway Department, and to fund this appropriation in part by authorizing the withdrawal of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) from the Town Communications Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, with $32,000 to be raised by taxation.
Motion seconded by Don Jackson. Motion carried 6-0.
It was pointed out by Jon Marden that this is a new Article from any previous the board has seen. It combines Article 12 and Article 13 from previously received Articles; however, the Articles were unnumbered at that time, February 2, 2012.
Article 7:
Motion was made by Gary Wall to not recommend Article 7 – To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Thousand ($25,000) to retro fit the downstairs of the Community Center for the Town Offices. This will be a non lapsing appropriation to continue until the money is spent for December 31, 2012. Motion seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 6-0. Not recommended by Budget Committee.
Gary Wall questioned just what this entails. Retro fit what? There are currently two adequate bathrooms up stairs with an elevator. Dick Keller, Chair advised the CIP did recommend a shower on the second floor in 2013.
Marlene Freyler just arrived and was questioned what Article 7 is for as it is non descriptive. Marlene stated it is to install a bathroom downstairs and shower upstairs and to retro fit more downstairs. Marlene advised Bruce Edwards does not have his paperwork in yet for Emergency Management and it will be 2013 or 2014 for that Grant. This is to be a unisex bathroom downstairs but not handicap accessible as there is an elevator per Marlene. Don Jackson advised the CIP also included air conditioning.
Beth Rodd found Bruce Edwards, Emergency Management, Mgr., who advised he does not agree with putting a bathroom in down stairs, it would have to be pumped up and there is an elevator if there is an issue with the stairs. Jon Marden questioned Bruce Edwards, Mgr. of Emergency Management if it is mandatory to have a shower. Bruce advised there is nothing mandatory as far as sheltering goes, but if you need the facility for more than three days, it is recommended to have a shower.
Marlene advised she would clarify the Article 7 at Town Meeting.
6:20pm Budget Committee recessed until the Public Hearing scheduled for 6:30pm.
Back in session 8:20pm following adjournment of Public Hearing.
Jack Meaney, Selectmen’s Representative questioned why the Budget Committee did not recommend the Community Center retro-fit in Article 7 for $25,000. Dick Keller, Chair advised the information from the Selectmen was very vague. Also Bruce Edwards, Emergency Management Mgr, stated he has put in for a Grant for facilities on the second floor and recommends that. Jon Marden also pointed out that the actual wording of Warrant Article #7 states to retro fit the downstairs of the Community Center. Gary Wall explained it is unnecessary to install a bathroom downstairs with two functional bathrooms upstairs and an elevator.
OPERATING BUDGET:
Employee Benefits:
Jon Marden pointed out discrepancies in the math and the final years expenses are not available on the MS-7 as yet. Gary Wall stated that it is an easy figure to attain by just changing the policies that are available. The figure the Budget Committee has agreed to is Two hundred eighty six thousand seven hundred seventy five dollars ($286,775.00)
Police Department Budget:
After much discussion from the public, Gary Wall explained that discussion that goes on at this meeting is between committee members then when they are all done, all the things they want to discuss, they can ask if there is anyone in the public that has any input. At that point in time, and ONLY in that point in time can the public give input. Gary stated that that is the way meetings are run, and are run in the whole country that way.
Jon Marden advised as it states in #3 at the bottom of the Agenda.
Discussion came up with Warrant Articles approved by the Budget Committee totaling Five hundred sixty two thousand nine hundred ninety dollars ($562,990) including the $100.000 from the first year’s payment for the grader and the $106,000 for the Ambulance. The amount subject to influence taxes will be less $206,000, but the MS-7 will show the total amount.
Bottom Line showing $580,990 (to be verified prior to the next meeting) Tax impact, from Warrant articles that would impact the rate would be calculated on $374,990. Total Operating Budget from the Budget Committee is $280,636.00
Motion was made by Beth Rodd to recommend the Police Budget be increased to Three hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($315,000). Seconded by Gary Wall. Motion carried 7-0. Unanimous.
Motion was made by Jack Meaney to put back $20,000 into the Highway Budget.
No Second made.
General Government Buildings:
Question if they should put the $14,000 back into General Gov’t Buildings by Beth Rodd. Jon Marden suggested since there is a committee doing an excellent job so far to do the right thing for the right money at the town hall, we should not encourage anything to be done with that building until this has been decided. Beth suggested it could be an insurance policy if the restoration Article does not pass, the longer the town offices are at the Community Center, the longer the time before the town hall gets any repairs. Jon Marden stated with all the band aids the town hall has had he is not in favor of doing any more.
Consensus of the board is to not reconsider.
Cheryl Behr advised she would have the MS-7 ready next Monday, after Dick Keller, Chair gets the correct numbers to her.
Motion was made by Jon Marden stating that he heard at the Selectmen’s meeting and thinks it is a good idea that we invite the District Representative and State Senator to attend our Budget Committee meetings to explain their positions on shifting costs and give us an opportunity to let them know how we feel about it. A formal letter will be written to extend this invitation to discuss this matter. Seconded by Gary Wall. Motion carried 7-0.
Jon Marden requested receiving the MS-7 as a spread sheet as soon as possible, so if there were any questions there would be time to ask.
Next meeting will be held Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 6:00pm
Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 6:30pm.
Chris Aiken has a copy of an e-mail from a Budget Committee member to the Board with the statement at the bottom “Not for circulation until we agree” Chris asked where the rest of them are? Dick Keller, Chair advised that is probably the only one, and it had to do with the impact on all the numbers that were being worked on to see if there were any errors to be corrected prior to being presented tonight.
Jon Marden, advised that in the letter the Road Agent and Bradford Roads Committee wrote to the Residents of Bradford, that the Budget Committee does not create Warrant Articles and would like to see it changed. Jeff Remillard and Chris Aiken advised they could do that.
Meeting Adjourned 9:05pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley, Secretary