DRAFT DRAFT
TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
APRIL 29, 2008
7:00PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Robert Stewart, Chair called the April 29, 2008 Budget Committee Meeting to order at 7:00pm with Jack Meaney, Chris Aiken, Jane Lucas, Andrew Pinard, Selectmen representative, Gary Wall, Marlene Freyler and Cheryl Behr, Administrator present.
Robert Stewart, Chair advised the committee will be going over the Expense Summary, and the Warrant Articles that are proposed for the Town Meeting.
Motion was made by Jack Meaney to elect Robert Stewart as Chairman for this year. Seconded by Marlene Freyler. Motion carried 6-0.
EXPENSE SUMMARY:
4130 Executive
4140 Election, Registration & Vital Statistics
Mention was made that there could be an extra expense this year for Special Town Meeting.
4150 Financial Administration
4152 Revaluation of Property
Assessing software is all paid for.
4153 Legal
Mention was made of extra town meeting expense
4155 Employee Benefit
4191 Planning and Zoning
Cost of supplies questioned at only 14% left by Jack Meaney. Cheryl Behr will check on this.
4194 General Government Buildings
4195 Cemetery
Summertime activity
4199 General Government
4210 Police Department
Overtime caused from one employee out on medical leave
4220 Fire Department
4225 Rescue Squad
Paying will start in May for April
4240 Building Department
4290 Emergency Management
4312 Highway Department
Snow storms expensive. Andrew Pinard suggested that at Town Meeting the Highway budget was increased and the board should look at the budget as being inflated by that amount at next year’s budget setting time.
4313 Bridges
4316 Street Lighting
4323 Solid Waste Collection
4324 Solid Waste Disposal
4415 Inoculations
Gary Wall suggested tetanus injections should be available to the employees. Cheryl Behr, Administrator will check into this.
4441 Welfare
4445 Welfare Payments
4520 Parks and Recreation
Cheryl Behr, Administrator checking with Kate regarding charges against What categories.
4550 Library
4583 Patriotic Purposes
4589 Community Center
4619 Conservation
Summer time activity
4723 Interest on Tan Notes
4913 Capital Projects
4915 Capital Reserve
5000 Misc.
PROPOSED WARRANT ARTICLES:
Warrant Articles for Proposed Special Town Meeting
To Be Held_______________________
Article 1: To see if the town will vote to rescind the votes on Article 15 and Article 37 at the March, 2008 Town Meeting and to raise and appropriate the sum of $250,000 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) for the construction of a new Town highway garage on the land currently occupied by the existing garage and to fund this appropriation as follows: withdraw $100,000 from the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund; withdraw $50,000 from the Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund, with the remaining $100,000 to be raised by taxation.
Andrew Pinard, Selectmen gave a synopsis of where some of the numbers come from: Price range for a 6000 sq. ft. metal building from $ 104,000, $135,000 to $137,000. This would be to erect a building that would be insulated, on a pad, with 4 ft frost walls, but does not include electric, plumbing, but does include doors. It was estimated to double the cost of the building for completion, which could be between $250,000 – $350,000. This would be for building on the present location, and to pull out whatever services that are needed in the existing building to be then converted for secure cold storage. Cheryl Behr, Administrator replied that she had contacted three metal building suppliers for prices, and doubled the amount in answer to Jack Meaney’s question. Another item questioned was the septic, which needs design, and a figure needs to be considered for it. It was brought up that many volunteers had signed up to help.
. A coordinator/Project Manager is needed. Another concern is the salt shed, and Andrew Pinard, Selectmen advised several locations were being considered at this time. It was also stated that these metal buildings would have a life span of between 20 and 40 years, and not considered as a temporary fix. The Sanborn property was brought up and it was advised there is no ROW in the deed. In reply to Jack Meaney’s question of are we moving too fast, Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised if we do not move this along, there would be a time when a special town meeting would not be an option.
Motion was made by Jack Meaney to table the voting on this until accurate figures are available for the Budget Committee. This will be reconsidered on May 9, 2008. Second by Jane Lucas. Motion carried 6-0
Article 15 at the March 2008 Town Meeting raised and appropriated the sum of $25,000 to begin necessary repairs to the current highway garage. Article 37 at the March 2008 Town Meeting withdrew $40,000 from the New Highway Garage Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of continuing research and preparation for a new highway garage and was amended at the meeting to designate a portion of those funds to be expended to conduct a Phase I environmental site assessment, and if necessary, a Phase II environmental site assessment, on the lower dump site to assess the suitability of the area for the future location of town facilities.
Andrew Pinard, Selectmen advised the above Article is a clarification of the previous article, and it would eliminate the $40,000 and the $25,000. Environmental Testing Article could come up at the Lower Transfer Station. Gary Wall advised that it was the intent of the voters at Town Meeting to get the testing done and out of the way. Andrew Pinard, Selectmen advised the vote was tied to a Capital Reserve Fund, and if the Selectmen elect not to pursue that Site, the Trustees of the Trust Fund have no recourse to allow that. Another Warrant Article could be placed on there which could enable the town to test that site.
The Selectmen are preparing to petition the Superior Court to allow us to have a Special Town Meeting. It was also advised that the amount could be amended from the floor.
Andrew Pinard, Selectmen advised the Budget Committee that he will be serving as the Selectmen representative this year. As everyone is aware, we are in a time of economic uncertainties, and for the past few years, we have been at the benefit of rising home values etc. and our budgets have grown, now we are on hard times. My request is if we can begin the budget process now, and not in the fall, to help the Selectmen evaluate the needs of the Town with a good hard look at the existing budget. Some suggestions:
1. Operating of Personnel of Town = Wages/Hiring – Amounting to 50% budget
2. Meet more often than quarterly-A little more in depth evaluation of budget
3. Randomly looking through line-item in each department budget
Much discussion ensued. Gary Wall suggested a 5% trim across the board at next budget. A greater degree of partnership between Selectmen and Budget Committee is needed. Jack Meany advised in the nine years he has been on the Budget Committee he feels they do keep the cost down, and the average rise in everyone’s budget was 6 to 9% with the bulk of the increase coming from fuel, and adding another police officer. Again, much conversation ensued.
Motion was made by Gary Wall that the Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee meet to further discuss this. Seconded by Jack Meaney. Motion carried 6-0.
Robert Stewart, Chair thanked Cheryl Behr, Administrator for all the work she does.
Next meeting: Public Hearing, May 9, 2008
Adjourned 8:15pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley, Secretary