Joint Meeting with the Select Board
Present: Jen Richardson (chair), Kimberly Firth (vice chair) via ZOOM, Laurie Colburn via ZOOM, Dawn Gezelman, Beth Downs (Select Board Rep) Not a quorum present.
Also attending: Mel Pfeifle, Select Board; Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator; Ed Shaughnessy, Police Chief; Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Meeting called to order at 6:05 pm
Review minutes from September 14th meeting:
Postponed until the Committee has a quorum.
Initial Review of 2024 Budget:
Discussion of 2024 budget submissions from some departments. There was an extended discussion of the Brown Memorial Library budget which showed a $15K increase over 2023.
Review Expenses Year-To-Date:
Departments are on track as the 2023 budget nears completion.
Update on Survey:
Kim underestimated the technological skill and logistics required to put out a survey. Committee agreed to put off the survey until next year. Dawn volunteered to help next year.
In the interest of transparency, the Committee discussed the possibility of inviting the public to the December 14th Budget Committee meeting. Kim will write an article for the Bradford Bridge with an invitation and explaining the budget process.
Review Schedule for Budget Season:
Parks and Recreation may need to change their appearance date.
Other business:
Meeting concluded at 7:50 pm
Next meeting: November 16, 2023
Submitted by Kathleen Bigford