TOWN OFBRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
NOVEMBER 29, 2012
6:30PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Dick Keller, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30pm with Jon Marden, Don Jackson, George Cilley, Beth Rodd, Will Hurley, Cheryl Behr, Administrator, and Marge Cilley, Secretary present. Selectmen Representative was absent.
Review and Consideration of October 18, 2012 Minutes:
Motion was made by George Cilley to approve the October 18th minutes as presented. Don Jackson seconded. Motion carried 6-0.
Budgets Approved to Date by Selectmen:
4130 Executive
Increase due to staffing changes. Now two full time. Previous part time is now full time. Includes COLA and salary increase Administrator increase 10% , Bookkeeper 5% increase. Conversation regarding IT’s having their own budget. Selectmen still working on this, not approved at this time.
4140 Elections, Registration & Vital Statistics
There will be only one election next year.
4150 Financial Administration
4152 Revaluation of Properties
More allotted for Timber Monitor requested
4153 Legal
Same as last year.
4155 Employee Benefits
Not all information is in yet. LGC Credit discussed Type of service has been changed from Point of Service to HMO. There will be an employee contribution next year.
Insurance Companies were used for comparatives
4191 Planning and Zoning
4194 General Government Buildings
Selectmen are holding off, waiting for General Maintenance person advertised for.
4195 Cemetery
Question if should bid every two or three years George Cilley questionedLaFayetteParkas he is not going to be able to volunteer to mow it next season.
4196 Insurance
Consensus was to leave the credit coming from LGC in.
4199 Other General Government
No comments
4210 Police Department
Rental of Building gone up. Retirement – Detail for town is not eligible. Retirement – Detail for out of town is eligible.
# 6001 Discussion ensued regarding SOU, Cheryl Behr advised this pays for training and uniforms. 3 people trained every year. One cruiser has been auctioned. Also additional information on vests was discussed. Chief Valiquet will be asked to come before the Budget Committee.
4220 Fire Department
Question arose regarding radios and pagers. Flow Test is for Air Quality. Chief Goldberg will be asked to come before the Budget Committee.
4225 Rescue Squad
Same as last year. Town has not been billed for the Life Pac @ $28,000 at this time, and will come out of Billing Fund. Suggestion was for a study of the Rescue Squad, higher costs than surrounding towns observed. Having an ambulance should be justified was discussed. Money from other towns not received by Town. Who negotiates? contracts with surrounding towns? Will Hurley will check on what other towns actually do pay and other general information.
4240 Building Department
No clear information on what the Building Inspector Position involves. No Job Description, does it also include Code Enforcer? The Selectmen will proceed on this. It was also stated that the Building Inspector/Code Enforcer should meet with the Planning Board on a monthly basis for policies.
#6902 Health Officer position to be brought up at Town Meeting questioned. Thought of putting questions in theBradfordBridgeas an editorial asked?
4290 Civil Defense
No comments
4312 Highway
Question regarding number of crew. Selectmen are working on this with a small staff and part time Road Agent. There are now two full time men, and a Selectman who is supervising when needed. Warrant Article for Roads (Bond) for six or seven roads, requesting $607,000. was discussed. Discussion involved the contracting of paving forFairgrounds Road. Fuel budget questioned as was gravel. Barry Wheeler will be asked to come in to talk with the Budget Committee.
4313 Bridges
4316 Street Lighting
Cheryl Behr advised a light has already been ordered for in front of the Community Center. Also something else needs to be done for out back.
4323 Solid Waste Collection
There is now a full time manager, with a wage adjustment, a part time person and vacation coverage.
4324 Solid Waste Disposal
Benefits to be granted at 30 hours as full time employee was discussed.
4415 Inoculations
4441 Welfare
Proposed budget received from Welfare Officer and given to the Budget Committee, requesting $1,900 increase.
4520 Parks and Recs
No comments
4550 Library
Cheryl advised there has been a children’s librarian added plus some salary increase. Question of what the library actual cost of total operation.
4583 Patriotic Purposes
No comments
4589 Community Center
Discussion re: $9500 was added in for repairs for many small areas that need attention. Question of why repair maintenance is under this building as opposed toGeneralGov’tBuilding? All the bills from the Community Center back in 2000 were under General Government, then there was a request from the Budget Committee to change it so they could see exactly what it was costing to run the Community Center Building, per Cheryl Behr.
4619 Other Conservation
No comment
4711 Long Term Notes
Highway Garage which is for 2 ½ more years.
4723 Interest on Tan
Cheryl Behr advised the sidewalk project came in at a lower number than we anticipated. At Town Meeting the Capital Reserve the amount of $21,000 was voted to take out. With the reduction in cost, do we want to take out that Capital Reserve money, or leave it there? The Attorney advised we can legally leave it there, not obligated to withdraw it. Much discussion ensued.
Motion was made by George Cilley to leave the money in Capital Reserve. Seconded by Beth Rodd. More discussion ensued and the decision was to read the Attorney’s explanation more thoroughly for a decision. The motion was tabled for a later decision at the next meeting.
Jon Marden requested the actual warrant cost last year for comparison. It was also advised that explanation/comparison sheets were handed out at Town Meeting and appeared to be greatly received by the public.
Dick Keller, Chair handed out the Operating Budget Score Card for the board to examine, as well as recommendations on Warrant Articles.
Schedule of Interviews with Department Heads follow:
Police and Highway
Fire and Library
Rescue
Will Hurley brought up Employee Benefits being recorded under each Department as opposed to how it is handled at this time, in an all inclusive heading. Also, fuel usage and record keeping of it by maybe using a gas card for each vehicle with each employee having their own code number was discussed.
Next Budget Committee Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2012
At 6:30pm
There being no other business, meeting adjourned 9:30pm.
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary