TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
DECEMBER 15, 2011
6:00PM
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Dick Keller, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00pm with Jon Marden, Don Jackson, George Cilley, Jack Meaney, Selectmen Representative, Beth Rodd and Marge Cilley, Secretary present. Gary Wall was absent.
Review and Consideration of December 1, 2011 minutes:
Motion was made by Jon Marden to accept the minutes as presented. Seconded by George Cilley. Motion carried 5-0.
Budget Review of Departments:
Cheryl Frey, Welfare came before the board and was asked by the board how does she arrive at her estimate for the budget. Cheryl advised she goes by the previous year and also advised she is referring quite a few to Kearsarge Regional Ecumenical Ministry (KREM) which is helping considerably. Cheryl also advised she is working on taking care of rents and KREM is more ancillary needs. This has been a bad year, and what she has estimated for the 2012 budget is a ball park figure.
Question was asked what does VNA do, and perhaps a report could be available.
It was also suggested that Cheryl Frey should keep track of her actual hours and make it be known for next years budgeting process.
Cheryl was thanked by the Board.
Jeff Remillard, Road Agent with 2012 Budget:
Beth Rodd expressed appreciation to the Road Agent for doing a great job on plowing this last storm.
Wages were discussed as being over this year, and Jeff Remillard advised that there had been a bookkeeping error in stating where the wages should be distributed. Jack Meaney, Selectman’s Representative advised money will be put back into the wages, coming from FEMA.
Jeff Remillard, Road Agent advised some of his overtime wages includes coming to meetings: Selectmen’s, Budget Committee, Road Committee.
Other topics include telephone, cell phone, internet. Road Maintenance. Supplies, Uniforms, which Jeff explained that this includes supplies.
Don Jackson questioned Contract Services and Jeff Remillard explained that is for taking trees down that are too tall or large for the Road Crew to do.
Signs: It was suggested that it should be checked out to see if the deadline for signs was repealed. It was stated they must be done by 2015.
Also under discussion was fuel which is up.
Rentals were up for paving per Jeff Remillard and will be kicked back by FEMA
Engine Repair $6,600 in August/September was reported on the F550.
Dick Keller acknowledged the Highway Budget is up 28% over last year.
Jack Meaney, Selectmen Representative advised it was not Selectmen Wheeler who made the cuts totaling $43,000 in the Highway Budget, but all three Selectmen, in response to a statement made by Dick Keller, Chair. that the Highway Budget would have been up by 38%.
Jeff Remillard advised the two way radios need to be done by January 1, 2013. There is one new one and eleven more are required. They are just under $900.00 each. It was stated that if these are going in under a Warrant Article, the Budget Committee should have it ASAP.
4441 Welfare $ 4,054.90
Unanimous Approval by Board
4445 Welfare Payments $35,385.64
Unanimous Approval by Board
4550 Library $63,360.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
4583 Patriotic Purposes $14,000.00
George Cilley questioned if any of the Vendors pay. Answer No
Unanimous Approval by Board
4589 Community Center $42,700.00
Up $9,000.00 over last year.
No Vote
4619 Other Conservation $ 790.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
4711 Long Term Notes $31,880.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
4723 Interest on Tan Notes $ 3,000.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
Discussion ensued regarding the 3.6% across the board pay increases. Question if the Board should make a recommendation regarding this even though they have no control over it. One comment was that what is done is done, although they are not happy about it. Should the town body be made aware of it? Absolutely. Thought was that the Budget Committee should have more availability of commitments for the following year.
Question was asked what is happening with the Health Insurance to which Jack Meaney, Selectman’s Representative advised some options are going to be offered to the employees at a general meeting prior to the end of December 2011. It was stated that the Health Insurance can be changed at any time the Selectmen so decide but does not go into effect until the month following. So, a decision needs to be made by January 2 for February’s premium if they decide to change it. If not, it is going up 13%.
Dick Keller, Chair advised there are questions in the following Departments:
Rescue Squad, Building Dept., Planning and Zoning, at this time the Budget is about 5.6% over last year at this time. This could again work against the Capital Reserve at Town Meeting.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief advised Jeff Remillard did not over spend his budget, the Selectmen did. The Selectmen are his boss.
Police Dept. Secretarial Hours were questioned. It was stated that they are part time hours with no benefits.
4196 Insurances $ 81,000.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
4199 Other General Govt. $ 8,800.00
Unanimous Approval by Board
4220 Fire Dept $59,250.00
4220-7301 Hydrants should be radios. Will request Cheryl to correct Description.
4312 Back to Highway Dept. $434,533.00
Holding on voting on Highway.
Back to Highway Department Budget where much discussion ensued.
Dick Keller, Chair advised they will hold off on voting for the Highway Dept. It will be posted and the Department Head will be so advised.
Motion was made by Jon Marden to vote on the Highway Budget tonight. No Second, No Vote.
Public Input:
Steve Patten, Public Tax Payer advised he is happy with the services of the town departments. Stated he has seen some good stuff and some bad stuff, but is also very happy that the Budget Committee is delving into questions. Mr. Patten advised he runs a small business and has found ways to cut costs that he never thought he could do.
George Cilley stated that last year at Town Meeting, the Selectmen did not have any answers, the Budget Committee didn’t have any answers and suggested that at this upcoming Town Meeting both the Selectmen and Budget Committee members should speak up to the voters of the town with more and better explanations of Department Budgets.
The Budget Committee Public Hearing will be scheduled for February 9, 2012.
Will Hurley wished to visit the Fuel in the Highway Budget and asked what the increase percentage was for 2011, which is 111%. Jeff Remillard Road Agent advised they go out and do something every day where before the crew hung around the garage.
Will Hurley asked that Jeff Remillard, Road Agent be allowed to reply to questions asked of him. Jeff Remillard stated that they have to steal money from this area for another area. Will Hurley also stated that the tax payers that live and work in this town do not have that ability, and as stewards of our money, we are begging you to make a budget we can live with. Discussion ensued.
Next Meeting is scheduled for: Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 6:00pm
Meeting adjourned 8:00pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary