TOWN OF BRADFORD
BUDGET COMMITTEE
PUBLIC HEARING
FEBRUARY 11, 2013
7:00PM
Dick Keller, Chair Bradford Budget Committee advised this presentation reflects the Warrant.
Article One To choose all necessary Town officials for the ensuing year.
Article Two from the Planning Board (By Petition)
Article Three To adjourn the meeting until March 13, 2012 at 7:00pm
Article Four: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate One Million Seven Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Dollars ($1,767,000.00) (gross budget) to renovate the Bradford Town Hall at Map 16, Lot 92 and to authorize the issuance of not more than One Million Seven Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Dollars ($1,767,000.00) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon, the term and other details. Selectmen recommend. Budget Committee recommends. 2/3 ballot vote required).
The Budget Committee recommends by a unanimous vote of 7-0. The impact of this will not come in to play until 2014 and first payment would be at 2.25% interest at $89,499.00. Year 2015, amount increases to $139,286.00 and carries on for the balance of Fifteen years. DRA advised this would require $ .63 per thousand on the tax bill.
Article Five: Regarding the Highway Bond in the amount of $250,000.00, there has been no specific information for term or interest rate to the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee voted to not recommend this Article.
Dick Keller, Chair handed out a sheet showing on one side the Operating Budget Score Card and side 2, Bradford Budget Committee Recommendations on the 2013 Warrant Articles
Operating Budget:
The Selectmen’s Operating Budget is $1,803,353.00 and the Budget Committee’s Budget is $1,805,698.00. Primary difference between the two budgets is:
1. Executive Department-the Budget Committee decreased the Executive Budget by the amount of the raise at 9.1%.
2. Insurance – the Selectmen recommended $69,881.00 and the settlement from LGC was added into the Budget Committee’s Budget at $78,540.00. This settlement may not take place this year, but if so, it could go into the General Fund.
John Pfeifle advised he has done some comparisons between like size towns, and found them to have a large discrepancy in spending from Town of Bradford for insurance benefits. Jon Marden advised he agrees with John and has made that argument for years. Jon also advised the Budget Committee gets the figures after the contracts have been signed. It was the consensus of the Budget Committee to give John Pfeifle support for checking this out more completely for next year. John Pfeifle also spoke about breaking the benefits out per Departments, not as a lump sum. This too shall be looked at more closely next year.
Bradford Budget Committee Recommendations on 2013 Warrant Articles:
Article Seven: Bradford Corners lease/purchase – This Committee received so little information to base any recommendation or rejection on, moved at their last meeting to not recommend with a vote of 7-0.
Article Eight: Renovate Bradford Corners – The same situation as Article Seven, no details what so ever, and the Budget Committee voted to not recommend by a vote of 7-0.
Article Nine: Capital Reserve Funds:
Article Ten: Police Cruiser lease/purchase at $8,770.00
This Article was recommended by the Selectmen and recommended by the Budget Committee with a vote of 6-1.
Article Eleven: Police Cruiser Capital Reserve at $8,000.00 for replacement of a cruiser in the future. The Budget Committee did not recommend this Article by a vote of 7-0.
John Pfeifle questioned a guidance program for a five or ten year program, a capital expenditure program for equipment replacement which Dick Keller replied that yes, there is a Capital Improvement Program which goes out to six years.
Article Twelve- Highway Safety Sign – Budget Committee recommended Article Twelve at $15,000.00 by a 4-3 vote.
Article Thirteen: Fire Department Generator at $37,000.00. Selectmen Recommend. The Budget Committee recommended Article Thirteen by a vote of 6-0.
Article Fourteen: Fire Department –Vehicle Exhaust Removal System at $27,000.00. Selectmen recommended. Budget Committee recommended 7-0.
Mark Goldberg, Fire Chief remarked that the Scrubber gives some indication of how the CIP is effective. Otherwise, no one would recognize the need for this as Jon Marden pointed out.
Community Center Roof Repair: Selectmen did not put this on the Warrant this year, but will be next year.
Article Fifteen: Bridge Design at $53,215.00 which includes Breezy Hill Road Bridge off Route 103, Covered Bridge and the Second Bridge on West Meadow Road.
The Selectmen recommend. The Budget Committee recommended at a vote of 6-0.
Article Sixteen: Salt and Fuel Capital Reserve at $5,000.00 was recommended by the Selectmen. The Budget Committee recommends with a vote of 6-0.
Article Seventeen: Completion of resurfacing sections of Fairgrounds Road and asphalt road repairs and shimming at $50,000.00. Selectmen recommends. Budget Committee recommends.
Article Eighteen: To fund Boat Launch at $5,000.00. Budget Committee recommended at 6-0.
John Pfeifle questioned rewording description on this for another year.
Article Nineteen: Bradford Newbury Sutton Youth Sports at $2,700.00. Budget Committee recommended.
2013 Warrant Articles as presented at $321,735.00.
2013 Warrant Articles Budget Committee Recommends $313,735.
2013 Operating Budget as Presented $1,815,814.00.
2013 Operating Budget – Budget Committee recommends $1,805,698.00.
There being no other comments:
Motion was made, seconded and carried to close Public Hearing at 7:35pm.
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary