Budget Committee Public Hearing (cont.) Minutes 02.17.09

Town of Bradford
Budget Committee Public Hearing
Continued from February 13, 2009
February 17, 2009
7:00PM

Call to Order and Roll Call:

Jack Meaney, Acting Chair called the Continuation of the February 13, 2009 Public Hearing to order with Jane Lucas, Chris Aiken, Andrew Pinard, Selectmen Representative, Gary Wall, Marlene Freyler, Cheryl Behr, Administrator and Marge Cilley, Secretary. Bob Stewart absent.

Jack Meaney, Acting Chair opened the February 17, 2009 meeting at 7:00pm. He advised that since this is a continuation of the February 13th meeting, that all of the

Articles will not be read in its entirety. The General Operating Budget Article will be read.

Article 4:

  • 1. Executive                                                                             107,833.00
  • 2. Elections and Vital records                                       4,550.00
  • 3. Financial Administration                                                       83,401.00
  • 4. Revaluations                                                                        19,950.00
  • 5. Legal                                                                                   15,000.00
  • 6. Employee Benefits-excludes elected officials             243,924.00
  • 7. Planning and Zoning                                                 20,800.00
  • 8. General Government Buildings                                             42,732.00
  • 9. Cemetery                                                                            18,310.00
  • 10. Insurance                                                                            62,292.00
  • 11. Other General Government                                     12,090.00
  • 12. Police Department                                                  287,005.00
  • 13. Fire department                                                                  92,000.00
  • 14. Rescue Services                                                                 82,320.00
  • 15. Building Code Department                                      14,650.00
  • 16. Emergency Management                                                     500.00
  • 17. Highway Department                                                          372,495.00
  • 18. Bridge Maintenance                                                            100.00
  • 19. Street Lighting                                                                    4,100.00
  • 20. Solid Waste Collection                                                       50,877.00
  • 21. Solid Waste Disposal                                                          56,600.00
  • 22. Inoculations                                                                        800.00
  • 23. Welfare Administration                                                       4,012.00
  • 24. Welfare Vendor and Direct Payments                                 43,350.00
  • 25. Parks and Recreation                                                          4,380.00
  • 26. Library                                                                               62,525.00
  • 27. Patriotic Purposes                                                               14,500.00
  • 28. Community Center                                                  77,830.00
  • 29. Other Conservation                                                            750.00
  • 30. Long Term Debt payments                                      18,000.00
  • 31. Interest on T.A.N.                                                  3,000.00

Total                                                                $ 1,820,676.00

Jack Meaney, Acting Chair opened the floor for discussion. One question was what is T.A.N., which is Tax Anticipated Notes.

Everett Kittredge questioned if the estimated dollar amount should be included beside each Article for Tax payer information. Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised this could be done.

Article 5.

Everett Kittredge questioned where the location of the salt shed will be, to which he was advised no place has definitely been designated, but discussion was to build it at the existing Highway Garage.

Article 6

No comments.

Article 7

No Comments.

Article 8

Harry Wright suggested that standing seam takes away from the Historic aesthetics of the Bridge. It was advised that the State had recommended the standing seam metal roof and also the expense and life span of wooden shakes were taken into consideration per Andrew Pinard.

Article 9

No Comments

Article 10

No Comments

Article 11

Harry Wright questioned as to why the Budget Committee does not recommend this Article to raise and appropriate money to repair and resurface Sunset Hill Road. Jack Meaney, Acting Chair advised the Budget Committee didn’t feel it was worth the money.

Article 12

No Comments

Article 13

No Comments

Article 14

Millie Kittredge questioned how many vehicles would the Police Department then have? Reply was that they would have two sedans and one four wheel drive vehicle.

Article 15

Everett Kittredge suggested he is concerned with the language of the Article which may stop building a new building, and could be explained further at Town Meeting.

Article 16

Millie Kittredge questioned if there is presently a fence around the Fire Pond to which Mark Goldberg advised yes, but is in much disrepair.

Article 17

No comments

Article 20

No comments

Article 21

Millie Kittredge questioned if there would be a design presented. Gary Wall questioned if there had not been a plan designed before. Reply was, yes there was a previous architectural design; however it was not for covered steps which needs to be to bring it up to code. Everett Kittredge suggested this is a band aid fix, and perhaps an elevator could be installed.

Article 22

No comments

Article 23

No comments

Article 24

No comments

Article 25

No comments

Article 26

No comments

Article 27

No comments

Article 28

Everett Kittredge question when the revaluation is scheduled again, to which the reply was in 2010 and the total amount needed will be $40,000.

Article 30

Andrew Pinard advised the Town Attorney has been contacted regarding this article and the Selectmen have received no response to date.

Jack Meaney, Acting Chair advised this concludes the final Articles affecting the Budget Committee.

Andrew Pinard advised he would answer any questions about the other Warrant Articles that the Budget Committee cannot speak to tonight.

Millie Kittredge requested the wording in Article 2 be changed from Zoning Board to Zoning Ordinance.

The Warrant Articles were signed by the Budget Committee.

Gary Wall moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:37pm seconded by Chris Aiken

Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted

Marjorie R. Cilley