Select Board Meeting called to order at 1:04 pm
Roll Call – Beth Downs, Marlene Freyler and Mel Pfeifle
Also in attendance – Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator, and Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary.
Regular and Old Business:
Finalize the 2023 Budget and Warrant Articles
The Board reviewed the proposed Operating Budget as developed in joint meetings with the Budget Committee. The Board agreed to the following:
- Executive – $220,118
- Elections, Registration & Vital Statistics – $4,100
- Financial Administration – $106,625
- Re-Evaluation of Property – $28,600
- Legal – $26,000
- Employee Benefits – $1
- Planning and Zoning – After some discussion about staffing, the Board agreed that PT wages could be reduced to $1,850. The Board agreed to the new total of $15,500.
- General Government Bldgs. – $121,000
- Cemetery – $25,000
- Insurances – $95,800
- General Govt. – $8,700
- Police Department – Mel suggested that Overtime line be funded at the amount used in 2022 with a 5% increase to allow for the wage increase. This totaled $18,303. The Board agreed to the new Police total of $599,026
- Fire Department – $167,000 This represents a 12.5% increase over last year.
- Rescue Squad – $10,150
- Rescue Contract Services – $110,000
- Bldg. Code Enforcement – $26,550
- Emergency Management – $1
- Highway Department – Mel again suggested the Overtime line be funded at the amount used in 2022 with a 5% increase to allow for the wage increase. This totaled $22,700. The Board also discussed reducing the Equipment Rental line, but did not change it. In the Budget Committee meeting on February 2nd, consensus was that we should purchase gravel this year. The Board decided to add $30,000 to the gravel line (currently funded at $30,000) and removed the Warrant Article for gravel/blasting in the amount of $40,000. The Board agreed to the new Highway total of $735,386.
- Bridges – $1
- Street Lighting – $2,300
- Solid Waste Collection – $94,600
- Solid Waste Disposal – $26,000
- Inoculations – $1
- Welfare – $7,438
- Welfare Payments – $30,270
- Parks and Rec – $19,509
- Library – $82,560 – The Board agreed to levelly fund the Library at the 2022 level.
- Patriotic Purposes – $19,400
- Community Center – $30,700
- Other Conservation – $1000
- Long Term Notes – $209,000
- Interest on Tan Notes – $2,100
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to approve the Operating Budget at $2,798,006
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Vote: 3-0 in favor
The Board reviewed and agreed to include the proposed warrant articles as follows. Karen will finalize the wording. The order in which the articles will appear on the warrant will be discussed in a future meeting.
- 2006 Fire Department Heavy Equipment Fund – $25,000 (Reduced from $50,000 with $25,000 shifted to the 2020 Fire Equipment Expendable Trust Fund.)
- 2010 Communication Equipment Fund – $5,000
- 2015 Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund – $5,000
- 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund – $150,000
- 2020 Fire Equipment Expendable Trust Fund – $25,000 ($25,000 shifted from 2006 Fire Department Heavy Equipment Fund.)
- 2020 Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve – $100,000
- Highway Department – Grader – $433,000 ($100,000 2020 High Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve, $60,000 from the extra Highway Block funding, $33,000 from trade-in)
- Highway Road Paving – $380,000 ($100,000 from the 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund, $75,000 from ARPA funds)
- Highway – Gravel Blasting – $40,000 (Reduced to $30,000 and transferred to Highway Department Operating Budget for gravel purchase.)
- Fire Department – Communication Equipment – $7,000 (From 2010 Communication Equipment Fund.)
- Police Department – Communication Equipment – $4,500 (From 2010 Communication Equipment Fund.)
- Special Revaluation – $32,000 ($15,000 from 2008 Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund.)
- Conservation Fund – $1,000
- 2015 Town Equipment Repair and Purchase Expendable Trust Fund – $2,000 (From Fund Balance for the sale of the old roller in 2022.)
- Readopt All Veterans’ Credits and Optional Veterans’ Credits
- Change purpose of 2022 SCBA Bottle Replacement Warrant Article to include the purchase of components associated with SCBA bottles.
- Establish an Expendable Trust Fund for the Scholarship Committee
It was noted that this budget, including warrant articles, represents a total increase of approximately $305,000 over 2022. Karen also noted that the School Budget to be presented to the Town represents a 7.44% increase.
Motion: Beth Downs motioned to adjourn the meeting at 4:03 p.m.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Vote: 3-0 in favor
Upcoming Meetings:
- February 9, 2023 Budget Committee Public Hearing
- February 13, 2023
Minutes submitted by Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary and Karen Hambleton, Administrator.