Budget Committee Meeting Minutes 1/20/05

Warner Budget Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2005

Meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.

In attendance: Mike Cutting – Chairman, Jere Henley, Chris Perkins, Marc Violette, Peter Colcord, David Karrick, Peter Newman and Selectmen’s Rep. Wayne Eigabroadt

Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen

Marc Violette made the motion to approve meeting minutes dated January 17, 2005 with changes. David Karrick seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chris Perkins made the motion to approve the 2005 Warner Village Water District budget in the amount of $277,179.00. Marc Violette seconded the motion. Open for discussion. The presented budget is $41,098.00 less than 2004. All were in favor of the presented budget. The motion passed.

Marc Violette made the motion to accept the 2005 proposed revenue estimate amounting to $215,110.00 from the Warner Village Water District. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Open for discussion. No questions. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Selectman Eigabroadt made the motion to approve the 2005 Planning Board budget amounting to $30,050.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Open for discussion. The Selectmen added $1,000.00 to the legal line due to pending legal issues. In four years the legal line has grown from $850.00 to $10,000.00. It was noted that more regulations are being challenged. Many challenges go to Supreme Court. The Committee discussed the Clerk line; historically the budgeted hours have not been used in their entirety. Chris Perkins made the motion to decrease the Clerk’s line to $11,500.00. Peter Colcord seconded the motion. The Committee asked the Planning Board if the cut would be a hardship. The Clerks line does have an additional four hours a week more than last year. Planning Board is satisfied with the adjusted hours. No further discussion. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed. A reduction to the bottom line of the Planning Board budget amounts to $27, 200.00.

Professional Services line is budgeted for $1,000.00. The line pays for a Code Enforcement Officer @ $28.85 per inspection. To date one inspection was completed in December 2004. The Professional Service line also funds engineering services. Chris Perkins made the motion to merge Central N H Regional Planning Commission line with Professional Services which would subtract $500.00 from the bottom line of the Planning Board budget, and keep Professional Services @ $1,000.00. Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Planning Board bottom line budget amounts to $26,700.00. Selectman Eigabroadt made the motion to approve $26,700.00 as the bottom line to the 2005 Planning Board budget. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Marc Violette made the motion to accept the 2005 Highway General Expense budget amounting to $158,720.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Open for discussion. Director of Public Works Allan Brown noted that the original budget was presented without hydrant maintenance. Hydrant maintenance needs to be budgeted for $500.00 now that there is an agreement, the Precinct will do the summer maintenance and the Highway Department will do the winter maintenance. Mr. Brown wants the hydrant maintenance identified. Mr. Brown stated “my budget keeps going up & up because you keep wanting more services”. The Finance Director asked if the hydrant maintenance line could be moved to Highway Maintenance/Benefits, it would be easier to identify. It was agreed that line 4 on the Highway Maintenance Benefits budget would be for hydrant maintenance amounting to $500.00 for 2005.

Chris Perkins made the motion to decrease the fuel line by $1,000.00 (reduced to $4,500.00). Marc Violette seconded the motion. The Finance Director explained that the tanks if filled once (two tanks @ 2000 gal each) would cost $4,596.00 with the current bid price. Chris Perkins amended the motion to reduce the fuel line to $4,600.00. Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Parts line is budgeted for $27,000.00. The Committee asked Mr. Brown is one of the trucks is slated for a new frame. Mr. Brown explained that the truck that should have been replaced last year does not go back on the Capital Improvements schedule for three years. A superficial frame repair was done on the 86 Mack. Mr. Brown's intention is to do major improvements on the 86 in house being funded from the Highway Block Grant. The parts line will fund spring replacement on the 82 Mack; cutting edges that are now costing $115.00. The Committee commented that in 2001, $37,000.00 was spent, 2002, $28,000.00 was spent, 2003, $30,600 and 2004 $34,000.00 from the parts line, the Committee is concerned that $27,000.00 is not enough. The Committee agreed to leave the parts line funded as is. To date there is an $11,400.00 credit with Henniker Crush and $1,000.00 with E. W. Sleeper.

Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the 2005 Highway General Expense budget amounting to $157,820.00. Marc Violette seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the 2005 Highway Maintenance/Benefits amounting to $358,700.00. David Karrick seconded the motion. Open for discussion. David Karrick made the motion to add hydrant maintenance amounting to $500.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. The total 2005 Highway Maintenance/Benefits budget is now $359,200.00. The Committee asked the origin of the mechanic position wage scale. Selectman Eigabroadt explained that Selectman St. James defined the wage scale from the wage study. The Committee clarified that with the added mechanic position, part time hours have not decreased. Mr. Brown explained that the mechanic position, although a mechanic was not paid, was filled the year before last and right up to February of last year. The Committee asked if the necessary equipment is available in the Highway Department to do mechanic work. Mr. Brown explained that in regards to emissions he has spoke to someone in the State saying that towns may be exempt from the emissions testing. Mr. Brown then received literature regarding the rental of diagnostics. A firm answer is not available at this time. Jere Henley made the motion to decrease the full time labor line by $3,000.00 ($268,996.00). Chris Perkins seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Chris Perkins made the motion to decrease the benefits line by $1,100.00 ($67,620.00). Jere Henley seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the adjusted Highway Maintenance/Benefits bottom totaling $355,100.00. Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the 2005 Highway Block Grant totaling $115,488.53. Selectman Eigabroadt seconded the motion. Open for discussion. Chris Perkins made the motion to add Vehicle Rehab. Line for the 86 Mack for tractability (line 6) totaling $11,400.00, reduce Sand & Gravel to $35,600.00, outside rental $40,000.00 and winter sand $28,488.53 for a total of $115,488.53. Marc Violette seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

The Committee asked what is scheduled for paving in 2005. Mr. Brown explained that originally Plains Road was going to receive significant paving. It was changed, now roads will be shimmed, maintenance overlay on New Market Road , and road maintenance. Chris Perkins made the motion to accept $100,000.00 for Highway Paving. Jere Henley seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

The continued funding for the reconstruction of East Roby District Road was discussed. Currently there is $200,000.00 plus interest in Capital Reserve. Engineering estimated the total cost to reconstruct the road at $588,000.00 four years ago. Mr. Brown obtained a quote from a construction company amounting to $500,000.00.

Marc Violette made the motion to accept the 2005 Town Officers Salaries amounting to $220,448.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Open for discussion. The Deputy Town Clerk hours have been increased to 25 hours per week due to an increase of work that has gradually grown since 1987. The Committee asked what positions receive full benefits & retirement, they are Town Clerk, Finance Director & Tax Collector, and the Selectmen’s secretary receives a health stipend only. Mr. Henley commented that it is costing the town approximately $44,000.00 for health & retirement benefits for three full time positions; it’s a huge burden on the town. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed.

Marc Violette made the motion to accept the 2005 Town Officers Expense budget in the amount of $36,000.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Open for discussion. The Committee asked if the postage is for twelve months or prorated. It is still not clear if the government will be increasing postage. The Finance Director commented that the supply needs have increased. Marc Violette made the motion to decrease Postage/Supplies to $5,400.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. Selectman Eigabroadt is not averse to cutting the budget but not by $1,100.00. Chris Perkins amended the motion to $5,800.00. David Karrick seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

David Karrick made the motion to reduce line 9, Computer/Software from $5,000.00 to $4,200.00. Pete Newman seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed. The Selectmen allotted money for a lap top computer for word processing and the use of excel during budget time. Line 9 includes the cost of two computers, printer repair & cleaning, Tax Collector software upgrade, Norton Anti-Virus, and hook up to Registry of Deeds. Chris Perkins made the motion to decrease Computer/Software line to $3,000.00. Marc Violette seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Tax Lien Research line was reduced to $1,200.00 by the Selectmen. Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the 2005 Officers Expense budget adjusted to $33,300.00. David Karrick seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Jere Henley made the motion to approve the 2005 Building Inspector budget amounting to $6,646.00. Chris Perkins seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Chris Perkins made the motion to accept the 2005 General Government Buildings amounting to $20,244.00. Marc Violette seconded the motion. Open for discussion. The Committee asked for clarification of the Beautification Fund. Martha Mical explained what the Town has is for used at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen. Any flowers that are planted will be funded by the Beautification Fund. Line 3 was increased by $1,000.00 in order to begin updating the electric system on the stage area. Safety issues will be addressed first. All were in favor of the motion. The motion passed.

Marc Violette made the motion to accept the 2005 General Government Old Grade School budget amounting to $27,265.00. Pete Newman seconded the motion. Open for discussion. One complete set of windows has been budgeted for replacement in Headstart, a second set and final set for the Co-operative Preschool will be presented in a Warrant Article. All were in favor. The motion passed.

Motion to adjourn 8:45 p.m.