Warner Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes Wednesday, Chairman Karrick opened the meeting at In Attendance:
Selectman David Karrick, Jr. – Chairman, Selectman David E.
Hartman, Selectman
Town Administrator – Laura Buono Absent:
None Others present: Martha Mical, Ed Mical,
Martha Bodnarik, Kimberley Edelmann, Ronald Carter, William Chandler,
Alfred Hanson, Varick Proper, Mike Ayotte, Judy Rogers and Marianne
Howlett. 1. Review Draft 2010 Budget The Town Administrator presented to the
Selectmen an operating budget that is $59,136.51 less than last year
(2.04% decrease). Highlights: Selectmen’s Office
Town Report – printing & mailing reduced.
Town Administrator pay increase: The pay raise process that was
revised last year is if an employee received a 4% or less pay increase in
2009 they would be scheduled for a pay raise in 2010.
Those who received more than 4% will receive a pay raise in 2011.
The steps are now 5% apart, eligibility is every other year.
Selectman Elections
Three elections have been budgeted. Finance
Pay increase is scheduled for the Bookkeeper at 30 hours per week.
Last year the position was budgeted for 32 hours per week. Tax Collector
Tax Collector is scheduled for a pay increase.
The current Tax Collector has requested not to receive this
increase. For consistency
purposes the pay increase is in the budget.
The Town Administrator will wait to here for the Selectmen’s
decision on the Tax Collector’s request. Town Clerk
Record preservation in the amount of $10K was added back into the
budget. At the end of 2008
$10K was encumbered to be spent in 2009. The
Town Administrator will indicate on the budget that the money was
encumbered and spent. Record
preservation is an on-going expense. Assessing
Outside Services has been reduced by $5,000 because the pick-ups
are part of the revaluation contract.
Computer Expense has been reduced by $1,400.
Assessing Salary – 100 hours was added to cover the State review.
The current employee is not eligible for a wage increase because
her salary is at the top of the scale.
Postage was increased due to the additional mailings for the State
review process. Benefits
The Town Administrator has calculated a 5% increase to the health
insurance cost, 2% increase to life insurance and short-term disability.
The actual figures will be available in November.
There is a $12K decrease in health benefits in the Selectmen’s
office due to a change in plans.
There is an optional prescription plan; if chosen, there will be a
further reduction. Figures are
still being worked on.
There is an increase to Retirement because of the portion the State
is now paying. In July of this
year there was an increase of 9.16% for regular employees, for police and
fire 13.66%. Land Use
Professional Services reduced by $1,000
Legal was reduced by $1,000. Ed
Mical mentioned that a Zoning Board decision is now in the courts. General Government Buildings – Town Hall
Heating Fuel reduced by $7,200.
Selectman
Maintenance/Repairs line was reduced by $1,795; this line is minus
the maintenance contract for the copier ($1,800).
The Town Administrator has included a $5,800 increase to the Town
Hall equipment line to cover the cost of a refurbished copier.
The refurbished copier drops the maintenance contract down to $420
per year. The refurbished
copier will also be used as a primary printer in the Selectmen’s office
resulting in a cost savings in ink cartridges.
Selectman Old Graded School
Heating Fuel will be increased by 1/3rd as previously
discussed. Selectman Cemeteries
No changes. Property Liability Insurance, Unemployment
Insurance, Workers Compensation & Insurance
Estimated amounts based on 2009. Police Department
Two employees are scheduled for wage increases which have been
budgeted. Currently there is
an open position, the rate per hour budgeted is a step 3 resulting in a
slight reduction. There is a
possibility of a further reduction depending on the hiring process.
The Selectmen asked to have the part-time positions identified in
the budget.
Selectman
Training has been reduced by $500.
The reduction is because Warner hosts the trainings, so the
employees are not charged.
Interior painting has been budgeted beginning with half of the
building. Fire Department
Ambulance is an estimated amount.
Billing that runs from October 2008 to September 2009 has not yet
been received. It is expected
that some billing amounts will be pulled out by the Town of
Salaries - $778 has been added for an administrative clerk.
The staff is scheduled for a wage increase at the end of 2009.
Once the 2009 payroll is complete the $40K budgeted for 2010 may be
adjusted. The figure is based
on the number of calls.
Training has been increased by $1,500.
Dispatch Service has increased by $1,467
Building Maintenance has been increased by $3,500 for interior
painting. This was budgeted
for in 2008 but the painting was not completed. Building Inspector
No change. Emergency Management
Professional Services is budgeted for updating the Emergency
Management Plan; the second half will be budgeted in 2010. Highway Department
Six employees are scheduled for pay increases.
Selectman
Gas/Diesel has been budgeted at $2.25 per gallon.
The roof at the highway garage needs repair as well as additional
lighting. The cost for the
repair/upgrade is $14,000 which needs to be discussed with the Selectmen.
This cost is not yet reflected in the budget.
Alfred Hanson recommended looking into the warranty for the roof. The Town Administrator will indicate within
the budget any monies that have been encumbered and the year it was spent
in. Transfer Station
The Selectmen will have a future discussion with the Director of
Public Works and the Transfer Station Foreman regarding staff hours.
Disposal Costs has been reduced by $25,000
Concord Regional has been increased by $25,250 based on the $65 per
ton tipping fee and the guaranteed annual tonnage (1,850 tons).
Hazard Waste Disposal will be increased from the budgeted $4,000 to
$6,000. Health & Welfare
No change. Parks & Recreation
Salary includes an increase in hours. Library
Library valuation used amounts to just under $286,000,000.
The Library receives 1/15th of 1% of the valuation
amount. The allotment amount
is $190,666. Conservation Commission
No change. 3. General Discussion Selectman Selectman Hartman asked about the status of
a bill from the State Veterinarian in the amount of $42,000 which dates
back three-years ago when animals determined to be unsafe by the State
were taken from a property. During
the three-year period there was no attempt by the State to collect the
$42,000 nor was there a contract. In
2009 the RSA changed so that if action is taken by the State on the
municipal level the Town could be responsible for any costs incurred for
the care of animals that have been removed from a property. Selectman Hartman recommends forwarding the
budget with the discussed changes to the Budget Committee. The tax rate will be set on 4. Adjournment Motion was made and seconded to adjourn at Board of Selectmen David Karrick, Jr. – Chairman David E. Hartman Clyde
Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen,
Recording secretary
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