Warner Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

 

Chairman Karrick opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m.

In Attendance:   Selectman David Karrick, Jr. – Chairman, Selectman David E. Hartman, Selectman Clyde Carson &

                        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 Carson asked if the Newsletter line is sufficiently budgeted.  The Selectmen agreed to increase the Newsletter from 4 issues a year to bi monthly.  The Town Administrator will obtain a cost.  Newsletter expenses could be reduced if a new copier is purchased.  Currently, the Newsletter is copied by an outside source because the cost per copy under the current copier service contract is 2¢ over 60K copies.  Last year because of the Newsletter the Town was charged an additional $800 over the yearly service contract which amounts to $1,800.   

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 Carson is concerned that this figure may by too conservative.  The Town Administrator said just under 3,200 gallons has been budgeted.  The Selectmen recommended increasing the line by 1/3rd of what is budgeted.  The Town Administrator said she will do the same throughout the departments.

         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 Carson recommended researching lease options.   

Old Graded School

              Heating Fuel will be increased by 1/3rd as previously discussed.  Selectman Carson asked if programmable thermostats have been installed.  The Town Administrator said she has passed on the suggestion to Building Maintenance.  

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 Carson spoke about revolving accounts, he said the Police Department could set one up for special detail.  Currently special detail is paid by the Town, and then the Town bills the applicant for reimbursement.  Revolving accounts is a Board of Selectmen decision. 

             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 Hopkinton , such as Hopkinton dispatch membership, and other amounts that did not add up on a previous bill.  These differences were discussed with the Town of Hopkinton .  The Town Administrator sent a letter outlining what Warner feels to be fair in the billing, since there has been no response back it is believed the next billing will include the adjustments. 

         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 Carson would like to see a cost break down for the projects that will be completed in 2010.  Projects still need to be determined. 

          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 Carson recommended inviting a representative from the County and School again for budget discussions.  The Town Administrator will arrange a meeting during a Selectman’s meeting as well as inviting the Budget Committee members.  

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 October 13, 2009 .  

4. Adjournment

Motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:15 p.m.  

Board of Selectmen  

 

David Karrick, Jr. – Chairman

David E. Hartman

Clyde Carson

 

Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen, Recording secretary