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Warner Board of Selectmen Work Session October 16, 2007
Meeting opened at In attendance:
Selectman David E. Hartman – Chairman Selectman Richard A.
Cook Selectman Wayne
Eigabroadt Absent:
None Recorder of the
minutes is Mary Whalen Others present: Laura Buono – Town
Administrator Martha Mical Marianne Howlett Ed Mical David Karrick 1. 2008 BUDGET Ms. Buono explained
that wage increases are included as well as an estimated 15% health
insurance increase; Local Government Center will be voting on the health
insurance rate on Thursday, October 18th.
Highlights: Election budget may
need adjustment Martha Mical feels
that the Trustees of the Trust Funds stipend should be increased since
the work load has increased. It
was learned through the audit that there were accounts that were in the
Treasurer’s hands that should be in the Trustee’s hands.
Ms. Buono will look at what accounts transferred and will speak
with the Trustees. Appraisal Review is
reduced from last year; this line is used for abatements.
The line will need to be increased when there is a revaluation.
Martha Mical also noted that there was $1,300 of encumbered money
that was used for two cases in 2007. Tax Collector is
requesting 75 hours for the Deputy Tax Collector; this time will be used
during tax billing and sporadic office coverage. Selectman and
Finance wages decreased, Ms. Buono removed secretarial support for the
Highway Department, the support can come from the Selectmen’s office
with no additional hours. Town Clerk is
requesting the Deputy Town Clerk office hours increase from 1,300 hours
to 1,560 hours; the increase is for coverage when the Town Clerk is out.
Planning/Zoning
budget has been combined. Also,
$5,000 has been budgeted to begin work on the Master Plan.
The Selectmen asked what the cost was for the last Master Plan. Town Hall
Maintenance Repair has no increase but includes redoing the lower
meeting room and electrical work on the stage.
Insurance increased,
this covers workers comp., property liability as well as dental, life
and short-term disability. Dental
is paid by the employees; the majority of the increase is due to dental
and life insurance being indicated in the wrong line last year. Community Action
Program is level funded until further notification. Police Department is
looking to fill a full time position.
Selectman Eigabroadt asked if there is a target date for the
position to be filled. The
Chief is hoping to have someone on board fairly soon, maybe this year. Fire Department has
reduced the wage line by removing the on-call position.
Selectman Eigabroadt feels it would be wise to leave the on-call
position in. Ms. Buono explained that the current staff covers the calls
during the day. Selectman
Eigabroadt said there is a serious increase in re-tones with Hopkinton
rescue showing up on calls with no rescue personnel from Warner and then
Hopkinton handling the calls. This
is a direct reflection of not having an on-call person.
Selectman Eigabroadt said if needed to back up what he is saying
he can obtain a copy of calls from Concord Fire Alarm.
Selectman Eigabroadt listens to the calls and on many occasions
the ambulance has to go to the calls because there are no Warner rescue
personnel available. Martha
Mical went on the record and disagreed with what Selectman Eigabroadt
said, the Town has no more second re-tones than when there was an
on-call person and yes once in a while Hopkinton arrives on the scene
before Warner because they are closer.
Selectman Eigabroadt said no, the calls he has listened to there
was no one available from Warner. Selectman
Eigabroadt said he could do a comparison in calls if needed. Chairman
Hartman said going back to the status of what the operation was a year
ago would depend on what the Fire Chief recommends.
The Fire Chief has explained to Ms. Buono that the situation
without an on-call position is working well.
The Fire Chief is meeting with the Selectmen at the regularly
scheduled meeting this evening; the Board will discuss Selectman
Eigabroadt’s concerns then. Fire Department New
& Replaced Equipment has been increased to allow replacement of the
30-year old scene lighting which no longer meets code. FD Building
Maintenance has been increased to allow for interior painting. FD Dispatch Service
increased by $2,100 Emergency Management
Director Stipend is increased by $200, the Deputy position remains
unfilled the Director is working on filling the position.
The EMD Ed Mical learned that he may be able to apply for a grant
in reference to the Hazard Mitigation Plan update; if the grant is
received the cost will be offset. Ed
Mical said according to the State any town that does not have an
approved Hazard Mitigation Plan when a Federal disaster is declared in
the future the Town will not be eligible for Federal assistance except
for emergency services. Highway Department
increased slightly. Transfer Station
Meals is for the volunteer, Ms. Buono explained in 2005 the Selectmen
voted to allow 3 meals a week at $8 per meal.
The volunteer is now at the Transfer Station four days a week.
Ms. Buono reduced meals to cover the meals for 3 times a week at
$8 ($1,250 total); the Transfer Station manager would like to keep the
amount at $1,600. Ms. Buono
reviewed the meals and found some of them where as high as $20, it was
learned at Evans Market the food was being charged as fuel.
Selectman Eigabroadt recommends supplying 4 meals a week.
Selectman Cook said he had a concern because he saw that one meal
cost $17 for a large pizza. Selectman
Eigabroadt said the volunteer will eat whatever is given to him. Selectman
Cook is in favor of the $1,600 provided the lunches do not cost more
than $8. Ms. Buono
said the TS Manager has also requested $2,000 for the volunteer stipend.
Ms. Buono looked at the other stipend positions in Town and
averaged out the last three years for the volunteer and came up with
$850. The Emergency
Management Director stipend amounts to $2,500, although the work the
volunteer does is beneficial the Town is providing meals and a place for
him to go. The TS
Manager’s position is if the Town paid him and hourly rate he would
make much more than the $2,000. Selectman
Cook said Ms. Buono made a point about looking at more than the single
position; the Town relies on a number of people that are not fully
compensated and supports Ms. Buono’s recommendation of $850 for the
volunteer stipend. Selectman
Eigabroadt supports leaving the stipend at what the Board voted, he
would not support cutting the stipend. Ms.
Buono said the stipend has not been voted on this year.
Selectman Eigabroadt clarified by saying he recommends leaving
the stipend the same as last year, $1,200.
Selectman Eigabroadt said that he feels the volunteer would not
care if he did not receive anything, he feels it’s the right thing to
do. Chairman Hartman also
recommends $1,200 stipend. Selectman
Cook said he is OK with the $1,200.
TS Safety Equipment
increased because of more employees TS Office & Shop
increased, there is $900 budgeted for a computer (may be purchased in
2007) TS Meetings &
Seminars is a new line Ms. Buono added because there is on-going
education for hazardous waste. TS Hazardous Waste
was reduced to $4,000; Chairman Hartman asked if there is an estimate as
to how much hazardous waste is accumulating.
Laura said there wasn’t much, mainly fluorescent tubes.
Chairman Hartman recommends a periodic report on the material
received. Parks &
Recreation Field Maintenance position has worked well this year.
A Grounds Maintenance line has been added for 750 hours @ $16 per
hour. The other line items
that carried wages were reduced. Bottom line increase
is 4% TS – Ms. Buono
noted when the TS Manager submitted the budget $16,000 was included for
a new tractor. Ms. Buono
asked the TSM why he did not submit the tractor in the CIP; he agreed
and pulled the request out. Ms. Buono asked if
the Board would like an updated price for GIS software, the Board wishes
to wait. Wages – Ms. Buono
met with the Department Heads and talked about what has happened in the
past and what they would like to see in the future.
The result was to be able to look at a wage scale and see where
an employee will be year after year.
The State system was discussed, what was liked was when you work
for the State, which has a grade and step scale, the employees know that
when your on step 1-5 you receive an annual increase, step 5 and up
there is an increase every other year.
The staff liked the State’s concept but the staff was not
willing to copy the State scale and place the Town’s positions because
there are so many grades, what was questioned is how do you fit in the
Tax Collector, Police Chief etc. It
was decided to work with the Selectmen and have a Warner scale and
process using the State process as a guideline.
A draft copy for 2009 was created (has not been finalized on the
employee level). Then the
discussion turned to what is fair for the employees in 2008.
When Ms. Buono reviewed the wage scale comparison towns, which
only half were received, she found that steps 9 & 10 could be
adjusted. It has also been
learned that when hiring people with experience it is extremely rare
that steps 1 & 2 are used. The
thought is to eliminate steps 1 & 2 and move step 3 as step 1 and
going up from there. The
Department Heads did their own comparisons and decided to work with the
Selectmen and concentrate on where the process is going to go in 2009.
What was looked at for 2008 was either an across the board 5.8%
increase or adding .51¢ per hour to the employees plus a step and 4%
for employees that are on step 10. There
is a $5,000 difference between the two options.
What is included in the budget is the 5.8%.
Ms. Buono wanted to make sure that all the Department Heads were
on board with this, the ownership is the Department Heads worked on the
presented process together. Ms.
Buono will provide a draft of the proposed 2009 wage scales for the
Selectmen to review. Selectman Cook said
that he agrees that the current process is not good.
The proposed change is a major change from the Wage Study
Committee recommendation which wanted to see the pay raises merit driven
not automatic step increases. Any
change needs to be supported with good reasoning as to why the Town is
leaving one system that was adopted by Town Meeting and changing to
another system. Selectman
Cook feels there are good reasons for changing the system, one reason is
having a Town Administrator and there also needs to be enough caveat to
protect the Town’s interest. Chairman
Hartman added that annual performance evaluations are a part of the
State’s process. Ms. Buono
explained that performance evaluations will be part of the process.
Work Session
adjourned at Board of Selectmen
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