BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF MEETING
Charles
Graybill
Mert
Mann
Town
Administrator: Janice VandeBogart
Meeting was called to order at
Discussion on the proposed 2005 budget. After the board reviewed the numbers, Mert Mann made the motion to accept the proposed 2005
operating budget. Chuck Graybill seconded the motion and the vote was in the
affirmative.
The board reviewed Patrick Bowne’s
request for time off. The request was
for one day for a holiday that fell on his regular day
off and for three annual days. The
request was approved by the board and signed by Chuck Graybill.
A request was received from Mike Underwood to repair the
snow blower at the school. The snow blower
needs a new carburetor at a cost of $75.00.
Motion was made by Chuck Graybill to spend the
estimated $75.00 to repair the snow blower and for Mike Underwood to install it
free of charge to the town. The motion
was seconded by Mert Mann and the vote was in the
affirmative.
Budget Hearing:
The Budget Hearing
was called to order at
The Budget was
presented by John R. Swindlehurst, III, Chairman.
It was duly noted
that the hearing had been properly posted in two public places and in three newspapers.
The Budget was
reviewed by departments:
Executive:
Increase of $3946.24 due to increases in pay for Town Administrator, Recording Secretary, Secretary and Part-time help.
Election: Decrease of $1185. This budget includes the Town Clerk’s annual
salary of $5500 plus $17,000 based on fees, a 4% increase for the deputy town
clerk. The budget is down because there
is only one election this year. Budgeted money for Voting
booths this year due to the increase in voters there is a need for more booths. Put in money for the purchase of three extra
booths.
Financial
Administration: This included Tax
collector and
treasurer’s wages and the expenses to run the town office. This line is down $15,495.00, some of it is
due to the fact that we are not going to print as many town reports this year.
We will be printing 450 copies and put the entire book on our website. The Audit services are ½
of what they were last year as we were able to do the GASB #34, fixed
assets audit, in house. This process is
still in the works.
Tim Terragni asked if Town Reports would be given out and
where. Chuck Graybill
replied that reports would be available at the Town Office, The
Library and at the School. (Books are to
be delivered by
Assessing
Department: Additional $250.00 this
year. Money is in the budget for the revaluation of
the utilities. Appraisal services down,
the Board will be working on the current use to bring the values up to date. There will be a complete revaluation of the current
use properties as well.
Legal
Services: This budget is down by
$5300. Most cases have been
finalized.
Ron Slocum asked
about the status of the cell tower case.
He was advised that this is going to Federal Court shortly. The Selectmen felt that the budget was
adequate.
Personnel
Administration: This budget is up
$31,894.59. This budget is made up of
insurance and is all based on salaries.
Planning &
Zoning: Increased by $2750. Advertising is up, however this budget is
offset by fees that are collected and shown on the income side.
General Government
Buildings: Increase of $3230. This is for the general maintenance of the
town buildings. Includes heat, electricity,
janitor, street lighting, etc. The Town
has added one more street light at the Transfer Station.
Ken Swayze asked what was included on the first line, under
Town Buildings Maintenance and Improvements.
This amount of
$11,895 includes the door opener for the fire station, stain for the fire house
building, $4000 for various repairs at the town garage, and for the
improvements of the bathrooms at the town office building.
Ron Slocum: Asked about the use of the trust fund that
the trustees have for repairs to town buildings. The Selectmen stated that they would also be
using that money for repairs to the town office building as well.
Cemetery: Decrease of $1,080. Fence repair gone down, brush hogging
services gone down, as well as maintenance.
Maintenance is a bid price.
Insurance: Up $1,000.
This is for Property Liability Insurance plus the $1,000 for deductible.
Police Department: Increase of $9,435. Special Duty police line is up. This involved extra time requested by public
service when they are working on lines; increase in secretary hours and $1,400.00 for another level of accreditation.
Ron Slocum: Asked for clarification on hours for the
Police Secretary. When Barbara McCann worked for the town she was part time
police secretary and part time for the building dept. He asked if the police secretary is now full
time. Chief Nelson stated that she was
part time but 4 hours had been added so the job is now 24 hours a week instead
of 20 hours. Line Comeau
is now working for the Building Department and also for the Town Office. Ron Slocum asked if Line was full time with
benefits and the Selectmen confirmed that she was.
Fire Department: Increase of $62,713. $54,000 is for the lease of the Fire Engine
however this will be taken out of surplus This will be noted on the town warrant. This would make a bottom line increase
of $8,713. $5000 is for dispatch fees. New equipment gone up and need for the
purchase of foam, 60 gals for $900.
Chief Wiggin stated that equipment needs to be replaced on the old trucks. The Dispatch increase was something they had
no control over because it is set by the
area compact. Two more dispatches this
year, and in future years, may not be such a large increase. Their workload has increased
dramatically.
Ron Slocum: Asked about the equipment maintenance,
thought it should decrease as we replace old with new trucks. Jon Wiggin stated
that this is true in some cases but some
of the older trucks need more items replaced.
Need paint, etc. and it is very hard figure the costs.
Building Inspection: Increase of $9,065. Increase in salaries. There has been no pay raises here for at least 5 to 6 years, and budgeted for cell phones. They are needed for convenience as well as
safety when guys go out on the job sites.
Tim Terragni: Asked if
the Building Inspector has to go to meetings as well, such as Planning and
Zoning. Yes, the building department
would be attending these meetings as well as being in the office on Thursday
nights.
Tim Terragni: Asked if
permit fees offset cost. Chuck stated
that they do. Ken Swayze
stated that this year the town has had the highest income from permits.
JR also stated that
Ken’s Department is recouping monies from engineering costs and fees for
Planning and Zoning costs.
Emergency
Management: Up $50. Jon Wiggin stated
that part of this money is going to be used for the printing costs relating to
the Hazard Mitigation Plan that is being developed for the town. Also this budget money is used for emergency
shelter and food.
Highway Department: This budget is down by $60,200. There is an increase for the highway
employee; no change in the Road Agent’s
wages and some money in the budget for flaggers, if
needed. $4000 is budgeted for gates at
Legache Hill Road, Kimball Pond and both ends of the
Whipple Road in the Conservation area, at County Road and Kimball Pond
Road. Projects planned include finishing
at the Town Garage, the top coat of pavement at the Transfer Station, top coat
on Gorham Pond Road, and road repair on Twist Hill Road. Culverts to be replaced on Tenney Hill Road, Long Pond and Legache
Hill Road.
Ron Slocum: Asked if the Road Agent was on a part time
basis, was there any constraint on the number of hours. He said he was only asking because we are
going to have a new road agent this year and wonder how it worked. The
Selectmen stated that the new road agent would have to fit his hours to
accommodate the budget. They have
budgeted 1000 hours for the Road agent and the Board will be monitoring those
hours.
Tim Terragni: Asked why
the costs of the gates were not coming out of the Conservation Fund. JR stated that the board urged them to do so
and Chuck stated that the town was
getting gravel rights for the gravel at Kimball Pond for the gates. The town tried to get them to pay it out of
their funds because they have a substantial balance in their accounts.
Solid Waste
Disposal: Increase of $16,121. This includes the lease payment on the roll
off truck however this will be taken out of surplus. There is money budgeted for an additional
par-timer for 8 hours a week. There was
an increase for the full time employee.
There is $2000 under contractors services to put in a retaining wall. Under department equipment there is $5200
budgeted for an open top container. The
Transfer Station ran into trouble last year when there was no power, or the
compactor jammed up so it was decided to purchase a new open top container for
that purpose. The price per ton has
gone up $1.65 per ton this year which increases the cost on that line. C&D removal was also up, however this is
offset on the revenue side. Hazardous
Waste line is up.
Supervisor Patrick Bowne explained how the Hazardous Waste Day collection
process works. Stated it cost a little
more this year but will go down in the future as we get going. Dunbarton might be able to do a collection
day of their own as well as with the town of Bow.
Ron Slocum: Asked if Mr. Bowne
was still having trouble with the fork lift and balers. Mr. Bowne stated
that the town purchased a used fork lift and was getting rid of old one. This used machine was purchased out of last
years budget (2004).
Ron Slocum : Asked about the burn pits and Mr. Bowne stated that they will continue to work on this with
the new road agent this year and that they had all the supplies to do it with.
Tim Terragni: Asked if
it would it be worthwhile to get a generator.
Mr. Bowne stated that the size needed would be very expensive but could look into
it. The Selectmen stated that they have
been checking at state surplus, etc.
One power loss was due to mechanical problem with compactor so a
generator would not have solved the problem then.
Ken Swayze asked if we were going to finish the paving on the
section in the back. He was told that this
was part of the plan for this year.
Animal control: Down $800.
Health Agencies: same:
Community Action Programs and Visiting Nurses Association.
Welfare:
Increase of $9,500. It was
pointed out that the expenditures for 2004 were almost $35,000. Ron Slocum wanted to know if the $17,500
budgeted would be enough. The Selectmen
felt it would be enough. Chuck Graybill stated that the board had contacted an outside
source and some changes are to be made.
It was also noted that some cases are done.
Parks and
Recreation: Decreased because there was no monies budget
for the Historical Awareness Committee.
The Old Home Day budget is now in with the Recreation budget.
Library: increase of $4000. Selectmen noted that this was a request from
the Library Trustees and put in the budget as requested.
Conservation Committsion:
Same as last year.
Bottom Line of the
Budget is $1,591,494.20 with $76,961.00 (which represents the leases on the
fire truck and the roll off truck for the Transfer Station) to be taken from
surplus to offset the budget. This
brings the bottom line to $1,514.533.20.
Revenues: Mert Mann reviewed
the revenues: He stated that revenues
are updated during the year and at the
tax rate setting. The Selectmen can adjust
the numbers according to what actually coming in at that time. These numbers as shown on the estimated
revenue sheet are estimates based on what happened last year. Motor Vehicle fees are based on what happened
last year. The Flood Control money that
comes from Massachusetts with 30% from
State of NH. We estimated $72,960 in
2004 and received 0. We did, however,
receive $72,960 in January of 2005. The
$72,960 is actually received but we did not double our estimate for 2005
because there is a chance we may not get the 2005 revenues until January
2006.
The revenue from
grants listed are made up of a grant for the Fire Dept and a grant for the
Milfoil clean up. Jon Wiggin stated the fire dept. grant was a Homeland
Security grant in the amount of $39,555
from the Federal Government. This will
show up on the warrant. The other grant
which is included here is from the State of NH for the milfoil clean up.
Included in the
bottom line is the $50,000 from surplus to offset the tax rate.
Mert reviewed his calculations of the tax rate
using the expenditures and revenues projected and stated that the town tax rate
for the year 2005 would be $2.94, a decrease of $1.20. He pointed out that this was based on numbers
we have now but said that the new revaluation may change these numbers. But given the budget as it stands here, if
everything remained the same, the tax rate on the town side would be lower than
last year.
Warrant Articles: JR went over the warrant articles: Fire dept. $43,950, $4,395 from surplus and the grant for
$39,555; Fire dept software: $4250.
All coming from ambulance fund: Milfoil Control: $11,625.00,
$4,068.75 grant from NH, $7556.25 from Conservation fund; CIP
Projects: which includes a build out
study and updating the Planning & Zoning Ordinances, is $15,000.00, from
surplus; Salt Storage building, $25,000 from surplus. We have
$50,000 now for the salt shed.
Alan Sheldon and Jan VandeBogart have looked
at some sheds, and received an estimate for a building at $129.000.
With the $25,000 this will bring it up to $75,000. With volunteer help, we are hoping this will
be enough. The last article on the
warrant is the Winslow town forest which is taken from their fund.
Chuck Graybill thanked all the department heads and stated that
he hoped they would give their support regarding funds to come out of the
Conservation Fund to pay for the milfoil clean up. Jon Wiggin asked
if there was any money from the Gorham Pond Association and Chuck stated that
he didn’t believe there was. He also
stated that this clean up would be a start of this program and that it might be
needed in other ponds in the town. Chuck
went on to say that the cost should be coming out of the Conservation
Funds It was noted that they have
$150,000.00 plus in their account at the end of 2004 and they should
support this program.
The Budget Hearing
was closed at 8:16 PM
The Selectmen’s
meeting was adjourned at 8:16 pm
__________________________
John
R. Swindlehurst, III Chairman
__________________________
Charles
Graybill
___________________________
Mert Mann
Board
of Selectmen
Recorded by:
Janice VandeBogart, Town Administrator.