DUBLIN BUDGET COMMITTEE
Minutes – October 17, 2006 Meeting
Present: Nancy Campbell, Charles Champagne, Judy Knapp, Rich Scheinblum -chairman, Sterling Abram – selectmen’s representative, Leslie Whone and Ken Woods.
Meeting was called to order by Rich Scheinblum at 7:05 p.m. The October 10, 2006 minutes were accepted as written. Motion made, seconded and passed unanimously to appoint Leslie Whone to replace Tracey McTague.
Bill Goodwin, Adele Knight and Cecily Bastedo presented the Library budget. The budget was figured with salaries at 2006 levels and with a 3% COLA for 2007. The only increase in hours is for the Librarian – one hour /week. The following line items are changed from the 2006 budget:
Computer (4550.1-341) - $2,500 for 2007 vs $1.200 for 2006. The volunteer technical person is leaving, so this service will now have to be paid for. There is also money to replace one computer.
Collections (4550.1-810) - $8.000 for 2007 vs $7,500 for 2006. This extra $500 will come from Library revenue. The Book Binding line item (4550.1-811) has been incorporated into the Collections line and therefore should be deleted.
Miscellaneous (4550.1-812) - $100 for 2007 vs $600 for 2006.
Printing and Postage – New line that was supposed to be added in 2006. This request is for $500 for annual report.
The rest of the Library line items were the same as in 2006. There will be revenue of $3,000 which is the same as 2006.
Question asked about professional development. This includes any staff courses, Trustees dues and conferences. Computer expenses for 2006 will be mostly spent on supplies and a new computer; Mileage will be reimbursed before the end of the year; rugs still need to be cleaned; and the Collections money will be spent. There has been no thought to increase hours.
Jack Lewis, Chairman, presented the Conservation Commission budget. The following line items are changed from the 2006 budget:
Training (4611.2-290) - $400 for 2007 vs $200 for 2006. This is needed in order to monitor the LCIP land at Mud Pond and other town properties.
Postage and Stationery (4611.9-635) - $700 for 2007 vs $300 for 2006. This would be for a town wide mailing on warrant articles.
Maps and Photos (4611.9-810) - $500 for 2007 vs $400 for 2006. Better maps.
Lake Monitoring (4611.9-813) - $1,500 for 2007 vs $1,200 for 2006. This is for Dublin Lake water monitoring but should also include Mud Pond and Howe Reservoir.
Education Program (4611.9-815) - $300 for 2007 vs $820 for 2006. This is for a brochure on how to control invasive species.
Maintenance -Conservation Land (4611.9-816) - $400 for 2007 vs $200 for 2006. This is to re-mark the properties which need monitoring by the Commission.
Invasive Control (4611.9-820) - $800 for 2007 vs $500 for 2006.This is for active control programs for Knotweed and Loosestrife.
Transfer to Savings (4611.9-894) - $100 for 2007 vs $1 for 2006.
The rest of the Conservation Commission line items were the same as in 2006. Jack is proposing two warrant articles. The first is to put money in an account to hire specialists/consultants, seed money for acquiring easements and education the value of easements and to create support for acquisitions. This would be funded by taking 50% of the Land Use Change Tax each year. 146 towns in the state have adopted such an article. The consensus of the Budget Committee was that this was a good idea, although it would lead to a higher tax rate. The second article would be for the issuance of an $800,000 bond to be used to acquire conservation easements or open space lands of significant conservation value. The Committee needs more information on this article.
Ed Germain, Chairman and Neil Sandford presented the Planning Board budget. The following line items are changed from the 2006 budget:
Secretary (4191.1-110) – COLA.
Consultant (4199.1-390) - $3,000 for 2007 vs $5,500 for 2006.This will be overspent in 2006 because of the well problems at The Dublin General Store.
Master Plan (4199.1-394) - $5,000 for 2007 vs $10,450 for 2006. This will be for the parts of the Master Plan that are not required by RSA. This includes some consultant fees, maps and charts. The 2006 budget included the Land Use Plan and the Vision statement, as required by RSA. Any money in the 2006 budget will be spent for consultant fees.
Printing (4199.1-550) - $2000 for 2007 vs $1.500 for 2006.
Supplies (4199.1-610) - $250 for 2007 vs $200 for 2006.
Postage (4199.1-625) - $1,200 for 2007 vs $1,000 for 2006. This line includes money for a town wide mailing.
The rest of the Planning Board line items were the same as in 2006. There will be revenue of $14,900. The Planning Board is recommending the creation of an Expendable Trust Fund to fund future Master Plan activities - $2,500 /year. There may also be a warrant article for Water Testing in 2007, which would be the same as the 2006 proposal that wasn’t put forward to a Town Meeting vote. Ed Germain is also applying for a grant for town wide testing, which is a much more extensive proposal. Ed also reported that the Bedrock study is underway. The study couldn’t start until September when the money was released by the Federal government.
Sterling Abram advised the Committee that the Code Enforcement Officer had a family emergency last week. Sterling did not get this message before the meeting. Code Enforcement and Health Department budget presentations have not been re-scheduled. Sterling will advise the Committee when the budgets are ready. Sterling also reported that the CIP is being worked on and should be almost finished.
There was some discussion on the status of the Peterborough Ambulance service. A newspaper article suggested that Peterborough might be looking to not supply service to the six towns it currently serves. Rich Scheinblum reported that Tom Vanderbilt is looking into other alternatives.
Rich will speak to Bill Raymond to remind him to put the Budget Committee minutes on the town website.
Judy Knapp will be away for the next meeting, October 24, 2006. Next week will be 3rd quarter review and General Government line items.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy E. Campbell, Co-Secretary
| 
