DUBLIN BUDGET COMMITTEE
Revised Minutes – November 14, 2006 Meeting
Present: Sterling Abram – selectmen’s representative, Nancy Campbell, Charles Champagne, Judy Knapp, Rich Scheinblum - chairman, Leslie Whone, and Ken Woods
Meeting was called to order by Rich Scheinblum at 7:03 p.m. The October 31, 2006 minutes were accepted as written.
Paul Waterman presented the Building Inspection and Health Department budgets. The following line items in the Building Inspection budget are changed from the 2006 budget:
Site Inspector (4240.1-110) - $18,750 for 2007 vs $12,500 for 2006. This request is based on 15 hours/week at $25.00/hour. Mr. Waterman reported the average hours spent per week in 2006 was 12 (the budget was figured on 10 hours/week for 23 new houses and 33 other permits for a total of 56). Mr. Waterman reported that as of this date there were 44 permits, only 2 more than 2005 (8 new houses, 6 apartments and 30 other, which includes demolitions, garages, porches). He is projecting 46 permits for 2007. In 2006, there weren’t the housing starts from builders that were thought would happen. Mr. Waterman feels the 2006 inspections have been done to his satisfaction. The Fire Chief also has input into building permits re egress issues, furnace and woodstove
inspections, oil tanks, chimneys and smoke detectors. Revenue to date ($9,069) doesn’t match the wages spent.
Site Inspector Social Security (4240.1-220) - $1,172 for 2007 vs $775 for 2006.
Site Inspector Medicare (4240.1-225) - $272 for 2007 vs $181 for 2006.
Mileage (4240.1-290) - $1,019 for 2007 vs $970 for 2006.
Equipment (4240.1-430) - $430 for 2007 vs $1 for 2006. This is for a full set of code books which would be good for three years and include supplements (one for the Town and one for the Library). Question about the need for paper copies-would online be cheaper and more usable and why do we need to buy a copy for the Library?
Training (4240.1-291) - $700 for 2007 vs $1,000 for 2006.
Dues (4240.1-297) - $150 for 2007 vs $400 for 2006.
New line for Office Telephone - $360. Previously shared with the Selectmen and the Town Administrator.
New line for Cell Phone - $480. Question re whether an office phone is necessary if there is a cell phone-could voice mail suffice? Question whether there was money in the 2006 budget for this expense, shared with the Health Officer budget? The Budget Committee thought this was so.
Questions and concerns of Budget Committee members are the following:
1.) why are wages 50% higher in 2007 than budgeted in 2006 when the number of permits issued is .04% higher (46 in 2007 vs 44 in 2006 and 42 in 2005)?
2.) is the Town giving townspeople, builders and architects advice on how to build their buildings/additions?
3.) are surrounding towns meeting the code when they spend fewer hours than Dublin does?
4.) how many inspections are done per house?
5.) what type of inspections are done?
6.) are there seasonal fluctuations in the workload or cycles in building activity?
7.) should there be regular office hours or should it be by appointment only? why in office 3 hours/day?
8.) are there benchmarks for how long certain items take?
9.) what do other towns charge for fees?
Mr. Waterman will be scheduled for another meeting January 9, 2007. Before the meeting, he will email Mr. Scheinblum the answers to the questions asked.
The following lines in the Health Department budget are changed from the 2006 budget:
Health Officer Salary (4411.1-110) - $7,500 for 2007 vs $6,250 for 2006. The request is from an additional hour per week from 5 to 6. Question re seasonal fluctuations in the workload? Mr. Waterman reported that there were 26 test pits in 2006 for either new houses or failed septic systems. It takes 1 hour/test pit. There are also complaints about animals, water quality, storm water run-off and noise complaints that go into this line. It was suggested that any one complaining put their complaints in writing.
Health Offficer Social Security (4411.1-248) - $469 for 2007 vs $388 for 2006.
Health Officer Medicare (4411.1-249) - $109 for 2007 vs $93 for 2006.
Mileage (4411.1-250) - $223 for 2007 vs $50 for 2006.This is for mileage around town.
The rest of the line items remained the same as 2006 budget. Questions and concerns of Budget Committee members are the following:
1.) training budget needs to be detailed-what courses are being proposed.
2.) committee would like to see a list of complaints from 2006.
3.) should the Health Officer recommend that certain septic tanks get pumped-this is a question for the Selectmen.
4.) what test are included in water tests at swimming areas? Mr. Waterman is trying to get the State to do these tests.
Sterling Abram reported on two warrant articles; one for water testing for approximately $12,000 with a matching grant of $15,000 (this would test all registered wells) and the other for a 10-wheel truck. The Equipment and Facilities Study Committee are studying this truck-the committee consists of Gordon Knight, Chris Raymond, Chris Parker, Cles Staples and Dave Whitney.
There was also discussion on health insurance and whether or not the employees will get other health plan options, such as flexible spending accounts.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy E. Campbell, Co-Secretary
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