DUBLIN BUDGET COMMITTEE
Minutes – December 5, 2006 Meeting
Present: Sterling Abram – selectmen’s representative, Nancy Campbell, Charles Champagne, Judy Knapp, Rich Scheinblum – chairman and Leslie Whone
Absent: Ken Woods
Also present: Joe Cavanaugh – Selectman, William Raymond – Town Administrator and Elvira Elder
Meeting was called to order by Rich Scheinblum at 7:05 p.m. The November 28, 2006 minutes were accepted as written (1 abstention) with the following revision: the 1-ton truck was originally scheduled to be replaced in 2006 as per the Capital Improvements Plan, but it should definitely be replaced in 2007. Rich handed out a first pass budget (no salaries/wages or salary/wage related items included) showing virtually no increase.
Bill Raymond reviewed projected revenue for 2007, totaling $694,775. Items discussed were as follows:
Land Use Change Tax: should this line be fully funded if Conservation Commission is granted permission to receive half of these funds for land purchases? When would this take affect and does the money need to be on both the expense and income sides of the budget? The Conservation Commission needs to explain how this process would work.
Payment in lieu of taxes: agreements with Dublin School (5year agreement which could be up for renewal in 2007-Bill to check) and Phoenix House of New England.
Building Permits: $500-$800/new house. Should these permits cost more?
Summer Playground: $6,000 down from 2006 because of fewer children.
Emergency Management Grants: $59,300-brush truck for fire department.
Sale of Municipal Property: $12,000 for Police Cruiser; $20,000 for sale of trees on Old Troy Road.
Interest on Deposits: $30,000-this is basically the checking account. This increase is because interest rates are higher and the town has about $400,000-$500,000 as an average balance.
No money will be withdrawn from the Recycling Special Revenue Fund and withdrawals from Capital Reserve Funds and Trust and Agency Funds still to be determined are.
Bill also reviewed the problems with the State Retirement System. The fund is only funded at 60% which means towns have to make up the difference, therefore the 20+% increase in 2007.
Discussion continued on warrant articles:
Highway:
Dump Truck: the committee is still meeting, but it looks as though a 10-wheel truck can be purchased cheaper than a Mack. The Committee should have a decision by the December 12th meeting. Judy Knapp was asked to check for state bids on dump trucks and the specs for them and let Sterling know before Thursday.
1- Ton: must be replaced in 2007.
Fire Department:
Brush Truck: Emergency Management grant $59,300 (income). This is a pick-up truck that is loaded with equipment.
Building Extension: Will be on the east side of the fire house, extending 12 feet.
Transfer Station: A paved apron around the building and office-the forklift doesn’t travel well on gravel.
Police Department:
Taser guns: Money was requested when the Chief presented his budget-should this be a warrant article?
4th Police Officer: A study committee has recommended hiring another full-time officer. The Selectmen have taken the committee’s recommendation under advisement.
Administration/Office Equipment:
Filing cabinet and a laptop computer for the voter checklist and other computer purchases.
GASB 34 Compliance software: GASB 34 is an accounting standard, not required by law, but the town gets an adverse opinion from the auditor because the town doesn’t have an inventory of its capital fixed assets. The $20,000 figure includes hiring a firm (MRI) to inventory the town (including roads) for $10,000 and the first year software cost of $8,000-$10,000. The software cost would be less in ensuing years. Questions raised: what is the benefit to the town; how many towns with a population of 1500 or less are in compliance with this standard.
Planning Board:
Water Testing: No additional information on the status of the grant. Joe Cavanaugh reported that the State makes the recommendations on the 200 wells to be tested which tie into the bedrock study. An additional 150 wells at random locations would also be tested at $120 each at the property owner’s expense. No one would be mandated to test their well and the town would not be liable if some chemical were found in a well. Question raised: Why is there a cost difference from the figure in 2006 -$120? The $30,000 expense figures out to $150/well. (Note: why do the 200 wells cost $150 each and the 120 additional wells cost $120)?
Conservation Commission
Bond for land purchases: Still no dollar figure for this warrant article. Joe Cavanaugh reported that there is now an ad hoc open space committee meeting to determine where the open space and greenways should be located in town. The committee will also develop criteria for the properties that the town would buy or have an easement on.
Capital Reserve: Still to be determined.
Salary/wage increases and personnel changes were reviewed. All full-time personnel would receive 3-4% increases in 2007; all part-time personnel would receive 3% increases in 2007; there will be no change in the hours or the rate for the Code Enforcement/Health Officer position; the Police Department Secretary will be assigned 100% to the Police Department budget (previously 13% was in the Executive department); the third Highway department employee will be assigned 100% to the Highway Department budget (previously 20% was assigned to the Landfill budget); those employees receiving a stipend (Cemetery Superintendent and Deputy Fire Chiefs) will also get a 3% increase in 2007. Total salary/wage and benefits will amount to a 6.2% increase over the 2006 figure.
Joe Cavanaugh reported on the Peterborough Ambulance budget. Dublin is being asked to pay 10% of the total budget based on population and the number of calls the ambulance makes in a year-$11,200. This is needed because of increased personnel and the ambulance running a deficit. There needs to be further discussions with Peterborough officials as to what period of time this budget covers.
Rich Scheinblum will send the Committee the details on the recommended salary/wage increases. He will also send Bill Raymond and the Selectmen the details on any warrant articles that the Committee has received. The Selectmen will send a reminder memo to departments and committees re warrant article purchases.
The next meeting of the Committee will be December 12, 2006 at 7 pm at the Town Hall.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy E. Campbell, Co-Secretary
| 
