Town of Dublin
Budget Committee
Minutes, January 15, 2008 Meeting
Present: Nancy Campbell, Charles Champagne, Ed Germain-selectmen’s representative, Judy Knapp, Rich Scheinblum-chair, Leslie Whone, Ken Woods
Also Present: Selectmen Sterling Abram and Anne Anable, William Raymond, Town Administrator
R. Scheinblum called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Motion made to approve the minutes of January 9, 2008, seconded and passed unanimously.
K. Woods gave an update on the health insurance issue. He said that he had not heard anything to date but expected to have a bid by next week. He will report back when he has heard from the carriers.
E. Germain presented the Selectmen’s recommended changes as follows:
Planning & Zoning-Secretary: Increase from $750 to $1890. $2,103 was the FY ’07 figure. Must make appropriate changes in benefits.
Employee Recognition/Rewards: Decrease from $3,500 to $2,200., Selectmen feel that the recognition, and attendant increase in employee morale, given to the employees through the Christmas party, etc. is worth the expenditure.
Building Inspection-Equipment: Decrease from $750 to $200. Decrease is due to new estimate on the cost of a GPS.
Add to Highway: $1.00. Add new line, “Bridge and Culvert Repair”
Highway-Mileage: stay the same ($2,100) but will submit for reimbursement
Solid Waste-Part-Time Employee: Increase by $2,600 for a part-time summer employee
Solid Waste-Salaries: Increase to include 4 weeks vacation
Solid Waste-Telephone: Decrease from $750 to $360
Solid Waste-Diesel: Leave the same
Capital Reserve:
Decrease Heavy Highway - $30,000 to $25,000
Decrease Police Cruiser - $14,000 to $13,000
Bridge Repair Replacement – no change; needed to meet state bridge fund requirement of 20%
Warrant Articles:
Technology-delete
Old Marlborough Road Bridge Replacement: Take $20,000 out of unexpended fund balance
Fire Truck: received bid from KME in December of $310,000, duplicate of 1997 truck with minor changes and without condensed foam. Will need $15,000 additional for hose.
W. Raymond stated that we are still researching on how to pay for the truck. Antrim is funding all major purchases through lease/purchase and eliminating the capital reserve, either through attrition or returning the funds to the general operating budget. He did not feel that we should go to the bond bank. Will get back to the Budget Committee when they decide what would be the best funding route.
R. Scheinblum asked if the Capital Reserve could not be made one fund versus individual funds.
Questions raised as to how life of the fire truck is estimated. It is based on NEPA recommendations of 20 years. Current truck is 30 years old. A mid-1990’s Fire Committee study made same 20 year recommendation.
Water Testing: when first proposed to town it was part of the package with the fracture mapping. Selectmen feel that it should be brought to the town for their decision. Future costs would include retesting every 5 to 10 years. Question raised if the town would be liable if the follow-up test showed deterioration? Would the town be required to act on a bad situation after the baseline test.
The selectmen’s budget goal as of this date is 11% increase. This is their best estimate of what can be reduced.
The Cobb Meadow Road culvert will be a priority. Has not been bid yet.
Town Hall Painting: have one estimate but no firm estimate yet.
Health Insurance figures are net figures since we do not put the 10% into revenue. R. Scheinblum will recheck the health numbers.
N. Campbell inquired re health insurance for Town Clerk/Tax Collector. It was figured on January-March and April-December. If there is a 30 day waiting period should the health insurance start in May rather than April. W. Raymond will verify. Exec. Asst: 15/week should not begin until after Town Meeting.
The members of the Budget Committee explained their individual ideas for reductions. These included but are not limited to:
Elimination Exec Assistant position or reduction in hours from 15
Eliminate Employee Recognition/Awards
Warrant Articles: Technology, Water Testing, Cemetery Trees, Fire Truck
Holding to FY ’07 department figures for other than salaries, health and utilities
Modify Town Clerk/Tax Collector hours
Reduce department budgets by 2%
Eliminate/reduce Summer Playground
Eliminate Advocate
Eliminate Fire Training Wages
Eliminate paving of Windmill Hill
Maintain Capital Reserve at 2007 levels
Solid Waste Phoneline
Planning Board Consultant (non reimbursed)
Reduce police secretary hours
Reduce Site Inspector/Health hours
Eliminate Halloween
Reduce Dublin Days
Reduce Conservation Commission Maps
See if all Solid Waste Warrant Articles could come from Solid Waste Fund
Eliminate Archivist-Town Clerk job
Specific savings are attached.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Next Meeting: January 22, 2008
Respectfully Submitted,
Judith Knapp
Co-Secretary
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