Town of Dublin
Budget Committee
November 11, 2008 minutes
Present: Nancy Campbell, Ed Germain-selectmen’s representative, Judy Knapp, Curt Merrick, Rich Scheinblum-chair and Ken Woods
Absent: Leslie Whone
Also Present: William Raymond
Meeting called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Rich Scheinblum.
Minutes of October 28, 2008 moved, seconded and approved.
R. Scheinblum reviewed questions from last week.
Re Welfare Officer Stipend: - $3,250/year based on an average of 4.5 hours/week at $15.50/hour for 52 weeks/year. Ed Germain checked with K. Merrick and she confirmed that this is the correct figure. The stipend will be run through the regular payroll system and FICA and Medicare will be taken out. K. Wood asked if the Code Enforcement officer could take on this task if there were reduced hours there. The jobs are so different that this would not be practical.
Question of whether audit amount is correct? W. Raymond stated that the audit amount was correct. That the auditor had wanted $17,000 but agreed that $16,000 would be equitable due to recent increase. The charge for this year was $16,000 for the normal audit plus $2,000 for the exit audit when the former Town Clerk left.
Insurance: firm quote. The 9% is a maximum, it could go down.
Phone: Would VOIP be a less expensive alternative? E. Germain checked into this and stated that it did not make sense since we are not large enough. K. Woods recommended that we check with CompuCare in Peterborough re Vocalocity. W. Raymond stated that this option had been explored in the past and was not applicable to us but will check again.
W. Raymond reviewed the Government budget.
4150.8-110 – Bank Charges and Trusts: $3,000 is the best figure at this time. Trust funds and money market are down.
4152.1-810 – Revaluation: $55,846. This is for both a regular revaluation and certification review. There is approximately $27,000 in the trust fund to assist with this expense. The cost will cover $36,000 for the certification review and $10,217 for regular revaluation and $9,529 for data verification of 25% of the town. There is a 3% inflation cost factor. W. Raymond will get back with actual trust fund amount.
4152.1-811 – Property Map Revisions: $1,000. These are done by Southwest Regional Planning. We still don’t have the property tax maps that we requested this summer. However, we are locked in with them and the cost is reasonable.
- - Revaluation Software Support - $3,268. This is for the Avitar software to support the revaluation.
4153.1-810 - Legal: $15,000. Will stay the same
4153.2-810 - Prosecutor: $7,500. Will stay the same
4155.2-810 – Workmen’s Compensation: $18,000. Did an audit and will increase cost.
4155.2-811 – Unemployment Insurance: $700. Did an audit and will increase cost.
General Government Buildings:
4194.1-110 – Custodian: $821. Mainly snow shoveling
4194.1-410 – Electricity: $3,604. This includes increase
4194.1-411 – Heat: $4,000. Based on current rate
4194.1-412 – Mowing: $2,000. Will put this out to bid. Feel that $2,000 should be adequate.
4194.1-414 – Custodial Service: $4,800. This is the custodial service for cleaning the building and the rate has increased.
4194.1-430 – Town Hall Maintenance: $6,000. Same as current year
4194.1-431 – Post Office Maintenance: $600. This year there were a number of needed repairs, but next year should be fine
4194.1-432 – Archives Building: $5,150.
4194.1-610 – Cleaning Supplies: $250. These are bought by the contractor and this should be sufficient amount.
4194.1-810 - Church Clock: $280. Electricity cost may go down if LED lighting is installed.
Regional Association: Do not have firm figures yet,
Other General-Town Office:
4199.1-290 – Training: $900. Good estimate of cost
4199.1-291 – Conferences: $800. This is for the LGC and Municipal Managers meetings.
4199.1-292 – Mileage: $500. Based on estimate for attending meetings
4199.1-341 – Phone/Fax/Internet: $3,207. This includes the elevator phone and rate increase.
4199.1-342 – Computer Expense: $4,360. Accounting software and maintenance
4199.1-344 – Website Maintenance: $1,200. Should stay the same
4199.1-392 – Advertising: $1,000. Notification of any public hearings or meetings,
4199.1-395 – Miscellaneous: $800. Reduced from last year and could possibly go lower if necessary
4199.1-430 – Office Machines: $600. Maintenance on current equipment
4199.1-440 – New/Leased Equipment: $756. Postage Meter
4199.1-550 – Town Report and Ballots: $2,800
4199.1-551 – Town Meeting Expenses: $600. Includes shuttle, sound equipment, etc.
4199.1-560 – Dues: $115
4199.1-610 – Archival Supplies: $371
4199.1-620 – Office Supplies: $1,500. Paper, etc. for most town offices and committees, except Police
4199.1-621 – Printing and Forms: $1,000. Envelopes, stationery, checks, etc.
4199.1-625 – Postage: $1,900. Has not been allocated across departments yet. Also expect an increase in May
4199.1-670 – Publications: $500. Newspapers
4199.1-671 – Registry Fees: $100. Registering current use, etc.
4199.1-690 – Employee Recognition: $2,220
4136.3-810 - Street Lighting: $8,000. There is a 10% increase due to electricity increase
4415.2-810 - Monadnock Family Service – should be $4,415
There was discussion about having locked into oil and diesel when price not at lowest since we are part of the Conval buying group
Long Term Interest and Principal: the only item left is the Police Department building. The lease on the fire truck next year will be off budget.
Site Inspector:
Salary reduced to $9,000 from $12,500 based on 2 hrs/day/2 days/week @$25/hr. The fee schedule is OK.
Health Officer: Still not decided.
E. Germain explained that we will need a new line for the Open Space Planning Committee for the purchase of maps and other supplies.
Overall increase is up 6.48% without salary increases, warrant articles and reflecting the decrease in Long Term Interest and Principal.
Still remaining to meet with Selectmen: Health Officer, Conservation Commission, Warrant Articles, Revenue from Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Salaries and COLA.
The Bridge Study is completed and repairs are being prioritized. Cobb Meadow Rd culvert will not be done in 2008 since DES wants a concrete box not a culvert replacement.
Meeting adjourned: 9:20 p.m.
Next meeting will be November 18, 2008
Respectfully submitted,
Judith A. Knapp, Co-Secretary
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