Town of Dublin
Budget Committee
December 2, 2008
Present: Nancy Campbell, Ed Germain, selectmen’s representative, Judy Knapp, Curt Merrick, Rich Scheinblum, chairman, Leslie Whone, Ken Woods
Also Present: Brian Barden, Tom Kennedy
Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Rich Scheinblum
Minutes of November 18, 2008 meeting, moved, seconded and approved as written.
E. Germain explained that the Code Enforcement Office salary is based on 52 weeks since even when he goes on vacation the position will be covered. So far this year there have been 34 building permits with 2 more expected. As to whether he could schedule more time when most of the building occurred, we never know when building will occur. N. Campbell said it should be noted that social security and Medicare had been calculated wrong. Social security should be $558, Medicare, $131 and the total is $11,842. R. Scheinblum will verify figures.
Conservation Commission: R. Scheinblum started to explain where cuts could be made in the Conservation Commission budget but did not finish since B. Barden was here to discuss Highway budget.
B. Barden spoke to Highway Budget. $72,000 will be received from state from Highway Block grant.
Highway Mileage: $3,297 might be too much. Based on 495 miles/month. 2008 actual (as of 11/18/08) $1,484, based on $.505/mile. Should be closer to $2,450.
Highway Supplies: $40,000 same as last year. Year to date: $23,000, but still have to buy winter sand. Will start next year with 1,000 yards. Can store 2,000 yards. Normally use 2,000 – 4,000 yards per year.
Uniforms: The same-$2,550
Oiling Projects: Increase from $40,000 to $66,000. Plan was to do 4 miles per year. Two miles of chip seal is $55,000. Can’t do all we had planned to do so will only do two miles per year. This is contracted. We retain what we sweep up and use on very icy roads. We will chip seal Monument and East Harrisville and will overlay in a couple of years. We do not know what the price will be at that time. Questions was raised as to the difference in cost of a mile of hard top vs mile of chip seal: 5,280 ft. * 21 wide / 9 = 12,320 sq yds/10.5 = 1,173 tons * $78 = $90,000 to do a mile of hot top. Boulder Drive and Granite Circle scheduled for 2012 ($170,000 in current dollars).
Road Construction: up from initial discussion.
Windmill Hill Project: Going to do Windmill Hill from Parsons to Pierce Rd. by reclaiming the asphalt - $23,400 and then hot top with 2” - $67,860. The upper part of Windmill from Upper Jaffrey to Parsons will have the 1” finish hot top that was not done in 2008-$20,280.
Gerry Road, project - to improve the intersection by flattening the top. The total cost is $17,886 of which approximately $12,500 will come from a developer’s bond. $3,336 reclaim, $9,950 hot top, gravel $4,440, pipe and drainage $160 Gerry Road must be scheduled for 2009 because we have had a complaint about the steepness of the intersection. Total for the two projects (Windmill Hill and Gerry Road) is $129,426, with offsetting revenue of the developer’s bond ($12,500) and the State Highway Block Grant ($72,000). Korpi Road oiling was put off from this year. After 2012 road maintenance budget will be reduced.
Repairs: same - $12,000
Contract Services: increase of $2,500 to clean catch basins and will hire the equipment.
Bridge and Culvert Repair: $8,000 to start repairs on existing bridges and culverts, e.g, Old Troy Road will replace existing culvert with two 4 foot pipes and do concrete work on Charcoal Road. This was a result of the bridge study.
Salt: Increase by $2,500 from $6,500 to $9,000 due to increase in price of salt.
Heating Oil: will get information from W. Raymond
Building Repairs: 3 new bottom panels for the overhead doors to reduce heating costs.
Diesel Fuel: 10,703 gallon estimated at $4.00 per gallon. This will have to be looked at again-need information from B. Raymond re prices.
Road Signs: Cost is the same as in the past. It will take two more years to complete all the signs.
Care of Trees. Same
Misc Tools, Tire, Chains: the same
Misc: Same.
Overtime: $709 left for year, $16,500 reflects the adjustment of $4,000 made at the 2008 Town Meeting.
N. Campbell asked about the snowblower. Will it be a snowblower, plow or what. It would be a snowblower. Snow will be blown on the neighboring properties (but not driveways). If we have to pick up the snow, it must be done at night and we don’t have the funds for overtime or traffic detail people. Not sure of price the proposed snowblower.
Sander Insert for 1-ton eases work for other plows. Does not currently have one. $7,800 to $8,000 for stainless steel that should last for a number of vehicles.
Tom Kennedy spoke to Solid Waste Budget.
Part-time employees: Budget, as presented, does not reflect change from 52 to 26 weeks for Wednesdays for third person or $10.00/hour. Should be $7,800 for the third person., $12,000 for second person for a total budget of $19,800 not $22,042.
Social security and Medicare must be recalculated to reflect incorrect part-time salary.
W. Raymond needs to recheck all health insurance figures since they should be going down and the budget as presented does not reflect that.
Employee Training; remain same and includes mileage
Uniforms: same
Telephone: went up by $40
Electricity decreased due to three-phase. Will check all electrical rates since the rate from PSNH might not be as high as expected.
Supplies: remains the same
Diesel: based on $4.00/gallon (front end loader and heater) and needs to be figured on whatever price we use for Highway.
Propane, gas, and misc: based on fixed contract for heat, fuel for forklift purchased from Carr’s.
Hauling and disposal fees: Increase because of new contract with Waste Management for next three years, from $89 a ton to $94 plus $2 more for hauling. Hauling was estimated in August at $38,000, is this still valid? Is this truly reflective of new contract figure? W. Raymond needs to check.
Metal Removal: $500 covers pumping Freon out of air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. There is some offset but metal price has lowered.
Recycling Handling- same
Solid waste sub-contractor: $1 to keep it open
Misc: decrease by $800 because new line for mileage, which had previously come from this line.
Monitoring and Closure: decrease of $1,570. Is there a time when this can be cut back from twice a year to once a year. Mowing also in this line. E. Germain thinks we have been permitted to cut back to once a year. Will get clarification.
Mileage: new for this year so only an estimate.
Warrant article for Baler: replace the single-phase baler that is over 20 years old. Will use Solid Waste Fund money and will not impact taxes
After 2009 should not have major equipment purchases. Should we would change the function of the recycling fund to go to help offset solid waste expenses.
R. Scheinblum went over consolidated budget. Increase will be 23.02% based on W. Raymond’s numbers.
Warrant Articles: Total estimated cost will be $182,500 of which $72,500 will not affect taxes. Computer upgrades and $1M bond not included. R. Scheinblum made some assumptions as to where funding for warrant articles will actually come from. Energy savings measures are mainly for Highway Barn.
Revenue: Estimated revenue would be down $1,475,305 from last year.
We will have firm salary figures by December 23rd.
Questions/Budget Updates from W. Raymond:
Highway Department Heating Oil
Recheck all health insurance figures
Hauling and Disposal fees in new contract
Recheck salary, social security and Medicare for PT Solid Waste employee
Next meeting: December 16, 2008 to discuss cuts, any new information, firm warrant articles.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith A. Knapp, Co-secretary
| 
