Amended Minutes of Budget Committee
(BC) meeting 10 January 2008, Tuftonboro Town Office
Chairman Wood called the meeting
to order at
Attendance: Black, Cook,
BOS: Duffy, Stockman, Weeks
Others: Kowalski, Pounder
Public: Simms
BC Chairman Wood made opening
remarks and asked for a moment of silence in memory of Roger Wingate and Edward
Buddy LeRoux. Wood set an agenda.
The minutes of the BC meeting of
Old business: None
New Business: Wood discussed the
date for the Public Hearing on the Budget for 2008. The Public Hearing was
scheduled for
Wood opened discussion of the
Executive Budget # 4130.
Weeks BOS recommends reducing
the Agricultural Commission line by $200.
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the
Other General Government Budget # 4199.
Weeks BOS recommends adding a
Census Program line for $1000 to this budget and move the CIP line for $600 to
this budget and eliminate it from the 4140 budget.
Black - Moved to approve the Other
General Government Budget # 4199 in the amount of $7120.
Cook - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the Fire
Budget # 4220.
Weeks The Fire Department has
grants to buy new Air Packs so BOS recommends reducing Vehicle Maintenance by
$3,300 to remove the cost for Air Pack maintenance.
Theve - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 5-0-1 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the
Personnel Administration Budget # 4155.
Weeks Health Insurance is up by
10% but former town employees are billed directly for their health insurance so
their payments are no longer in the budget. Wood questioned Longevity
Pay. Weeks - This is a bonus for personnel who have been employed by the town
for a long time. There was a general discussion of Health Insurance issues.
Black - Moved to approve the
Personnel Administration Budget # 4155 in the amount of $365,670.Cook - Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the
motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the
Conservation Budget # 4612.
Weeks BOS recommends increasing
the approved budget for Water Monitoring by $500.
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the CIP
Budget #4540.
Weeks Eliminate this budget, as
it is a line in the #4199 budget.
Black- Moved to remove the CIP
Budget #4540.
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of the
Warrant Articles for 2008.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $10,000 to
Weeks BOS recommends this as it
affects the use of the public launch. The Town will contribute 1/3 of the
total cost of the project. Theve This amount is inappropriate.
The Town should approve $2,000. Stockman The Town has usually paid a
portion of dredging
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 4-2 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $8,550 to purchase a Radar Trailer for the
Police Department.
Weeks The Police Chief expect to
get a 50/50 grant to make this purchase making the total cost $4,275. The
BOS recommends this as a management tool that can be used to monitor traffic
and determine where problems exist. Cook Town can still borrow the radar
trailer from Moultonborough and is an unnecessary expense. Black Radar
trailers have little value to other than PR.
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 3-3 for the motion, chairman declared the motion failed.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $39,800 to purchase a Police Cruiser for the
Police Department.
Weeks BOS recommends this as the
other police cruiser are getting old and have a lot of miles on them. This
price is based on keeping the old cruiser as a back up vehicle and is $20,000
for the car, which is a Chevy Impala, and $19,800 for equipment. Black- The Impala is not a good choice for the PD and 5 Vehicles
for a 4-man police department is excessive. Cook Recommends the BC approve
the warrant article minus $2,300 salvage value of the old cruiser.
Cook - Moved to approve a Warrant
Article in the amount of $37,500 to purchase a Police Cruiser.
Black - Second. The vote was
called. Vote 4-2 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Articles for the Conservation Committee to retain its appropriations
from year to year and another for the committee to receive all the land use tax
revenue paid to the Town.
Duffy The CC desire to build up
a fund to be able to take action when necessary, However the CC could spend the
funds with only a Public Hearing and without approval by the BOS. The BOS does
not recommend this. There was a general discussion of these issues.
No action is required of the BC on
this issue.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $225,000 for Lang Pond Road Repairs.
Weeks This is a big project and
will increase every year it is delayed. This warrant article is a bridge
project and should be reimbursed by the State on an 80/20 basis so it should
ultimately cost the Town $45,000. However this is only a part of the over
all project and the BOS have looked at various possibilities but the Town
Highway Department can complete the remainder of the project for less than
contracting it out. Stockman The BOS recommend continuing with the
permitting process, as it is complicated issue and will take a long time to get
the permits. There was general discussion by the BC of this issue.
Cook - Moved to approve a Warrant
Article in the amount of $225,000 for Lang Pond Road Repairs.
Weeks - Second. The vote was
called. Vote
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $80,000 to purchase a Fire Boat for the Fire
Department.
Weeks BOS recommends this be
approved this year. Theve - The Fire Chief presented the details of this boat
at a previous BC meeting and it is currently needed.
Theve - Moved to approve a Warrant
Article in the amount of $80,000 to purchase a Fire Boat for the Fire
Department.
Ewing- Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened discussion of a
Warrant Article in the amount of $132,783 to purchase Air Packs for the Fire
Department.
Weeks BOS recommends this be approved
as the Fire Chief has received approval of a Grant of $126,000
for this purchase.
Weeks- Second. The vote was
called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Other Warrant Articles for 2008
were presented with general comments from the BOS and BC but no action was
taken on them.
Wood - Any further discussion or
public comments.
Simms The CIP included The Gould
Property payments and Fire Truck lease payments in their recommended budget for
2008. These are not warrant article items but affect funds available for
warrant articles. Weeks The BOS has to look at this, as the Town cannot
raise the funds twice.
The next BC meeting was called for
Weeks - Move to adjourn the
meeting. The BC meeting was adjourned
Joe W. Ewing, Secretary
Budget Committee