Corrected Minutes of Budget Committee (BC) meeting 18 December 2007,

Tuftonboro Town Office

 

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and a quorum was declared.

Attendance: Black, Eaton, Ewing, Theve, Wood.

BOS: Duffy, Stockman,

Others: Forrester, Kowalski, Pounder, Thompson

Public: 0

 

Wood made opening remarks as the BC Chairman and set an agenda.

 

 

The minutes of the BC meeting of 11 December 2007 were reviewed. A motion was made by

 Theve to accept the minutes. Passed  6-0.

 

Old business: There was none.

 

New Business:

Wood opened discussion of the Fire Department Budget #4220.

Stockman – The total budget for the department is increased by 3%.  Black – Expenditures for officers salary is about 2/3 of the amount budgeted in 2007 and was also in 2006.  Thompson - Officers salary expense is dependant on the number of fire or rescue calls and the number of officers available at the time.  Therefore the budget for officer salary is an estimate and the actual expense varies.  Theve – Inquired of the apparatus expense and in regards to the air packs if they could be repaired effectively.  Thompson – The air packs get routine service and are being rebuilt when necessary but they are in need of replacement. The department is looking for a grant to purchase new air packs.  Theve – Inquired if the boat expense anticipated the cost of operating a new fireboat. Thompson – The boat expense for storage was increased to cover the expense of operating a larger boat.

 

Black - Moved to reduce the Officer Salary Budget Line by $7,500 to a total of $67,817.26    

Theve - Second. The vote was called. Vote 5-0-1 for the motion, the motion passed.

 

Ewing - Moved to approve the Fire Department Budget #4200 in the amount of $274,763.85

Eaton - Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0-1 for the motion, the motion passed.

 

Wood opened discussion of the Fireboat Warrant Article in the amount of $80,000.

Chief Thompson – The department needs a new fireboat.  The old boat is in poor condition.  It is water logged and that cannot be repaired.  The department has made necessary repairs to the engine but did not repower the boat, as it would be a waste of funds.  The Department has looked at many boats and has decided to purchase one built in New Hampshire.  The lobster boat hull is less expensive than a full cabin and would serve the needs of the department well. The department is wants a 27-foot boat with twin 150HP outboard engines. The BC members asked questions and discussed the issue but no action was taken at this BC meeting pending a recommendation from the BOS.

 

Wood opened discussion of the Financial Administration Budget #4150.

Stockman – There is an increase in this budget of about 9%.  The largest increase is for office equipment, as the Town Office building needs a new phone system.  There is also an increase to cover the cost of some computer upgrades. Some line items such as postage were changed to assign the expense to the various departments.

Black - Moved to approve the Financial Administration Budget #4150 in the amount of $110,202.

Eaton - Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.

Wood opened discussion of the Health Agencies Budget #4415.          

Stockman – The request from the various agencies are about the same as last year so the budget about the same.  Wood – The various agencies serve the town and in some cases help with the necessary paperwork. Stockman – The BOS received a request for $3000 from the Tri-County CAP North Country Transit Authority but did not approve the request, as they do not currently serve Tuftonboro.

Ewing - Moved to approve the Health Agencies Budget #4415 in the amount of $24,096.        

Eaton - Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.

 

 

Wood opened discussion of the Warrant Articles.        

Stockman – Gave a brief description of the Warrant Articles as listed in the agenda.  The BC asked questions and discussed some of the warrant articles but no action was taken at this BC meeting pending recommendations from the BOS.

 

Wood - Any further discussion or public comments.  There was none.

 

The next BC meetings were called for Thursday, 10 January 2008 and Tuesday, 15 January 2008 at 6:00pm.

 

Eaton - Moved to adjourn the meeting. The BC meeting was adjourned 7:59 PM.

 

Joe W. Ewing, Secretary

Budget Committee