Chairman
Wood called the meeting to order at
Attendance:
Cook, Eaton,
BOS: Duffy,
Weeks
Others:
Forrester, Kowalski, Pounder
Public: 6
Wood made
opening remarks as the BC Chairman and presented an agenda.
The minutes
of the BC meeting of
Weeks to
accept the minutes as amended. Passed 6-0.
Old
business:
Wood opened
discussion of the Library Budget #4550
Weeks The
Library Budget tabled last week until BC could to talk to the Library Trustees.
Cook can the Library align its salaries with the COLA plan used by the BOS
for other departments? Sundquist Library
employees are not employees of the town.
They are paid salaries in line with other libraries and but Town cuts
the checks.
Theve- moved
to approve the Library Budget #4550 in the amount of $126,340.
Eaton -
Second. The vote was called. Vote
Wood opened
discussion of the Conservation Budget #4612
Weeks BOS
recommends budgeting the environmental study of 19 Mile Brook. Cook This should be put into a warrant
article. Phelps It is important do the
study and gets the documentation next year and trying for a warrant article
would be subject to politics. Chehames
This is an important matter for the Conservation Commission to get started with
so it needs to be in the budget. There was additional discussion on this mater
between the members of the BC and the members of the CC. Duffy The BOS supports budgeting this
project in the current budget and not going for a warrant article.
Cook- moved
to approve the Conservation Budget #4612 in the amount of $7,300.
Woods -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 3-3 for the motion, the motion failed.
Cook- moved
to table the Conservation Budget #4612 for later consideration.
Woods -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 4-2 for the motion, the motion passed.
New
Business:
Wood opened
discussion of the Planning & Zoning Budget #4194.
Weeks This
budget includes $3608 dues to join the Lakes Region Planning Commission. The BOS voted to join the LRPC but the
Planning Board voted against joining.
Duffy The Town should join the LRPC as their services can save the
Town money in consulting fees. The Town
has been contracting for various consultants for individual plans. The LRPC is
a wealth of information and as a member of LRPC the Town would have one source
for a number of consultants. Cook Planning Board is opposed to joining. The Town needs to update all the zoning
ordinances and the BC should support the Planning Boards recommendation. There
was further discussion on the issue but no consensus was reached.
Cook - Moved
to approve the Planning & Zoning Budget #4194 in the amount of $33,600.
Weeks -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 4-2 for the motion, the motion passed.
The amount
approved was determined to be in error.
Cook - Moved
to approve the Planning & Zoning Budget #4194 in the amount of $34,200.
Wood opened
discussion of the General Government Buildings Budget #4194.
Weeks this
budget includes an increase in the cost of heat and electricity. There is also
a line for the maintenance of the Gould Property added to the budget. Increases
were budgeted for Town House improvements and Fire Station Improvements. The BC
had questions about some line items but no changes were recommended.
Cook -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 5-1for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened
discussion of the Insurance Budget #4194.
Weeks The
Town has little control over the cost of insurance.
Eaton -
Moved to approve the Insurance Budget #4194 in the amount of $50,215.
Cook -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened
discussion of the Other General Government Budget #4196.
Weeks A
budget line for contingencies should be kept in the budget.
Cook - Moved
to approve the Other General Government Budget #4196 in the amount of $5,520.
Theve -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened
discussion of the Ambulance Budget #4215.
Weeks
Lords Ambulance Service agreed to contract the service for a 10%
increase. There are no other bids from
other services.
Eaton -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened
discussion of the Highways & Streets Budget #4312.
Weeks The
Highways and Streets budget has gone up 10%. The road agent turns in daily
hours with the equipment rate for services provided. Wood Asked to see a breakout of wages, gas,
oil and equipment maintenance for the department. Duffy Indicated that the
State is looking at Towns for better accountability on such budgets. Forrester
With Pounders help they could take the invoices and set up a line item
budget for the department. BC members
indicated they would like to see more detailed budget.
Wood
-Second. The vote was called. Vote
Wood opened
discussion of the Solid Waste Disposal
Budget #4324.
Kowalski
Consideration of this budget be postponed until next week so the BC could meet
with other members of the department. No action was taken.
Wood opened
discussion of the Other Highways & Streets Budget #4313.
Theve- moved
to approve the Other Highways & Streets Budget #4313 in the amount of
$3,000.
Wood opened
discussion of the Animal Control Budget #4144.
Weeks This
is a decrease this year.
Theve -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood opened
discussion of the Capital Improvements Committee Budget #4540.
Weeks This
is a new budget to cover the stipends for the committee members.
Theve -
Moved to approve the Capital Improvements Committee Budget #4540 in the amount
of $600.
Cook -
Second. The vote was called. Vote 6-0 for the motion, the motion passed.
Wood Asked
for any further discussion or public comments.
There was none.
The next BC
meeting was called for
Joe W.
Ewing, Secretary
Budget Committee