Amended Minutes of Budget Committee (BC) meeting 23 January 2007, Tuftonboro Town Office

 

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 6:05pm and a quorum was declared.

Attendance: Black, Cook, Eaton, Ewing, Talbot, Wood.

BOS: Albee, Stockman, Weeks

Public: 10

 

The minutes of the BC meeting 9 January 2007 were reviewed and a motion was made by Ewing to amend the minutes. Second Eaton. Vote 7-0. Minutes are accepted as amended.

 

Old business:

Sundquist - Notice of the BC Public Meeting 6 February 2007 has been posted and published.

Wood and Eaton attended a public meeting to explain the Capitol Improvement Plan.

Eaton - The Town needs a Capitol Improvement Plan.

Cook - Questioned if a Capitol Improvement Plan might restrict the Town’s budgeting process by limiting what may be spent on any future projects or improvements.

Weeks – A Capitol Improvement Plan would not restrict what the voters might approve for expenditures but could be a means of controlling growth.

Wood - Motion for the BC to support the BOS in the development and implementation of a Capitol Improvement Plan.  Second Eaton. Vote 7-0. Motion passed.

 

New Business:

Wood opened discussion of Warrant Articles.

Sundquist – Presented a warrant article to build a new library. The amount to be raised by a bond would be $1,859,905 and the Library Board requests a warrant article for this amount. The new library and is expected to be 9,480sf. A packet of information regarding the plans to build a new library will be mailed to all the voters in the Town.   The current library need to be replaced as it has run out of room for books, programs, storage, staff etc. and the use of the current library has to be limited.

Cook – It is necessary to set priorities and it may not be possible to budget to build both a new library and a public safety building at the same time.

Weeks – Combining both into one bond issue and using the same construction managers at the same time would save the Town money. The construction manager could reduce their cost by $50,000 if they could do both projects at once.

Representitives from BPS – Indicated that they charge a 5% rate to manage a project but would charge a 4% rate if they managed two projects at the same time.  They anticipate additional savings if contractors and suppliers work on both projects at the same time.

Wood – Questioned what projects in the area BPS had managed.

BPS Representatives – Indicated the company had managed municipal and school district projects in Wolfeboro, Tamworth, Belknap, Dover, and Laconia and were experienced in working in this area.

Eaton – Expressed concerns that the Town could run into future financing problems by funding two projects at once.  Problems with the school district and state education funding could result in a major expense to the Town in the future.

Sundquist – The Library Board asks that the BC recommend this warrant article so it can be put before the voters at the Town Meeting.

Ewing – Move to approve a warrant article to build a new library in the amount of $1.990,824 to be bonded out of the total cost of $2,142,4005. Wood second.

Black – Cannot support such a warrant article until the bottom line cost figures and the amount to be bonded for both projects has been determined.

Albee – The Town would need to use a 20year bond if all three projects, including purchasing the Gould Property, are approved this year but could bond for shorter duration if only the voters at the Town Meeting approve one or two projects.

Black – Move to table this motion for consideration later. Cook second.  Vote 6-1 motion passed, the Library warrant article is tabled.

 

Wood opened discussion of the Conservation Budget #4612.

Albee – The Water Monitoring fees bill from UNH came in late resulting in a need to increase the Conservation budget from the $6,950 previously approve by the BC to $8,200.

Wood – Recommends that budget line 4612-07 be reduced by $3,350 and a Special Projects warrant article be approved in that amount.

Black – It is too late to approve a warrant article for such an insignificant amount.

Ewing - Move to approve the Conservation Budget #4612 in the amount of $8,200.  Second Eaton.

The vote was called. Vote 6-2 for the motion, motion passed.

 

Wood opened discussion of the Other Highway & Streets Budget #4313. 

Albee – BOS has decided to remove the project to improve and pave the boat lunch ramp at Mirror Lake off of Route 109 from the budget and present it to the voters at the Town Meeting as a warrant article.

Ewing - Move to approve the Other Highway & Streets Budget #4313 in the amount of $3,000.  Second Talbot. The vote was called. Vote 7-0 for the motion, motion passed.

 

Albee - Presented the Mirror Lake Ramp warrant article. The estimate for this construction is $9,8000. Due to interest of the residents around Mirror Lake it should be discussed and voted on at the Town Meeting.

Cook - Move to approve a Mirror Lake Ramp warrant article in the amount of $9,8900.  Second Ewing.

The vote was called. Vote 5-2 for the motion, motion passed.

 

Wood opened discussion of the Solid Waste Disposal, Budget #4324. 

Albee - The budget needs to be increased to $290,814 from the amount of $268,220 approved by the BC, 30 November 2006. This is an increase in salaries due to the 53-week work year plus a $20,150 increase for C&D disposal, $12,082 increase for MSW disposal and a $2,000 decrease for Co-mingled disposal.

Wood – Inquired as to how much revenue was raised through recycling and fees.

Kowalski – Revenue for 2006 was about $20,000, $16,000 fees and permits and $4,000 from recycling.

Wood – Motion to reduce the Solid Waste budget by $3,500.  There was on second, motion failed.

Eaton - Moved to approve the Solid Waste Disposal, Budget #4324 in the amount of $290,814.

Second Cook. The vote was called. Vote 5-2 for the motion, motion passed.

 

Albee - Presented the Lang Pond Road warrant article. The BOS recommends this warrant article be reduced to $50,000 from the $145,200 approved by the BC 9 January 2007.

Albee - Move to approve a Lang Pond Road warrant article in the amount of $50,000.  Second Wood.

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

 

Weeks – Presented the Public Safety Building warrant article for consideration and discussion. Estimates and are for a total construction cost of $4,407,944 with bond financing.

Albee – Plans are for a two-story building with a basement and the building would match the architecture of the library and the school with a brick facade.

Cook – Asked what would be done with the Melvin Village and Mirror Lake fire stations.

Albee – It would be up to the BOS and the voters of the Town to determine.  They would not necessarily remain a part of the Fire Department.

Black – Commented on the opposition to the location by a citizens group. In response, it makes good sense for a new Public Safety Building to be centrally located and near the school, which a designated as an emergency shelter.

There was further discussion with the Fire and Police Chiefs as to the configuration and proposed use of the building.

Stockman – This building has been planned for a long time and is to serve the Towns needs for 40 years.

Black – Move to table this motion for consideration later. Cook second.  Vote 6-1 motion passed, the Public Safety Building warrant article is tabled.

 

 

Stockman - Presented the Gould Property warrant article for consideration. The BOS has negotiated an agreement to purchase an 80-acre tract of land on Middle Road known as the Gould Property for $575,000. The BOS recommends a warrant article in this amount to purchase this property.

Ewing – Move to approve a warrant article in the amount of $575,000 to purchase the Gould Property.  Second Cook.

Eaton – Supports the purchase.

Wood - BOS should negotiate payment over time with the seller.

Talbot –Town might obtain some revenue from the operation of a gravel pit on the property.

Albee - The BOS will possible payment options with the owners of the Gould Property and report back to the BC for further consideration at the next meeting.

The vote was called. Vote 5-2 for the motion, motion passed.

 

Wood – Asked for any further discussion or public comments.

 

The next BC meeting was called for 30 January 2007 at 6 pm.

 

The BC meeting was adjourned 8:35 pm.