Amended Minutes of Budget Committee (BC) meeting 30 January 2007, Tuftonboro Town Office

 

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 6:02pm and a quorum was declared.

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

BOS: Albee, Stockman, Weeks

Public: 5

 

The minutes of the BC meeting 23 January 2007 were reviewed and a motion was made by Ewing to amend the minutes. Vote 7-0. Minutes are accepted as amended.

 

Old business:

Wood reopened discussion of Warrant Articles.

Sundquist –The amount to be raised by a bond would be $1,992,405 and the Library Board requests a warrant article for this amount. The new library and is expected to be 9,480Ssf.

Wood – Questioned why builders risk insurance was more for the library construction than for the PSB.

Sundquist –These are soft figures and are subject to being revised.

Weeks – When the Town can go out for bids then these figures can be made firm.

Wood – Questioned who would be the Clerk of the Works for the project and why nothing was budgeted for one.

Weeks – The code enforcement officer would serve as the Clerk of the Works to oversee the work and BPS would serve as the project manager to supervise all aspects of the project.

Bob Theve – The Clerk of the Works is usually independent of the construction manager and works for the project owner to oversee all phases of the project for the owner.

Black – Moultonborough had a Construction Committee to oversee the construction of their PSB. If the Town can use a Construction Committee composed of volunteers instead of a paid Clerk of the Works there would be substantial savings.

Albee – PBS is to be the construction manager and $87,690 has been estimated for this service and they will not be allowed to also be a contractor or subcontractor working on the project.

There was further discussion of this and related issues regarding construction of a new library and how this warrant article should be presented to the voters.

 

Cook – Motion to recommend no warrant article for construction of a new library this year.

A vote was called. The vote was 3-4, the motion failed.

The were no other motions so this warrant article was tabled until later.

 

Stockman - The Gould Property warrant article was discussed.  The BOS have a purchase and sale agreement for the property, which will be signed by the owner Friday and secured with a $1,000 deposit.

Ewing –Gould Property warrant article was approved in the amount of $575,000 by the BC at the 23 January meeting and no further action is required of the BC for the BOS to proceed with this agreement.

 

Albee – Presented the Public Safety Building warrant article for consideration and discussion. Current estimates and are for a total construction cost of $3,989,425 with bond financing.

Weeks – New plans removed the retaining wall and parking at the rear of the building and a few other changes resulted in substantial savings.

Eaton – This project is too big and still overkill for a Town the size of Tuftonboro.

Black – The second floor as planned is not needed at this time.  The Town might save substantial money on this project by leaving it unfinished until it is need.

Albee –BOS wants to get the project done and not have to undertake additional construction in a few years.

Wood – Don’t make the mistakes other towns have made in leaving their buildings unfinished then having to be faced with higher operating cost and construction cost to complete their buildings later.

There was further discussion of this and related issues regarding construction of a new PSB and how this warrant article should be presented to the voters.

Cook – Move to approve a warrant article for a new Public Safety Building to be bonded in the amount of $3,989,425.  Second Ewing.

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

 

Wood – Asked for any further discussion or public comments.

 

The next BC meeting was called for 6 February 2007 at 6 pm before the Public Hearing at the Old town House.

 

Black – Move to approve a warrant article for a new Library to be bonded in the amount of $1,992,405.  Second Talbot. The vote was called. Vote 4-3 for the motion, motion passed.

 

The BC meeting was adjourned 7:15 pm.