TOWN OF
CENTER
Telephone (603) 569-4539
Selectmen’s
Work Session
2008
Budget
Minutes
Approved
w/corrections: 11.26.07
PRESENT: Chairman Weeks, Selectman Stockman, Selectman
Duffy, Administrative Assistant Pounder, Administrator Forrester
Ted Bense
presented the Parks & Recreation Commission’s 2008 proposed budget of
$41,000. After discussion with Bense,
the Selectmen reduced the following line items: Beach & Wharf Toilets from
$2k to $1,600; Town Docks from $2k to zero; Swim Program Equipment from $1k to
$500; Davis Field & Equipment from$3k to $1k; Walks & Trails from $600
to $200; and Beach Monitor from $1,500 to zero.
The Selectmen’s proposed budget for the Parks & Recreation
Commission is $36,000 for 2008.
Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept a 2008 budget of $36,000 for
the Parks & Recreation Commission.
The motion was seconded by Chairman Weeks. Vote on the motion was unanimous.
Chairman
Weeks made a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3, II (c) to
discuss personnel issues at approximately
The
Selectmen moved out of non-public at approximately
The
Selectmen reviewed the Executive budget of $62,495.20. Increases were made in the following lines:
Administrative Assistant ($47,541 to $48,872); and Town Administrator ($34,450
to $35,250). There was a brief
discussion about salaries. Forrester
advised that she was not asking for a step increase. Discussion was also had about an office
assistant (when Lisa Herder resigned her position was not refilled). Forrester expressed that the assistance was
needed and would allow for a better use of her time on higher level work. Currently Forrester is performing some of the
Administrative Assistant’s work to help out.
With 16-20 hours a week budgeted as a part-time administrator, this
greatly impacts her time. There was more
discussion about the responsibilities of the assistant and his/her hourly rate. Forrester advised that Susan Landry had
called and asked if the Selectmen were still looking to fill the position.
Trustee of
the Trust Funds showed an expense of $188.50; Pounder will research and find
out what the figure represents.
The Board
of Adjustment stipend line was corrected to reflect a $960 budget (same as 2007
appropriation).
Two new
stipend lines were added: CIP (Chair-$150, Secretary-$150, Members-$100 for a
total of $800); Agricultural Commission (Chair-$100, Secretary-$100, Member-$50
for a total of $400). Pounder will add
notes to the budget indicating the stipend rate for each member of each
commission, committee, and board. These
changes increased the budget to $108,682, a 3% increase from last year’s
appropriation. Selectman Stockman made a
motion to accept the proposed 2008 budget for the Executive line in the amount
of $108,682. Chairman Weeks seconded the
motion. Vote on the motion was
unanimous.
The
Financial Administration budget was reviewed.
The Treasurer’s line was increased from $2,930 to $3,600. There was a brief discussion about including
a warrant article to make the position appointed versus elected. The Selectmen will include this as a warrant
article for the 2008 budget.
Videotaping
was increased to $4,500.
There was
brief discussion about what items made up the Office Equipment
Maintenance/Repair, Computer Software/Annual Maintenance, Office Equipment
Expense, and Miscellaneous lines.
Pounder will research and report back to the Selectmen.
Line items
remaining the same included: Auditors, Tax Collector Liens, Recording Fees, and
Mileage. There was a brief discussion
about the auditor’s expense. Now that
the Town is following the SAS 112 rules, the auditor will be doing less
work. Forrester will confirm with the
auditor what the expected expense will be in 2008.
Two new
line items will be added: Tax Collector’s Equipment ($1,000) and Website
($1,200). Forrester noted that the Town was getting an extremely good
maintenance rate from Lakes Region Digital; other quotes ranged as high as
$3,455.
Chairman
Weeks asked that a letter be sent out in the Spring to vendors who currently do
work for the Town informing them that their services will still be required
(i.e., the Town will not go out to bid for these services).
The
Selectmen reviewed the Avitar spreadsheet regarding services provided. It was not clear exactly what was being
provided, so Pounder will call Avitar to confirm.
Other items
that will be added to the Financial Administration budget are a new phone
system and a shredder. More work is
required on the Financial Administration budget. No vote was taken.
The
Personnel Administration budget includes among other items health, dental,
social security, etc. This budget will
be the very last one to review and approve as information is still outstanding.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jeanie
Forrester
Town
Administrator