TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM
2008-2009 Budget Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 2009
- Present: Skip Hagstrom, Frank Bateman, P. Thompson
B. Doerpholz, C. Yon, B. Thomas, W. Brown
- Absent: Win Wright, M. Nolan
S. Hagstrom opened the meeting by informing the Committee that the CIP will not attend tonight’s meeting. The CIP is not ready to make recommendations to the Budget Committee and has asked to be rescheduled to January 22, 2009.
S. Hagstrom asked for the review of 12/18/2008 Minutes. F. Bateman made a motion to accept the minutes as written; B. Doerpholz 2nd. Motion passed in the affirmative. P. Thompson stated that she noticed from the minutes there were several questions regarding the Library budget. She asked if there was some information she could get from S. Massin for the Committee. The Committee would like an accurate figure for the ILS. P. Thompson said she would speak with S. Massin.
BUDGET WORK SESSION
P. Thompson handed out copies of Budget Worksheet with figures to date. Also, C. Yon indicated that the Select Board is not recommending step increases and COLA at 3%. These changes will be reflected in the salary lines in department budgets. The only step increases considered will be new hires that started at the “start” salary.
Review of Departments
Town Clerk
Town Clerks budget reviewed. P. Thompson pointed out that the Town Clerk’s Prior Year budget should read $42,955.00 not $37,955.00.
The Town Clerk handed in a request to the Budget Committee asking to increase line 825, Travel/Mileage. She indicated that the current Deputy Town Clerk has resigned and therefore a new Deputy will need to go to training in Concord, an unanticipated expense. After a brief discussion it was recommended that line 825 be raised to $815.00.
S. Hagstrom asked if there were any other lines that may need to be reviewed. H. Wood indicated that she was concerned about line 625, Postage. With Civil Forfeitures and NSF checks required to be sent certified and daily mailings to Motor Vehicle averaging $0.59 she feels that perhaps Postage should be reviewed as well. S. Hagstrom asked how much was spent on postage in 2008. H. Wood stated that $662.59 was spent in line 625, Postage. The Budget Committee recommended raising line 625 to $700.00.
B. Doerpholz asked if hiring a new Deputy would affect the salary line. H. Wood indicated that a step increase was not figured for the Deputy, but was in her salary. The removal of the step increase for the Town Clerk would lower the salary line.
S. Hagstrom asked if there were any more questions regarding the Town Clerk budget. There were none.
Supervisors of the Checklist
Supervisors of the Checklist budget reviewed. They are requesting $3055.00, down from 2008 because of only one election scheduled. S. Hagstrom asked if there were any questions about Supervisor’s budget. There were none.
Tax Collector
Tax Collector’s budget reviewed. C. Yon stated that this budget is up only about 2%.
P. Thompson stated that the primary increase is due to the support contract with Avitar.
S. Hagstrom asked if there were any questions/comments. There were none.
Treasurer
Treasurer’s budget reviewed. P. Thompson indicated that this budget was over expended for the year 2008. This was due primarily for mileage expense. The Treasurer used to receive a stipend for going to bank to make deposits but that has changed to actual mileage reimbursement. The Town of Fitzwilliam’s bank is in Keene (Citizen’s) and on average the treasurer goes to the bank weekly except for tax time, then she may go several times per week. P. Thompson also stated that the Deputy Treasurer is a lot more active than ever before. There were no questions regarding Treasurer’s budget.
Budget Committee
Budget Committee budget reviewed. Primary expenses for the Budget Committee are secretary and minimal supplies. Budget Committee is requesting $1000.00 for 2009.
Planning/Zoning
Planning Board/Zoning budget reviewed. It was indicated that a step increase was used to figure salary for 2009 which will change (go down) because of Select Board’s recommendation. Planning/Zoning did submit a revised budget, but figures were changed in how they were categorized. Bottom line request did not change.
There were no questions/comments regarding this budget.
General Government Buildings
General Government Buildings budget reviewed. This budget has not been presented to the Budget Committee to date. P. Thompson explained some increases.
Line 120 Part-Time salary covers a Town Hall agent who is responsible for odd jobs such as trash removal, change light bulbs, set up for elections/meetings, etc. This line increased because of the new hire.
Fuel Oil was a large increase. This year the line covers 2000 extra gallons for fuel assistance. The town contracted for 10,000 gallons, not 8,000. Signed contract covers until August 2009 at $3.819/gal. P. Thompson explained that the Town does not prepay for the fuel, just contracts it. She also explained that Webber offers many “perks” that the former supplier did not.
Further discussion of this budget will take place when the Selectmen present it to the Committee.
Cemetery
Cemetery budget reviewed. They expended all but $200.00 of the 2008 budget. 2009 budget down from 2008 by $32.00. There was no discussion/questions about Cemetery budget.
Police
Police budget reviewed. Noted that the revised Budget Worksheet to show $1000.00 removed from line 360, Custodial Services, as discussed on 11-13-2008. Removal of the $1000 makes the total requested $319,690.00.
C. Yon asked about line 635, Gasoline. The line was over expended as of 10-31-2008, but what was the total expended for the year? The requested amount for 2009 is a significant increase over 2008. B. Doerpholz asked for a specific figure. P. Thompson stated that $13,820.00 was expended on Gasoline for 2008. P. Thompson indicated that $3.50/gal was used to figure 2009 request. C. Yon stated that he feels this figure should be reviewed and could be reduced. C. Yon stated that the figure he would recommend would be somewhere between what was expended and what was requested. S. Hagstrom asked if $16,000.00 was a good figure. All felt that $16,000 for line 635 was reasonable figure for Gasoline in 2009. Reducing line 635 to $16,000 would remove $4,280.00 and reduce
total budget request to $315,410.00.
There may be changes to the salary lines in the Police budget due to no step increases. The committee may need a revised budget from Chief Kassotis.
Ambulance
Ambulance budget reviewed. S. Hagstrom asked if this was self funded. When the money for services is paid can that be used for operating budget? P. Thompson said that the money goes into a special account and ½ can be used for operating costs and ½ to be used for capital improvement. She stated that approximately $28,000 has been billed for 6 months of service. She explained that the town has hired an outside service to handle the billing for the town and they receive a % of the amount billed as payment.
B. Doerpholz asked that if, when the money starts to come in, the ambulance will still need to present a budget. P. Thompson said that maybe not, although we may want them to so that the committee has a way to account for spending.
P. Thompson explained that the Ambulance Dept has spent a lot on training because they are trying to increase their membership. Line 830 $3090 expended but only budgeted for $2000. Increasing the training line was discussed but S. Hagstrom recommended leaving it where it is and see if in 2009 over expend, then may want to revisit.
Account 4216/Ambulance Intercept is paid to Diluzio Ambulance for paramedic. Over expended because Diluzio billed 6months of 2007 in January of 2008. Ambulance billing will include money for intercept when used. S. Hagstrom asked what is being requested for 2009. Selectmen have not determined that figure yet.
Fire
Fire budget was readjusted back to original request of $40,530.00. When the Fire Department met with the Budget Committee $1000 was added to their budget for Forest Fire. It has been determined that Forest Fire NOT be in the Fire budget but separate (still only $1000 requested). Line 840, Special Projects, to be removed from revised Fire budget.
B. Thomas asked if the salary line would be affected because of step increases.
P. Thompson said no, the firefighters are paid $7.00/hour.
Code Enforcement
This budget has not been presented to the Budget Committee to date. C. Yon advised that the requested amount should read $10,463 NOT $10,738.00.
B. Doerpholz asked if the Code Enforcement officer was paid by the hour. P. Thompson said yes, that he works when needed for violations and permits. The town does not have building codes so he does not inspect for that.
Emergency Mgt.
C. Yon stated that the Emergency Management Plan needs to be completed and printed but no funds were requested to do that. This could be covered under line 315 Consultant Svc and 550 Printing but figures need to be discussed and decided.
C. Yon indicated that in 2008 budget request $500 was asked for printing the plan but that does not include time to complete the project, which could add as much as $1000.
This needs to be discussed with Chief Kassotis.
Meadowood
P. Thompson explained that Meadowood does not submit a budget, but the Selectmen recommend $3200.00 for 2009.
Highway
C. Yon stated that he feels that the Highway Dept. should “staff up”. G. Cuomo wants to keep staff low and save on salary but the Selectmen would like to see the full time staff back at 4. Full time crew has been at 3 since one retired. Selectmen and G. Cuomo are discussing possible changes in staff, which will affect salary requests.
P. Thompson indicated that Line 685 Materials may not be enough.
B. Doerpholz suggested tabling discussions until figures could be nailed down.
Transfer Station
May be small salary change, not many eligible for step increases.
Keep line 318 Contract Svc at $75000 for 2009, even though paid for Brush Pit chipping and removal in 2008.
B. Doerpholz would like salary line verified. $53,000 figure seems like a big increase when $41,485 was expended in 2008.
Animal Control
C. Yon indicated that the biggest increase was in training. Also, salary line may need adjusting because of step increase.
There were no questions regarding this budget.
Parks and Recreation
Only moderate increase in this budget (2%). No step increases were figured in the salary request for 2009.
Library
P. Thompson asked if the ILS expense would be in the operating budget. The committee and Select Board would like that amount to be in a Warrant Article, full amount of system.
S. Hagstrom stated that he feels this budget should be revisited
B. Doerpholz pointed out an addition error in 695 subtotal. Actual request for Library should be $105,143, which DOES NOT include money for ILS software.
Conservation
Conservation Commission agreed to decrease the budget by $2500 (removed $1000 from line 120 and $1500 from line 550).
Amount request is $5000.00.
Motion made to adjourn. Meeting adjourned 9:04pm
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi L. Wood
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