TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM
2009-2010 Budget Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 22, 2009
- Present: S. Hagstrom, W. Wright, M. Nolan, T. Parker,
F. Bateman, B. Doerpholz, W. Brown, C. Yon
Meeting opened at 7:00pm by S. Hagstom.
Members collected and organized department budgets that were available. Budgets not yet presented include: Executive, General Govt. Bldgs., Health and Welfare, Recreation and Conservation. S. Hagstrom voiced his concern that the welfare and related budgets were not available but are scheduled to be reviewed on Oct. 29, 2009. T. Parker stated that the welfare budget will be available for next weeks meeting.
W. Brown made a motion to accept 10/15/2009 minutes as written; M. Nolan 2nd. Motion passed in the affirmative.
S. Hagstrom stated that he had spoke at length with Carol Beckwith, member of the Energy Committee, about a grant that the Energy Committee wants to write to have an energy audit performed on the Safety Complex (police/fire building). Discussion about possible areas of energy savings took place. C. Yon stated that he believes the Select Board has already advised the Energy Committee that the Select Board would support the writing of the grant. W. Wright made a motion for the Budget Committee to support the grant writing; B. Doerpholz 2nd. Motion passed in the affirmative.
S. Hagstrom asked all members to review budgets scheduled for meetings the week prior and be prepared with questions and/or concerns.
B. Doerpholz stated that most budgets did not have an increase in the salary line(s) but had an increase in the insurance. T. Parker and C. Yon explained about the changes the Select Board is proposing to the insurance policy for full-time employees and how it will affect department budgets. Two notable areas were: insurance cost up 16.4% as of 1/1/2010 and employer’s contribution to retirement has increased.
M. Nolan stated that the full-time employees voted not to have a 2% COLA after discussing insurance rates but wanted to know about part-time employees. C. Yon said that the Board of Selectmen voted not to give a COLA in 2010 (0%) to any town employee, but all employees had the opportunity for a merit increase. Supervisors must have evaluations to the Selectmen by 11/1/2009 if recommending their employee(s) for a merit increase. T. Parker strongly indicated that the Town wants to get away from yearly step increases and go to merit based increases (not automatic but earned).
W. Brown made a motion to adjourn; B. Doerpholz 2nd
Meeting adjourned 7:55pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi L. Wood
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