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Warner Budget Committee Meeting Minutes October 22, 2007
Meeting opened at
In attendance:
Mike Cutting - Chair, Marc Violette, John Warner, Harold Whittemore,
Peter Newman, David Karrick, and Selectman David E. Hartman Absent:
Barbara Bartlett Recorder of the
minutes is Mary Whalen Others present: Laura Buono –
Town Administrator Martha Mical Judith Rogers Marianne Howlett 1.
PROPOSED 2008 BUDGET Laura
Buono, Town Administrator presented the 2008 proposed budget; the
following are highlights.
2. WAGES Ms.
Buono began explaining the wage process thus far.
First there was discussion on how does the Town prevent a group
of employees or a Department petitioning Town Meeting for a wage
increase, how do we get the employees to communicate.
Ms. Buono began by meeting with all the departments and began
discussion on where does the Town go from this point.
Some information has been gathered from the comparison towns
showing Warner’s top wage scale needs some adjusting.
Then there is the Transfer Station scales that were presented at
Town Meeting last year and what should be done with them.
Ms. Buono asked the Department Heads if they want to do their own
comparisons the same way as the Transfer Station; putting a value on
services provided. The State
wage scale was also discussed and it was agreed to use the State wage
scale as a model. The
Department Heads decided to focus on 2009.
It was agreed that the majority of the employees prefer to look
at a wage scale to see where they will be in two years, (based on good
work performance). The
State offers annual pay increases between steps 1-5, steps 5 and up the
pay increases are every other year.
Mr.
Cutting said this process is moving away from a merit process that was
voted by the Town, a completely opposite process, a guaranteed pay raise
process. Ms. Buono reminded
the members about the wage increase petition that was presented at Town
Meeting, which has become the building block for where the wage
discussion went. It was
agreed that the Town cannot afford another petition; it defeats the
whole budget process. Ms.
Buono explained that a merit based process is difficult being that the
departments are small and there is no guarantee that a Department Head
(generally speaking) is giving an honest performance evaluation.
Ms. Buono feels the focus should be towards counseling at the
time someone’s performance falters. Selectman
Hartman explained that the Board has been unable to deal with merit
raises on a fair capacity when it is felt that everyone is doing a good
job, how do you base the merit? So
there is a search for a system that has sense to it from a Selectmen’s
point of view as well as from the employee’s point of view.
Ms. Buono is presenting a process that is from the employees and
the process is more in line with the State of Mr.
Violette added that comparing the State process with the Town is not
apples to apples; the State has a union.
Ms. Buono explained it’s the State’s concept that was
agreeable to the employees. Ms.
Buono added to the comment about doing something completely opposite
from what the Town voted for, the Town last year did something
completely opposite by voting for additional pay increases for an
individual department which resulted in the proposed change.
This is a small Town and there is no reason why everyone can’t
work together to find a solution that everyone is happy with.
When Ms. Buono met with the Department Heads she feels that they
were being realistic by saying they do not have a problem with an across
the board wage increase for 2008 but would want consideration when
entering 2009. Mr.
Warner asked a question that was not audible.
Ms. Buono answered that a procedure should be put together so
that it is fair to administration, Selectmen and employees.
Whatever procedure that is put together will need to have some
kind of system in it for denial as well as re-looking at the performance
evaluations. Ms.
Buono explained what is being proposed for 2008:
Mr.
Violette asked if the Fire Department is included in the 5.8%, Ms. Buono
said yes. Mr. Violette asked
why; the Fire Department is not full-time.
Ms. Buono explained that past practice has applied the COLA to
even the stipend positions. Mr.
Violette does not agree that part-time positions should receive COLAs,
maybe only half of the percentage. Ms.
Buono said half of the staff is part-time.
Mr. Violette feels that the Fire Department does a great job but
the positions are filled by volunteers.
The problem with the Wage Study is it included the Fire
Department; as a previous member of the Fire Department Mr. Violette
said the volunteers are not there for the money.
Mr.
Cutting feels volunteers and part-time positions are being confused;
positions such as part-time police officer, Deputy Town Clerk,
Maintenance Technician are entitled to a COLA the same as a full-time
position. Mr. Cutting has
a problem with a COLA; there is a significant difference between and
hourly COLA and a salary COLA; Mr. Cutting feels the COLA should be a
dollar amount so that it is consistent for everyone i.e. 75¢
COLA instead of a percentage. Ms.
Buono does not agree with Mr. Violette’s comment because the part-time
position does not receive benefits.
Ms. Buono would rather see the Budget Committee cut the bottom
line instead of trying to undo everything that has been worked on to get
the wages to where the employees are happy.
Ms. Buono believed the goal is to work with the employee and not
have a repeat of last year. Ms.
Buono added that Mr. Violette’s comment reflects that part-time
employees are not worth as much as full-time employees.
Mr. Violette asked Ms. Buono in her experience has her logic been
used in other towns as far as wage increases.
Ms. Buono said if the wage increase was a straight percentage, it
went to everyone. Mr.
Whittemore said to Mr. Violette that he is retired and receives a COLA.
Mr.
Warner added that the logic the Town is using is it has not kept up with
the actual cost of living increases, and therefore that is what they are
trying to accomplish. Mr.
Newman thought the COLA was and adjustment keeping the salary ranges
comparable to other towns, the Town has a problem hiring people because
the wages are so low. Mr.
Cutting said a COLA is an adjustment so you can buy the same number of
gallons of milk this year as you did last year, if you don’t adjust
the wage by a COLA your getting less dollars.
Ms.
Rogers mentioned as a thought when someone who is educated and
experienced is at one end of the scale versus someone who is in a
different position in a different place on the scale Mr. Cutting is
saying they should be getting the same amount of money to cover the
increases of the economy. Ms.
Rogers asked if that logic applies to a family that has 10 children
versus a family of 2 children; the cost for the family of 10 to buy milk
is more than the 2. Mr.
Cutting said his logic is based on wages not on the number of children
in a household. Ms. Rogers
focused on Mr. Cutting saying the cost of buying the milk; you can’t
go into someone’s household. You have to stay with the economy.
If someone chooses to be in a salary position versus someone who
chooses to be in a part-time position, the position should not be a
factor in the COLA. Mr.
Warner said if you compare apples to apples you want to be able to buy
the same amount of milk every year.
Mr. Cutting agreed that’s the whole concept for the COLA.
It’s the same logic when the government gives the same cost of
living to someone who receives $1,000 versus someone who receives
$2,000. Ms.
Buono spoke about the other wage scenario, 51¢
plus a step increase or 4% if you’re on step 10, the difference is
$4,000. Mr. Warner
emphasized whatever system is used there must be the ability for the
Department Heads to have flexibility.
Ms. Buono said the Department Heads have that flexibility now. Mr.
Cutting is concerned because he stood before the Town and supported the
Wage Study and now the course is changing.
Ms. Buono said that is because of the vote from the Town last
year (petition). Mr. Cutting
said whatever is decided he hopes it can be maintained for more than a
couple of years. Mr.
Violette said there have been changes in administration but nothing else
has really changed. The Town
still does the COLA, step increases and pays 100% insurance coverage.
Mr. Violette said the Budget Committee is not going to change
anyone’s mind because the most valued resource in this Town is the
employees. Ms.
Buono said the goal is to have something in place so this same wage
discussion doesn’t take place year after year; it’s frustrating on
both sides of the argument. Mr.
Cutting asked what the 2009 process is.
Ms. Buono said for 2009 would be the graded steps using the State
as a model; only after the employees work with the Selectmen coming to a
mutual agreement. Selectman
Hartman predicts that the wage discussion will happen every year.
What will be discussed are the basic principles of the COLA
versus the salary scale and is the scale keeping pace with the general
region. Mr.
Violette said what if there is a firefighter that shows up to 10% of the
calls, why should that person receive a step increase when you have
other firefighters that are there for every call.
Ms. Buono said when you have an on-call Fire Department wage
increases should not be based on how many calls attended; it should be
what their performance is on the calls.
Ms. Buono expects the scene supervisor or Chief is evaluating
performances during the calls. What
also needs to be looked at is if the Fire Department will be pulled more
in line with what the other employees are doing. Mr.
Cutting recommended moving forward on the budget.
3. 2008 PROPOSED
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS – CONTINUED
Capital
Budget needs to be finalized by the Selectmen.
The Committee did question the funding for the traffic light for
exit 9, funding was turned down at 2006 Town Meeting.
Ms. Buono said the money was turned down because of the wage
petition, to be able to make up the difference.
However there was a Department of Transportation meeting at the
Town Hall to discuss the 10-year plan that has turned into a 30+ year
plan; it was asked why the Town of Operating
budget has increased by 3.52% or 3.43% if the computers are purchased in
2007. The
capital budget was briefly discussed.
The Conservation Commission request in the amount of $50k was
compared to what has been received from the current-use change tax.
Mr. Cutting said the Conservation Commission has been funded with
$50k for the last 5 years, one year out of the 5, $100K was funded.
Mr. Violette added that Ausbon Sargent Trust also contributes to
easements that are purchased. Mr.
Cutting asked Mr. Violette to gather information from the last 5 years
comprising of capital outlay, change-of-use tax and funds received from
Ausbon Sargent for the Conservation Commission.
Capital
expenses for the Transfer Station that includes scales and expansion was
discussed. Selectmen Hartman
explained the Transfer Station Facility Committee has decided not to
spend any money at this point. Mr.
Violette asked if any information about leasing vehicles is available.
Ms. Buono is still looking into the request. Mr.
Cutting spoke about the Transfer Station and said he would not want to
be looking at a $69K expense unless the Transfer Station Facility
Committee comes up with a plan. Mr.
Warner said the $69K is for scales, expansion and paving.
Selectman
Hartman will bring forward the Committee’s concerns to the Board of
Selectmen and will return with a complete capital expense budget.
**The Budget
Committee would like to see the revenues, capital outlay and the final
budget figure with an estimated
tax rate. The next scheduled
meeting is The
Committee will address Warner Village Water District on Meeting
adjourned at
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