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Warner Budget
Committee
Meeting Minutes
Thursday,
January 6, 2011
The meeting opened at
6:03 p.m.
In attendance: Marc Violette, Mike Cutting, Paul DiGeronimo,
Alfred Hanson, Kimberley Edelmann, Martha Bodnarik
Peter Savlen –
Warner
Village
Water Precinct
Representative and Selectman
Clyde
Carson
Others
present: Laura Buono – Town Administrator, David Karrick, Jr., Jim
Hand, Ed Mical, Martha Mical
1.
Meeting Minutes
Mr. Cutting moved to
approve meeting minutes dated
December 9, 2010
.
Ms. Edelmann seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion
passed.
2. Capital Budget
The Town Administrator explained what the Selectmen are
presenting in the 2011 capital budget.
$0K
Conservation Commission is not requesting any funding for 2011.
$16K Police
Cruiser yearly funding for 2012 replacement.
$30K
Town Hall Building Improvements includes leveling
the granite steps, boiler replacement and energy improvements
specifically insulation projects.
Mr. Violette asked how much of a problem the granite steps are.
Selectman
Carson
said the steps are
not a liability problem because there is signage and yellow tape.
An estimate has been obtained in the amount of $11K to level
the steps. Mr. Cutting
asked if the Highway Department can level the granite steps.
Mr. Hanson asked what the priority is, the steps or the boiler.
Selectman
Carson
said the boiler is
the higher priority, estimates have been obtained from $15K - $20K.
The Town Administrator said another project that is in the
discussion stage is rearranging the offices and building a vault for
the Town Clerk’s office. Outside
funding is being researched for the vault; there is about $17K
currently in the fund to help cover the office renovation costs.
The Committee asked to prioritize the projects.
The Town Administrator said the boiler is the top priority,
second is the energy upgrade, front steps then interior changes.
The Committee would like to see the current funding used
towards the boiler, the steps and the energy upgrades and asked the
Selectmen to present quotes for these items to the Committee before
the January 20th meeting.
$225K Highway Road Construction Projects include rebuilding
portions of
Pumpkin Hill Road
.
The Committee discussed the cost of road work and the current
competitive field. Ms.
Edelmann asked why paving is a separate line item.
The Town Administrator said not all paving is for road
construction projects.
$50K Highway Equipment, the next truck replacement
is scheduled for 2012. There
is currently $41K in the reserve.
$50K
Bridges, the
North
Village
Road
Bridge
has been placed on
the red list. There is
currently $125K in reserve.
$30K Fire Department Equipment, the next
replacement is scheduled for 2014 for a forestry vehicle.
There is currently $65K in the reserve.
$0K
Exit 9, Ms. Edelmann thought there was a concern about being
able to show the State the town is funding a project which would
entitle the town for State Aid. The
Town Administrator said the Town has not received confirmation from
the State. Mr. Cutting
asked if Market Basket will be responsible for an impact fee if the
choose to expand.
$10K Transfer Station Improvements, the $10K would
fund the completion of the new loading docks as well as adding a new
door.
$0K
Dry Hydrants, there is currently $25K in the reserve which is
enough to fund four hydrants. The
installation of four hydrants would bring the total installed to 8.
$25K Property Revaluation, at the end of 2010
there should be approximately $80K left over from the revaluation.
The next revaluation is scheduled for 2014.
The Committee feels that this is a reserve that could be cut
back since there will be an $80K surplus.
$13K Transfer Station Equipment, the loader and a
baler is scheduled to be replaced in 2015.
The Capital Improvements Program Sub-Committee recommended
funding $10K per year as well as trading in the loader.
$20K Radio/Pager Equipment is for Highway, Fire
Department and Emergency Management.
Mr. Violette asked what the total cost is for replacing the
radios. The Town
Administrator said she is not sure of the cost for the Highway
Department; for the Fire Department the cost is between $18 -$24K and
Emergency Management is minimal. The
radios are mandated to be updated by
January 1, 2013
; the Selectmen plan
on funding this mandate and completing the update in a two-year phase.
Mr. Violette asked for a more definite cost for the Highway
Department. Ms. Edelmann
stated that this is not an optional warrant; this must pass at Town
Meeting because of the mandate.
$6K
Parks & Recreation submitted the cost for a new mower in
the amount of $13K. The
Selectmen decided to fund half the cost and encouraged Parks &
Recreation to look into outside sources for the balance.
If outside funding fails then the balance will be brought
forward in 2012. The
current mower will be used as a back-up.
The
total for 2011 capital expenses is $475K (-3.55%); in 2010 $492K was
budgeted and approved.
3. Other Business
Ms. Edelmann is surprised that there is no funding being
requested for a new fire station. Selectman
Carson
said because the
project is large and the Selectmen will recommend bonding the project;
at the 2011 Town Meeting the Fire Department will be putting together
information to make residents aware of the need.
Mr. Violette asked if there has been discussion about what will
be done with the current fire station.
The Town Administrator said there was discussion about the
options that are available, either sell or utilize the building and do
away with the building on
Kearsarge Mtn. Road
but nothing concrete
has been decided.
Mr. Cutting asked if there has been discussion regarding the
Odd
Fellows
Building
.
Selectman
Carson
said the Board has
asked for figures from the Odd Fellows Building Committee, one for
demolition and the other cost is for stabilizing the building.
The Town Administrator explained that the pumper principal
and interest totals are not included in the 2011 operating budget.
Mr. Violette said on January 13th the Committee
will work on the operating and on January 20th the Committee
will work on both capital and operating budgets.
The Committee may finalize the budget on January 20th;
the Public Hearing is scheduled for February 3rd.
Mr. Hanson would like to know why the Town is budgeting for
wage increases. Selectman
Carson said the step increases were created with a structure where an
employee receives a wage increase every two years, there are no cost of
living increases in the budget this year, plus this year employee
contribution to health benefits was increased.
The Town Administrator said the Board discussed wage increases
this year but because the Board implemented a program last year, if wage
increases were not included this year then half the staff who didn’t
receive a wage increase last year would be without for this year.
The Board decided 2012 would be the year not to include wage
increases if so decided. The
Town Administrator explained the new wage structure, wages were
evaluated, the steps are now stretched out and the employees were placed
in grades and steps, eligibility is every other year with 5% between
each step. The only way the scale is increased is if the Selectmen
decide to add a cost of living increase.
There are currently two employees that are at the top of their
wage scale.
Ms. Bodnarik has learned that a Warner has a School Board
representative that no longer lives in town.
Selectman Karrick said the representative is temporarily living
out of town and intends to move back, also, the counsel at the school is
aware and has advised. Ms.
Bodnarik is not in favor of being represented by someone who does not
live in Warner.
6. Adjournment
After asking for any further discussion from members and
receiving none, Mr. Violette requested a motion to adjourn.
The motion was raised, seconded and approved unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at
8:15 PM
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