Warner Budget Committee

 Meeting Minutes - UNAPPROVED

Thursday, January 20, 2011

                                                                       

Mike Cutting opened the meeting at 7:06 p.m.

In attendance: Mike Cutting, Paul DiGeronimo, Alfred Hanson, Kimberley Edelmann, Martha Bodnarik,

Peter Savlen – Warner Village Water Precinct Representative and Selectman Clyde Carson

Absent: Marc Violette  

Others present: Laura Buono – Town Administrator, David E. Hartman – Selectman, David Karrick, Jr. – Selectman, Martha Mical 

1. Town Report

Kimberley Edelmann created the Budget Committee submission for the 2010 Annual Report.  The members reviewed and made some suggestions for the submission. 

2. 2011 Proposed Budget

Mr. Cutting suggested finalizing the operating budget.  At the January 13th meeting there were two proposals; one was to decrease the Highway Department by $11,448 and the other was to reduce the entire budget by 3%.   

Kimberley Edelmann commented on the $200,000 surplus from last year, because of that surplus she does not feel the 2011 proposed budget is a flat budget.  The Town Administrator explained what made up the surplus.  In 2010 the money budgeted for ambulance services was not spent because of on-going negotiations with the Town of Hopkinton, there was money left over from the Police Department for staffing under benefits & wages; the full-time position was not filled until November 2010 and there was a huge savings in the Transfer Station budget under hauling because the hauler had changed vendors.  In 2011 money will be spent on ambulance services, a full-time officer and the budget has been adjusted for the hauling. 

Alfred Hanson’s proposal to cut the budget by 3% includes the following:

  •               Town Hall Building Improvements Reserve – currently there is $18K in the reserve, Alfred recommends $10K instead of $20K.

  •               Revaluation Reserve – reduce to $7,500.

  •               Highway Construction Reserve – reduce to $200K.

  •               Fire/Rescue Vehicles Reserve – reduce to $15K.

  •               Highway Department operating budget reduce part-time labor by $25K.

  •               Operating Budget – eliminate wage increases, $25K.

 

Paul DiGeronimo is in favor of what Alfred is proposing except for cutting wages.   Alfred feels the surplus from 2010 can offset his proposal and he is proposing these cuts because the school budget may increase by 4%. 

The Town Administrator commented on reducing the part-time labor for the Highway Department.  That money is budgeted to include on-call snow plowing, she does not recommend this type of cut because it is difficult to predict the plowing season.   

Alfred said the reason for his proposal is to try to help out what he really thinks are the needs of the people who live here in Warner; he said only the needs are important, wants are for when the economy is better.   

The Town Administrator offered another alternative for reducing the budget; use surplus to offset a warrant article such as offsetting the Highway Construction Reserve with $100K.  The operating budget could stay in tact knowing that what is not spent at the end of the year will also go to surplus. 

Alfred said when he looked at the wages in the budget he noticed something else, the Fire and Highway Department are on-call 24/7 but the Police Department is not, he does not understand why there is no officer on-call.  The Town Administrator explained the Police Department does go out in emergency situations, such as the recent home invasion, the Chief was called and he responded.  Alfred feels if a department is not an on-call department then the salaries should reflect that; he said the Police Department is very well paid but they are not on-call and when he looks at salaries he compares the obligation to the job.  Alfred is also open to the Town Administrator’s suggestion for applying surplus.  

Selectman Carson clarified that the real amount for wage increases is $5,800.00; the wage lines also reflect changes in personnel, increased hours etc.   

Kimberley Edelmann also looked at wages as well and saw that last year 52% of the operating budget went towards wages and benefits, this year the proposed 2011 wage budget is slightly under 52%.   

The Committee members discussed the Town Administrator’s proposal for using surplus to offset the capital budget particularly the Highway Construction reserve.   

Alfred Hanson moved to accept his proposal as described (cut 3%).  No second; motion died. 

Mike Cutting moved to accept the Capital Budget and raise $350K from taxation and $100K from surplus for 2011.  Alfred Hanson seconded the motion; Martha Bodnarik wants to be sure the $100K from surplus is applied to the Highway Construction reserve only.  Mike Cutting said during the public hearing the Committee members will vote on all the capital warrant articles and that would be the time the Committee could make sure the wording reflects the motion.  Alfred Hanson asked the Board of Selectmen how they felt about the $100K surplus recommendation.  Selectman Hartman and Karrick are in favor of the proposal.  No vote was taken on the motion. 

Mike Cutting asked and confirmed that the Committee members are in agreement with the 2011 operating budget that amounts to $2,884,582.   

3. Adjournment

A motion was made at 8:47 p.m. to adjourn.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen,

Recording Secretary