Warner Budget Committee

 Meeting Minutes - UNAPPROVED

Thursday, February 3, 2011

                                                                       

Mike Cutting opened the meeting at 7:02 p.m.

In attendance: Mike Cutting, Alfred Hanson, Kimberley Edelmann, Martha Bodnarik, Peter Savlen – Warner Village Water Precinct Representative and Selectman Clyde Carson

Absent: Marc Violette & Paul DiGeronimo 

Others present: Laura Buono – Town Administrator, David E. Hartman – Selectman, David Karrick, Jr. – Selectman, Martha Mical, Jeanne Hand, Jim Hand, Ed Mical, Jim McLaughlin, Marianne Howlett, Ray Martin, Peg McLaughlin 

1. Public Hearing – Town of Warner 2011 Operating & Capital Budget

Mike Cutting called for questions on the operating budget.  No questions received so the meeting moved onto the warrant articles. 

Article 8

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $16,000.00 (Sixteen Thousand Dollars) to add to the already established Police Department Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund?  

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 9

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $225,000.00 (Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Highway Road Construction Capital Reserve Fund?   Of that sum $100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars) will come from the General Fund Balance with $125,000.00 (One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars) being raised from taxation.  

Jeanne Hand asked what the current balance is in the reserve.  The Town Administrator said there is no balance as of 12/31/2010. 

Article 10

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Highway Equipment Capital Reserve Fund?  

Jeanne Hand asked what the current balance is in the reserve.  Mike Cutting said $127,977K is currently in the reserve. 

Ed Mical asked if there is going to be a purchase in 2011.  Mike said there is no purchase scheduled for 2011.  In 2012 a truck is scheduled to be purchased.   

Article 11

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Property Revaluation Capital Reserve Fund?   There is currently $90K in the reserve. 

No questions or comments from the public.   

Article 12

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Fire/Rescue Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund and to name the Board of Selectmen as Agents to expend?  There is currently $65,476K in the reserve. 

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 13

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Transfer Station Acquisition & Improvement Capital Reserve Fund?  Balance in the reserve is $23,416K. 

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 14

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Bridge Replacement & Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund?  Balance in the reserve is $125,677K. 

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 15

Shall the Town establish a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of Transfer Station Equipment and to raise and appropriate the amount of $13,000.00 (Thirteen Thousand Dollars) to be placed in that account with the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend?  This is a new reserve being created. 

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 16

Shall the Town establish an Expendable Trust Fund for the purpose of upgrading and purchasing radios and pagers for Town departments and to raise and appropriate the amount of $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars) to be placed in that fund with the Board of Selectmen as agents to expend?  This is a federal mandate; the Town has until January 1, 2013 to become compliant.  The Fire Department, Highway Department and Emergency Management need new radios.  The Police Department has replaced their radios. 

Jim McLaughlin asked if there will be a similar expense next year.  The Town Administrator said yes, but possibly at a lower cost.   

Article 17

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the non-lapsing amount of $6,000.00 (Six Thousand Dollars) for the purpose of purchasing a new mower for Parks and Recreation.  This article will be non-lapsing until December 31, 2014.  

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 18

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Dollars) to be added to the already established Town Hall Building Improvements Capital Reserve Fund?  The fund balance is $17,836K.  One of the first priorities is replacing the boiler. 

No questions or comments from the public. 

Article 19

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the non-lapsing amount of $88,600.00 (Eighty Eight Thousand Six Hundred Dollars) for the purpose of constructing additional sidewalks under the Safe Routes to School Program.  Of that amount, $88,600.00 (Eighty Eight Thousand Six Hundred Dollars) will be coming from the money awarded to the Town of Warner through the NH Safe Routes to School Program?  This article is at no cost to the Town. 

An audience member asked for an explanation regarding the Safe Routes to School Program.  Mike said the program was established by the State of NH as well as being federally funded to make routes to school safer.  Sidewalks on Geneva and Kirtland Streets will be upgraded with brick along with signage. 

Article 20

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $24,186.00 (Twenty Four Thousand One Hundred Eighty Six Dollars and Nineteen Cents) for the purpose of Library Operations.  Of that sum, $24,186.00 (Twenty Four Thousand One Hundred Eighty Six Dollars) to come one or more of the following funds: Lloyd and Annie Cogswell Fund, General Operating Account, Eleanor Cutting Fund and the Mary Martin Children’s Fund?   This article does not have a tax impact, it allows the library to draw from the indicated funds. 

Mike Cutting said as the budget stands there is a .91% increase to the operating budget and the Capital budget is down 28.93% from 2010.  The total decrease to the 2011 budget is 3. 84%.

Mike Cutting closed the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. 

2. Public Hearing - Warner Village Water District 2011 Operating and Capital Budget

WVWD Commissioner Ray Martin said the 2011 budget increase has been reduced from $5,500 to $3,500 because an item was budgeted for 2011 for a surveyor to finalize the North Village Road wells; this was completed in December 2010.  Also money has been encumbered for the auditor and for commercial water meters.   

Mike Cutting asked why a capital reserve for equipment replacement has never been established.  Ray said it’s because the reserve needs to be specific and there is an on-going program for updating and maintaining the equipment.  The Town Administrator said the reserve could be established for equipment replacement.  The WVWD said they would look into establishing a capital reserve. 

With no further comments Mike Cutting closed the WVWD public hearing at 7:44 p.m. 

3. Other Business

Kimberley Edelmann moved to meet on February 8th at 6:00 p.m. to vote on the warrant articles, to recommend or not recommend.  Clyde Carson seconded the motion; all were in favor, the motion passed.   

4. Adjournment

A motion was made at 7:48 p.m. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Whalen

Recording Secretary