Warner Budget Committee

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Meeting opened at 7:05 p.m.

In attendance:   Marc Violette - Chairman

                        Mike Cutting

                        Kimberley Edelmann

                        Alfred Hanson

                        Martha Bodnarik

                        Peter Newman – Warner Village Water District Representative

                        Clyde Carson – Selectman’s Representative

Absent:             None      

Others present: Selectman David E. Hartman, Laura Buono – Town Administrator, Jeanne Hand, Marianne Howlett Martha Mical, Richard Cutting, Town Clerk, William Chandler, Wayne Eigabroadt, George Smith, Varick Proper, Allan N. Brown, Jim Hand, Barbara Annis.  

1. Meeting Minutes

Motion was made and seconded to approve meeting minutes dated October 15, 2009 .  All were in favor, the motion passed.  

2. Vacancy

The Budget Committee has a vacancy until March 2010 election; two residents expressed an interest, Jeanne Hand and Richard Cutting.  The Committee proceeded to interview the two candidates beginning with Jeanne Hand.   

Jeanne Hand has financial background and Richard Cutting has been a past Budget Committee member from 1989-1998.   

Martha Bodnarik asked Mr. Cutting about his work experience.  Mr. Cutting said he worked for over 32 years at the phone company in Contoocook in charge of the line crew and outside engineering.  The same question was asked of Ms. Hand.  Ms. Hand said her experience is in financial planning.   

Alfred Hanson asked if there would be any conflict of interest with Mr. Cutting because he is also on the Chandler Reservation Committee.   It was not felt that there would be a conflict, Mr. Cutting said he has been on the Chandler Reservation Committee since 1981.  

Mike Cutting asked Mr. Cutting if he is interested in running for the position in March or is he looking to fill in for the term.  Mr. Cutting said he is only interested in filling in the term.  Jeanne Hand said she is interested in running for a full term at the next election.  

Mike Cutting moved for the Committee to vote on the two candidates.  Motion was seconded; all were in favor, the motion passed.   

Richard Cutting won the majority vote and will fill the vacancy until March 2010.  

3. Budget Review – Highlights

Tax Collector

             The Tax Collector has said that she would like to decline her scheduled pay increase in 2010.  Selectman Carson said a lot of work has been put into the wage process.  There is a schedule where employees receive a wage increase every other year.  The Tax Collector’s scheduled wage increase is part of that process.  Selectman Carson is appreciative that the Tax Collector would be willing to forfeit her pay increase but he does not feel that it would be proper for the Selectmen to allow this to happen.  Kimberley Edelmann agreed, it should be all or nothing.  Martha Bodnarik feels there should be a freeze on all wage increases.

             Alfred Hanson asked for the total cost of wage increases.

             Selectman Carson said that medical benefits have increased by 16% and the Selectmen still need to review what can be done to cut costs.  If the Selectmen decide upon employee contribution that could result in employee salary decreases. 

             Martha Bodnarik said the State is not giving any wage increases nor is Social Security.  The State and area businesses have laid off workers.  She does not feel it to be unreasonable for this year to hold the line on pay increases. 

             Mike Cutting confirmed that the Selectmen are considering employee contribution toward health benefits.  Selectman Carson explained that the Board will be reviewing all options that are available.

             Audience member Jeanne Hand recommended the Town not covering for any children, there is a State program that covers children (Healthy Kids) and the Town could pay for that coverage.   Selectman Carson said the health insurance plan would still be increased by 16%.

            Wayne Eigabroadt said Healthy Kids is only available to those who do not have health coverage or low come families. 

            The Town Administrator provided the total amount for wage increases for 2010 in the amount of $18,304.94.  This amount does not include benefit increases. 

            Martha Bodnarik recommended moving the pay raise schedule to 2011.  

Police Department

            Police Department utilities decreased by $2,787.

             PD Building Maintenance increased to allow for interior painting of half of the building.

             Martha Bodnarik asked if the PD could do without the interior painting. 

             Martha Bodnarik asked what does $3,309 cover under the Uniform line.  Chief Chandler said the line covers uniform replacement, leather gear and belt equipment and $1,500 per year for dry cleaning the uniforms.  Ms. Bodnarik asked for a 2009 cost breakdown.

             The PD is currently looking to fill a vacant position.  Kimberley Edelmann asked the Chief if he sees any future growth in the staff.  The Chief said when the staff is at full capacity it is tolerable to the needs of the community.

            Martha Bodnarik asked if the full time position could be filled with two part-time positions.  In doing this the cost of health benefits would be reduced.  The Chief said there is a higher turn over rate for part-time officers; training level is different from a full-time officer and double the expense to outfit the officers. Mr. Eigabroadt said it would take 3 part-time officers to comfortably fill one full-time position.  There would be more coverage available filling the vacant full-time position.  

Fire Department

           Ambulance has increased by 86%.  The Fire Chief is currently negotiating with the Town of Hopkinton .  Selectman Carson is researching and comparing area costs for ambulance service.  The Town Administrator said the bill received is for October 2008 through September 2009 which is a 2009 expense.  Hopkinton beginning in 2007 began adding their dispatch and capital expenses as well as their operating budget to the ambulance bill.  The Town Administrator said what is missing is a contractual amount; right now the Town has no say in the expenses that are being billed.

            Wages increased under the administrative level by $778.

             Equipment Maintenance has increased by 25% because there is more equipment to maintain.

             Training has increased by 42% due to the cost and the increased number in staff.

              Building Maintenance is increased for interior painting; $3,500 is budgeted for labor.  Ms. Bodnarik would like to see the painting put off another year. 

             $5,000 has been budgeted for Forest Fires, this will also fund supplies.  The Chief said he is going to try to replenish his supplies from the 2009 budget. 

              Kimberley Edelmann asked who maintains the fire ponds.  The Chief said the department maintains some of them.  Through a grant there will be four dry hydrants installed this year and four next year.  

Emergency Management

              Selectman Carson asked Emergency Management Director Ed Mical if there is anything not included in his budget that should be in there in regards to future storms.  Mr. Mical said typically he will work through grants for funding projects or through the Capital Improvements Plan.  

Parks & Recreation Commission

             Salary line increased by 14% because of additional hours and a step increase for the field maintenance position.

             The Committee asked why money has not been spent from the skateboard line.  Mr. Smith explained that currently, P&R member David Thurlow obtains material from construction sites at no cost and builds and repairs the equipment himself.  Mr. Smith would like the money to remain.  Martha Bodnarik recommends using the money for the skateboard park or reimbursing Mr. Thurlow.   

Transfer Station

            Meetings and Seminars are increased by 20% because the cost of the $50 fee per certification of the employees as well as their mileage to attend. 

            Concord Regional increased tipping fees to $65 per ton.  The estimated tonnage is 1,819 tons, a decrease from 2009.   

Highway Department

              Martha Bodnarik asked why the Calcium Chloride line has not been used.  Public Works Director, Allan N. Brown explained it is now used very sparingly. 

             Step increases are scheduled.  Mr. Brown said the Highway Department will need a full time grader in the very near future. 

              Paving to date has not been totally spent because $25K will be used to offset the revenue that will not be received by the State.  $76K was spent on Newmarket Road .

              Winter Sand was reduced by almost half because the sand was not purchased this year it came from the Town’s gravel pit.

             Martha Bodnarik asked Mr. Brown to explain the uniform line.  Mr. Brown said the $6,500 cost covers uniforms for seven men, shop rags, cleaning, two coats, eleven pants & shirts, coveralls and insurance.  Martha Bodnarik feels this is a lot of money to spend when the employees are paid adequately.  She asked if it would be a hardship if everyone suddenly became responsible for buying and cleaning their own clothing.  Dick Brown said it is not a good idea to bring the work clothes home and put them in washing machines, some of the material is considered hazardous material on the clothing.  Allan Brown said one of the reasons for uniforms is so the men are easily identified as highway workers and there as many things that rip and damage the clothing as well as the grease from the equipment.  Martha Bodnarik still feels the cost for uniforms is more of a luxury than a necessity.  George Smith runs a heavy equipment garage and said the cost of retaining people far out ways the cost of uniforms, as far as he is concerned it is a necessity not a luxury.  Mr. Eigabroadt added based on the labor law if uniforms are required the Town is obligated to supply them.

            Funding is in the budget in the amount of $2,000 for road sign replacement.  By federal law all road signs need to meet federal requirements by 2011.

            Richard Cutting said there is no indication in the budget for what is spent on other departments.  Mr. Brown said all the Departments receive support from the Highway Department.  Mr. Cutting would like to see a breakdown of costs created.

           Mr. Brown said the paving program needs to be considered and gradually the line will need to be increased because the cost of asphalt continues to rise.  

Next scheduled meeting is November 12^th, Town budget review will continue followed by the Warner Village Water District budget review, then Capital budget review.  

4. Adjournment

Motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 9:18 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,

Recording Secretary

Mary Whalen