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Warner Budget Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday,
December 2, 2010
The meeting opened at In attendance: Marc Violette, Mike Cutting, Alfred Hanson,
Martha Bodnarik, Paul DiGeronimo, Kimberley Edelmann Peter Savlen –
Warner Village Water Precinct Representative and Selectman Clyde Carson Others present: Laura Buono – Town Administrator, David
Karrick, Jr. – Selectman, David E. Hartman – Selectman, Matt Waite,
Varick Proper, Jeanne Hand, Jim Hand, Ed Raymond 1. Meeting Minutes Mr. Carson moved to approve meeting minutes dated 2. Highway
Department 2011 Budget Matt Waite, acting DPW and newly promoted DPW as of January
2011 noted that the calcium chloride line has increased and the balance
of the operating budget is the same. Starting January 2011 the Foreman position will be vacant.
The Town has put the position out to the current employees and if
someone is promoted from within then there will be a heavy equipment
position open; the goal is to be fully staffed.
Mr. Violette asked in general the hiring of employees if it is
necessary to fill full-time positions or can the positions be filled
with part-time help or no replacement at all.
Martha Bodnarik asked Mr. Waite if the Town needed the full
department’s strength during the last few winters.
Mr. Waite said yes, most definitely.
Ms. Bodnarik asked if capable part-time people could be hired for
the winter and the summer. Mr.
Waite feels having only a part-time staff would result in longer time
periods to accomplish projects. Mr. Violette is suggesting not to fill the vacant position,
to look at contracting the snow plowing and for the remaining seasons
use the current staff. He is
suggesting that the administration look at what the impact will be to
the budget by not filling the vacant position.
The Town Administrator said contracted services versus full time
employment needs to be compared, she is not sure if there is a savings
with contracting because the equipment, labor and insurance are rolled
into the hourly wages of a contractor.
Mr. Hanson feels that since the town no longer builds roads
the summer road maintenance is less demanding than the winter road
maintenance, he asked Mr. Waite if he could run the department with six
people. Mr. Waite said only
for road maintenance in the summer time.
Mr. Hanson recommends hiring part-time staff during the winter
months only. Mr. Carson does
not feel contracting labor would be economical for the Town.
Mr. Hanson said he was talking about hiring part-time not
contracting services. Martha Bodnarik added that throughout the Town the Highway
Department supports other departments such as site work that needs to be
done at the Transfer Station. The Town Administrator said overall the administration has
reduced the wage costs; positions have been changed to part-time.
The Budget Committee is recommending the administration to look
at the Highway Department to see if it is feasible to reduce labor
costs. Mr. DiGeronimo asked Mr. Waite if the vacant position is not
filled does he feels there will be an increase in the overtime.
Mr. Waite said without experiencing the loss of manpower he
anticipates progress on projects would be slower. Selectman Martha Bodnarik lives on a small loop road and she said the
residents asked the Highway Department not to use any salt in the winter
only sand. She wonders if
this could be applied to other comparable roads in order to save on
salt. 3. Transfer Station
2011 Budget Transfer Station Foreman, Varick Proper said early in 2010
Naughton and Son’s Recycling began shipping some of the commercial
accounts including Warner to a incinerator in Berlin as a cost savings;
this change resulted in a significant impact to the Concord Regional
budget line. Also, the
tipping fees and transportation fees decreased in 2010.
Mr. Proper said all these changes were out of the Town’s
control and for 2011 the budget has been reduced by 17%.
Mr. Proper also said there will be a reduction in revenues from
Concord Regional. Martha Bodnarik asked if the traffic problem will be
resolved. Mr. Proper said
the Transfer Station is in the process of correcting the traffic
problem. 4. The Town Administrator informed the Committee that the Fire
Chief is attending another meeting and is not available this evening.
Selectman Hartman asked if it was made clear to the Chief that he
was invited to the Thursday evening Budget Committee meeting because
Tuesday evenings is not convenient for the Chief.
The Town Administrator will follow up with the Chief.
The Budget Committee would prefer to wait until the Chief is
available to review the Fire Department budget. Martha Bodnarik said at the last Budget Committee meeting it
was learned at the last minute that the Chief could not attend and now
again this evening when there was plenty of notice given to the Chief.
Ms. Bodnarik said the lack of attendance is altering her opinion
of the Fire Chief. It was
noted at the last meeting that Thursday would be more accommodating for
the Chief. Mr. Cutting moved to postpone the Fire Departments budget
until Thursday, December 9th and begin next Thursday’s
meeting with the Selectmen’s budget.
Kimberley Edelmann seconded the motion.
Mr. Cutting withdrew his motion.
Mr. Hanson moved to follow
the December 9th meeting in order as originally scheduled;
the Fire Department will be last on the agenda (Water District,
Selectmen and Fire Department).
Motion was seconded; all were in favor, the motion passed. 5. Public Comments Jeanne Hand noticed that the budgeted amount for street
lighting has increased; she said the Town of North Conway, NH has done
away with street lighting except within major areas.
She added that if a resident wants a street light rental
arrangements can be made. Pat DeAngelais asked how the meeting schedule was decided
upon because she also attends the School Board meetings which are
scheduled on the same evenings as the Budget Committee.
She also asked about the scheduled meeting with both the School
Board and the Municipal Budget Committee.
Mr. Violette explained that the Budget Committee has scheduled a
work session with Warner’s School Board & MBC representatives on
December 16th. Mr.
Violette said the BC schedule is determined by what is convenient for
the Board. Selectman Hartman confirmed that the presentation of the
Selectmen’s Budget on December 9th will include everything
except the Police, Fire, Highway and Transfer Station. The Town Administrator asked if the BC needs any further
information before the December 9th meeting.
Kimberley Edelmann said when she receives an electronic format of
the budget she creates a pie chart and would like the latest version
sent to her. Mr. Violette reviewed the remainder of the BC meeting
schedule: Warner’s Municipal Budget Committee member, Jim Hand said
the MBC is looking at reducing the school budget without affecting the
quality of education. Mr.
Hand said the MBC will present a lower budget than what the School Board
will be presenting. Mr. Hand
added that 2.8% of the 4.6% (1.6 million) increase to the school budget
has been passed on to the district from the State which is the increase
to the retirement system. Mike
Cutting asked if the proposed increase is based on what was budgeted
last year; he said the percentage increase is actually higher based on
what was spent last year. Mr.
Hand said that point has been brought up several times.
Mr. Cutting said as a town, the BC is having issues with a 1%
increase, he does not feel that the School Board “gets it”.
The members discussed how there is a need to change the way
business is handled in the school district. 6. Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn at Respectfully submitted, Mary Whalen Recording Secretary
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