Town of Bristol

Budget Committee Minutes

October 15, 2007

 

 

APPROVED ON:      11/05/2007

 

ATTENDED:   Archie Auger (Chairman), Dorcas Gordon (Vice Chairman), Skip Bowie, Ron Preble, Paul Simard, John Thouin, Richard Walenda, David Carr, Andrew Hemmingway, and Diane Marden (Secretary).

 

ABSENT:                    Tom Winn, Joe Denning (Selectmen’s Rep.), Cathy Pitari, and

Darla Jaquith were unexcused.

 

 

OTHERS

PRESENT:                   None.

 

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m., the meeting

was not video taped for LRPA.

 

September 10, 2007 Minutes

 

Skip Bowie made the motion to accept the Budget Committee minutes of September 10, 2007. Richard Walenda seconded the motion. Chairman Auger asked for any discussion, corrections were made to page 2 of the minutes “Paradis” and the word “what”, no other discussion. The MOTION CARRIED. Dorcas Gordon abstains due to not being present at this meeting.

 

Correspondence

 

Chairman Auger stated everyone has received a notice in their packets regarding the deadline for the submission to the Annual Town Report. Mr. Auger asked the committee if they wanted to go with the standard format followed in previous years or should the committee write something up for the report. Andrew Hemmingway suggested writing something that would explain the duties and process of the Budget Committee. Mr. Auger agreed, and he and Mr. Hemmingway will draft something for the report.

 

Mr. Auger stated we have received notice that the Town Office’s will be closed December 24th (Monday) and 25th  (Tuesday) for the Christmas holiday.

 

 

 

 

Correspondence (Continued)

 

Mr. Auger stated the Budget Committee has received a Budget Request from Newfound Lake Association asking for $1,000. Mr. Auger instructed the Secretary to get this information  to the Town Managers Office.

 

Richard Walenda asked how many meetings can a member miss as unexcused absences before being relieved from the duties on the Budget Committee. Chairman Auger stated three consecutive meetings without a phone call, and a member of the committee will be released from their duties. Mr. Auger stated this has been the case over the years, and it still stands firm.

 

Time Line 2008 Budget Process

 

Chairman Auger stated the next meeting will be on Monday, November 5th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. stating the committee will be meeting with Social Service Agencies. Mr. Auger reminded Budget Committee members that every $1.00 raised on the tax rate will be equal to $536,000 that is 1/10 of a cent or less.

 

Mr. Auger stated all information pertaining to budgets should be received one week prior to the meeting, allowing members to have time to review the requested budgets. Mr. Auger stated he would contact the Town Manager to find out when the budget books will be available for pick-up. David Carr stated it would be nice to have them in an unlocked area of the building so they can be picked up when needed. Mr. Auger stated he would like an area of the downstairs meeting room to store the books when not in use, and he would also discuss this with the Town Manager.

 

2008 Budget Schedule

 

            November 5, 2007                  Nana

                                                            Humane Society

                                                            Plymouth Regional Clinic

                                                            Tri-County Action

                                                            Senior Citizens

                                                            Lakes Region Community Services Council

                                                            Voices Against Domestic Violence

                                                            Garden Club

 

November 12, 2007                Highway

                                                            Solid Waste

 

November 27, 2007                Public Works Department

 

December 3, 2007                  Town Clerk/Tax Collector

                                                            Police Department

2008 Budget Schedule (Continued)

 

December 10, 2007                Executive/ Salaries and benefits

                                                            CIP Projects

 

December 17, 2007                Fire Department

 

January 7, 2008                      Minot Sleeper Library

                                                            Tapply-Thompson Community Center

                                                            Kelley Park

 

February 11, 2008                  Public Hearing                                               

 

Chairman Auger stated he would also like to ask the Town Manager for some Town statistics. For example we should give some thought to what kind of tax increases we will be looking at relative to any substantial changes that have happened throughout the year. Mr. Auger stated some of this information may be helpful when discussing some of this years budget items.

 

Time Line 2008 Budget Process  (Continued)

 

Paul Simard stated he would like to suggest putting some money aside in next year for budget books. He also wanted to stress that the budget committee needs certain information in order to do the job required of them, and still be fair to the taxpayers.

 

Chairman Auger asked what other types of material do the members feel the committee may need. Paul Simard stated Budget Summaries would be extremely helpful. Mr. Auger agreed.

 

Mr. Auger stated if anyone is concerned with certain wage contracts that he encourages them to take the time to read the contracts. Mr. Auger suggested going to the Local Government Center to get familiar with how proposed salaries are handled explaining there are valuable tools as well as useful information on the site. Paul Simard stated Mr. Auger had brought in some budget summaries from the Local Government Center that he found to be helpful regarding Fire Departments and Police Departments. Mr. Simard stated the information was very helpful when comparing the differences between local communities. Mr. Auger stated he would ask the Town Manager if there is access to this for everyone on the Budget Committee or if it is strictly used by the Selectmen’s Office only. Mr. Auger stated it is a great source of information, and the Selectmen’s Office does have a book from the Local Government Center relative to salaries should someone wish to take a look at that.

 

 

 

 

Time Line 2008 Budget Process  (Continued)

 

Chairman Auger stated he has made it clear that we want the original budget of each department meeting with the Budget Committee. Paul Simard wanted to know how the Budget Committee could look at the so called wish list of each department. Mr. Auger suggested going to the Town website to read the CIP minutes. Mr. Simard stated that at the last meeting Cathy Pitari had asked the question of how that should tie into the Master Plan. Mr. Auger stated  it should tie into the Master Plan but is not to limit the scope of the CIP. Mr. Auger stated the CIP is scheduled to meet with the Budget Committee at the December 10th meeting.

 

Budget Review

 

Richard Walenda asked what was the actual salary for the Water/Sewer person? Skip Bowie asked if the Budget Committee review this last year when the commissioners were demised. Mr. Bowie stated he thought a portion of the funds was to pay her salary. Mr. Bowie stated he could be wrong, but that is what he believes to have happened.

 

Revenue Review

 

Paul Simard stated he had thought at the last meeting it was discussed to change the format of the Budget sheets. Chairman Auger stated it had been discussed but apparently the changes have not been made as of yet. Mr. Auger stated he would like to see everyone get the budget in the excel format, rather than receiving a hard copy of the budget.

 

Skip Bowie stated the motor vehicle line item for Alexandria is no longer needed. Chairman Auger stated he believes that it will drop off at the end of the year.

 

Other Issues

 

Richard Walenda asked about the prices of scrap metal? Andrew Hemmingway stated there is currently no room to separate the metals. Mr. Hemmingway stated currently the highest commodity right now is paper, but currently there is not enough space to separate these items.

 

Andrew Hemmingway asked about line item 3294-50 wondering what it was. Chairman Auger stated it is some sort of vendor. Mr. Auger asked Mr. Hemmingway to explain a bit about what the Recycling Committee is and does. Mr. Hemmingway stated the committee is looking a different forms of recycling, addressing space issues, and looking at how to gain additional revenues on recycling commodities. Mr. Hemmingway explained that space needs are the biggest problem at this point, and at some point it may become an issue for the CIP Committee.

 

 

 

Other Issues (Continued)

 

Skip Bowie suggested digging out the sand and salt area down to the pit, and open up the space for recycling. Mr. Hemmingway stated the committee was looking at that idea. Mr. Bowie stated he knew this is not a budget issue, but wanted to make the suggestion not trying to overstep the boundaries of  the Budget Committee.

 

Vice Chair Gordon stated the Town Survey is also online stating it is a good idea to go and fill that out before the deadline.

 

The next meeting of the Bristol Budget Committee will be held on November 5, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Adjournment

 

Skip Bowie made the motion to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. Paul Simard seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.