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Minutes of 9/26/2012 APPROVED

October 9th, 2012

TOWN OF CARROLL
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
APPROVED
In Attendance: Linda Dowling, Chairman; Jane Ikasalo, Secretary; Joan Karpf; Dan Walker; Sue Kraabel; Jack Catalano
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dowling at 7:30PM.
Chairman Dowling read the “Voter Encouragement “ announcement.
BUDGET PRESENTATIONS
Cemetery Budget presented by Ed Martin
• Over last five years, cemetery budget has been reduced by $1,550 due partially to perpetual updates that have been done.
• No plowing is needed when the ground freezes. Walk in gate is open to cemetery. Drive in gate is locked.
• There is approximated $10,000.00 in Trust money donated to the cemetery. To date, none of this Trust money has been used.
• Sue Kraabel informed the group that only the interest on the principal of the money that is donated for perpetual care can be used for perpetual care and can only be used on the grave of the person that gave the donation.
• There are 1500-2000 sites remaining for sale in Straw Cemetery and the cost is $250 per plot.
• Rosebrook and Crawford Cemetery’s are historical cemetery’s.
• The Revenue from the sale of plots is put into the General Fund.
• Sue Kraabel asked if there had been consideration of raising the cost of the plots. Ed will research.
• Ed’s 5 year plan is to continue to reduce the cemetery budget each year. He is able to do this by learning how to maintain the stones himself and to do various other duties himself and as projects are done, they are perpetual and the budget cost can be reduced.
Fire Department and Ambulance Budget presented by Marc Brodeur and Jeremy Oleson
• An increase of $500.00 for radio repair is being requested based on already being over budget from last year.
• An increase of $500.00 for FD protective clothing is being requested. This is the cost of gear for 1 person.
• An increase of $250.00 for Officer Salaries is requested. This is on ambulance charge and is for Deputy Chief.
• All other line items remain the same as 2012 budget.
• Chairman Dowling asked how many call firefighters there are. The reply is there are 10
firefighters and usually 6 of the firefighters respond to calls.
• The breakdown of each department is: Fire Department $81,571 and Ambulance $35,751 for 2013 proposed budget.
• Joan Karpf asked about Call Firefighter salaries and how they arrived at the amount. The response from Jeremy and Marc is that this is from the amount of calls that they have to go out on, the number of firefighters that go on the call and the length of time they are out on the call.
• Marc and Jeremy advised the Committee that the new fire engine is paid off.
• Marc and Jeremy are working on their 5 year plan.
• Jack Catalano left the meeting at 8:10PM.
Review of Meeting Minutes of September 19,2012
• Top line, secretary was spelled incorrect
• Chairman Darling, read public service announcement recommending public view the dvd’s of Selectboard minutes and Budget Committee minutes, should be meetings not minutes
• Paragraph on Chamber of Commerce, an additional-should be addition and of an additional concert.
• Police Department budget should be $250,313.00
• Police Department budget , line items that are not used are there for in the event it is needed
• Sue Kraabel stated the PD revolving fund has about $5,000 to $6,000 in it to be used for anything police related.
• Chief Trammel’s five year vision is to “float”
• Sue Kraamel advised that some of the School District warrant articles ask to appropriate money to come from their surplus. Since they are not allowed to retain surplus, if these warrant articles are defeated, that money is used to lower the tax rate for the towns.
• Joan Karpf made motion to accept minutes as corrected ; Sue Kraabel seconded; all in favor. 5-0
Newsletter
• Chairman Dowling received the advised corrections to the letter from Sue Kraabel and from Jane Ikasalo and has made the corrections.
Use of Town Hall
• Joan Karpf reiterated that this is a suggestion to the Selectboard for consideration.
• Sue Kraabel did not have a chance to put much thought into the Fee For Use of Town Hall.
• Chairman Dowling suggests we put it off for another week
Sue Kraabel brought up that during the Budget Committee Workshop, we learned that the School Districts amount of surplus money that can be retained is now 2.5%. The School District will now be able to write a warrant article that will only be for the amount over 2.5% as the School District has determined what they will be able to keep. Joan Karpf suggests watching the Selectboard Meeting minutes for upcoming plans by the School Committee.
Warrant Articles
• In order to put the $ amount that a warrant article will affect the tax rate on the warrant articles, it will require a warrant article. A motion to develop a warrant article for this was made by Joan Karpf and seconded by Dan Walker. Approved 5-0
Reasonable time limit for speakers
• Committee would not like to impose this
Discussion was had on the schedule of future meetings.
Jane Ikasalo inquired when discussions would begin on the budgets that have been presented to the Committee. Chairman Dowling said that they can begin at any time. A vote will not be made before the tax rate is set. Sue Kraabel asked if we were not going to vote on budgets before public hearing. Chairman Dowling said that we would vote at the Preliminary Non Binding Vote on 14th of November. It was determined to start discussions at the next Budget Committee meeting. The Selectboard has still not submitted their budget. Chairman Dowling will send a memo to them.
Discussion on Cemetery budget
• Submitted perfectly and everything that the Budget Committee asked for.
Chairman Dowling would like to wait to discuss further budgets.
Discussion on Chamber Budget
• Joan Karpf would not want to see the $1,000 for beautification be approved.
• The Budget committee discussed the $2,500 for fireworks and would not want to see that approved.
• Dan Walker suggests that this amount be written up as a warrant article.
• Chairman Dowling will send an email to Jim Covey.
Discussion on Police Department Budget
Joan Karpf would like to collect more information
• We need 5 year plan from Chief Trammel
• Chairman Dowling would like to see more detail on the Police Department Budget
Sue Kraabel stated that all Departments get monthly Budget Reports and the Department Heads sign off on all money paid from their budgets and should be able to balance their accounts.
Joan Karpf presented a profile of Town of Carroll with information pertaining to the town including median income, population, etc . Joan would like to have input from the Town’s people on their Budget for the upcoming year. Joan feels that when we are voting on the Budgets, we should consider some of the numbers on this profile.
Motion to adjourn was made by Joan Karpf, seconded by Sue Kraabel and Chairman Dowling adjourned the meeting at 9:13PM.
Minutes prepared by Jane Ikasalo September 28,2012