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Minutes of 10/10/2007

October 10th, 2007

Carroll Budget Committee
Minutes of October 10, 2007

Members present: Tom Gately, Ben Jellison, Karen Moran, Carmine Fabrizio, Bonnie Moroney
Members excused: Lori Hogan, Ken Mills Members of the public present: Claire Gritzer.
� Chair called the meeting to order at 7:07
� Bonnie motioned to accept the minutes of 9//19/2007, Ben seconded, all in favor. Tom abstained, as he was not at the 9/19/07 meeting.
� The PUBLIC HEARING originally scheduled for 12/19/07 was discussed. Tom motioned to move the hearing to JANUARY 9, 2008 at 7:00 to allow all petitioned warrant articles, due January 8, 2008, to be submitted. Karen seconded the motion, all in favor. Karen will ask Sue K at the town hall to put notice in the Democrat, approximately 2 weeks prior to hearing.
� Ben moved to accept the reduced Budget Committee line item expense budget for 2008, from $401 to $301. Bonnie seconded, all in favor.
Regarding the proposed Select Board Budget for 2008, Bonnie summarized as follows:
1. Select Board salaries were increased by $100 each, Treasurer increased 5%, Town Clerk increase was higher than 5% as she is taking on more responsibility with the assessments, etc. The Deputy Town Clerk is anticipated to work 4 days per week.
2. The Supervisors of the Checklist/Town Elections section was discussed, but has not been finalized by the Select Board. Bonnie noted that she regretfully accepted a verbal resignation as a Supervisor of the Checklist from Pat Martin. Discussion ensued about the increase in number of elections for 2008.Ben inquired who the Supervisor-Elections were. Bonnie noted they are the three women who are at the elections. Ben noted the salary line expense for the year has not had activity, Bonnie thought they were paid at year end, but will double check.
3. Bonnie wondered if she should go through every line and department, or just what the Select Board proposed. She noted for the most part the departmental requests were approved.
4. Karen asked how the Personnel Administration section was calculated. Bonnie noted Sue had calculated all payroll taxes based on the proposed salaries. The insurance costs were estimated, as the official cost letter has not yet been received.
5. Tom wondered if it would be prudent to put funds into a new line item for a part-time town hall person, given the staffing shortage this year with the assistant�s injury. Bonnie noted that Jen Hancock has filled some of the work load. Ben noted that there is a $10,000 figure in the Contingency account (#4199.10-100)
6. Ben inquired of the new section on page 4 and Bonnie noted it represents the Chamber of Commerce. Total approved was $18,000, but because of the manner in which it was requested, the specific line items to which the total was allocated was the Select Board�s best estimate.
7. Claire Gritzer requested to speak, and wondered how the new Travel account of $1,750 was determined. Ben noted that the Training 4150.10-805 and 4150.10-809 when summed, amount to $3,500. Karen noted that the 50/50 split for training, then mileage seemed odd. It was agreed to review the split.
8. The assessment cost was reduced from $80,000 to $60,000 to cover anticipated expenses of a rolling revaluation (approximately 25% per year) plus the ancillary costs of reviewing new developments, etc.
9. Legal was left at $25,000 in anticipation of discussions with the AMC among others.
10. Tom asked about the Planning Board secretary increase. Discussion ensued whether the Financial Admin salary line item, plus the Planning Board secretary plus the Zoning Board salary increase was the total intended for this position. The three salary lines sum to $34,300. Advertising, postage, and engineering lines in the Planning Board are offset with revenues.
11. General Buildings section has Contract Labor as a new line, to cover the cost of outside contractors. Electricity is slightly lower based on consumption, despite anticipated 2% rate increase. Heating fuel is higher, town does have a contract with Stiles, now have to cover the stand alone pd as well. Discussion took place regarding the Heating Plant Maintenance-Tom suggested the proposal is far too low, Ben noted there is a contingency of $10,000. Karen suggested we ask Billy Rines what the status of the heating units are and get an understanding from him. Maintenance in the Rec area is required installation of �cleanable� walls in the restrooms. Rentals and Leases is a new account to be used for the Police Station rental. In 2006, the rent was posted to the Miscellaneous account, which is why the actual for 2006 is so much higher than the budgeted amount.
12. Cemetery total budget is the same, but the Salary amount was moved to Maintenance, as there is not a town-specific employee to repair the stones, mow the grass, etc. Bonnie noted that work has begun on stone repair, and they approved the purchase and installation of a gate from the 2007 budget.
13. Sue approximated the Town Insurance section, as the specific rates, etc have not been received yet.
14. Bonnie noted the Contingency is increased from $1,000 to $10,000; Hydrant fees were not reinstated, dog costs stayed the same
15. The Police section contained primarily 5% raises. Overtime and Details are higher, but the Chief anticipates corresponding revenue to offset. Tom was interested in more detail of anticipated revenue. Bonnie noted there may be bond proceeds if work is done with the State Police. Phone cost is higher as they are no longer sharing a service with the Fire Dept. Gas was estimated at $3 per gallon. Accurint is a Lexus-Nexus database used in investigations. Clothing is the cost to outfit a new officer. Ammunition may take almost one year to acquire, due to the war.
16. Fire Chief salary now commensurate with actual pay. Ben clarified that the town had approved both a fire chief and full time firefighter, so designation between chief and full-time person not actually new.
17. Lori Hogan arrived at the meeting at 7:40
18. EMT salaries were increased to $10 per hour. The inoculations will begin in earnest in 2008 for all town employees. The Defibrilator maintenance is higher as the batteries need replacement. Radio repair is the purchase/upgrade of radios for people in �void� or dead space. Travel reimbursement is higher as the Chief has traveled frequently with no reimbursement. The clothing line is intended to purchase some �dress� shirts so the department can attend ceremonies as necessary (such as Corporal McKay�s funeral).
19. The Property Inspector, Stan Borkowski will receive $17.50 per hour
20. The Emergency Management increase is due to a $500 request to create an �emergency center�. Bonnie noted that the Select Board is discussing a possible warrant article to purchase a generator and fit the electrical system, so the Town Hall can be used as an emergency shelter.
21. Ben inquired if the budgets the department heads will present to the Budget Committee will be theirs or the Select Boards. After discussion, it was noted the department heads present their own budgets.
22. Regarding the Highway department, Karen wondered what road would be repaved for $60,000. Bonnie noted that Billy and the contractor who paved Fieldstone Lane are reviewing the town roads to get an outside opinion of what should be done to what road. The request for $8,000 for radios was reduced by the Select Board to $7,000. Much discussion ensued regarding the cost of radios for a three man crew. Concluded that the Committee will ask Billy the specifics when he comes to the Budget Committee.
23. Claire Gritzer then inquired about the wiring etc that would have to be done if a generator was connected to the town hall. Bonnie noted a request for proposal was made, and one contractor responded with a bid of $15,000. That may be the warrant article. Bonnie then noted there may be a possible donor to offset a portion of the cost.
24. Regarding the bridge repair line item in the highway section, Bonnie noted that the state considers some culverts as bridges, and given the Old Town Rd issues that arose in 2007, thought it prudent to leave the line item. The Street Sweeper line item was instituted as it was determined to be far more cost effective to hire a sweeper contractor than to purchase a street sweeper and have a town employee run it. The $15,000 sidewalk repair line item remains. Karen asked what was intended, Bonnie noted that Billy intends to use the 2007 budget, although weather is looming.
25. Street Lighting increased by 2%
26. Solid Waste reflects the 5% salary increase. The second helper is anticipated in case the Bretton Woods Resort begins to recycle. That was anticipated in 2007 but did not materialize. Tipping fee rates are increasing. Karen asked what was purchased in 2007, and significant items such as the scale, bobcat sweeper, mower, and trailers were purchased.
27. The Health Officer budget increased by $75, but the Select Board further increase it by $1,200 to show a monthly stipend of $100. Dr. Karpf had not requested a salary.
28. Parks and Recreation also have the 5% salary increase for counselors, and two new accounts. Transportation and Lifeguard Training, both of which request $2,000. Discussion took place regarding the Transportation. Lori noted they would like to buy a used van to use daily in the �adventure camp� Tom wondered about the qualified driver, Lori said it is not considered a bus, so not necessary. Karen asked if there had been an estimate of the insurance cost for the vehicle, and was told no.
29. The Librarian salary increased 5%, other line items basically unchanged.
30. Patriotic purposes and Conservation Commission had no changes, and the Bond payment for the Recycling Center is based on the amortization schedule.
31. Water Dept costs overall budgeted increase of $37,750 or 41% over the prior year. The majority of the increase is in salaries, Contract Labor-Expansion which is a new account , Water Expansion, Water Expansion Piping, Water Expansion Testing, and Miscellaneous. The operating costs is budgeted at $129,551. Inclusion of the Water bond, $45,810 sums the overall water budget expenses to $175,361. Karen asked if Becki is the clerical person, Bonnie said yes. Ben asked about the Telephone increase, and discussion ensued about what phones and computers are where and if the Highway budget has same or different hardware and services budgeted. It was determined that we should ask Billy. Bonnie noted that the Chemicals account, listed at $10,000 should actually be $12,500-even though expenses to date are $3,515 because of the use of ash. Karen asked what the anticipated expansion for 2008 was, and Bonnie thought it was the last undersized main on School St. Karen then asked if the Select Board had projected the revenue for the water system which caused such confusion just a couple of months ago. Bonnie said they had not. Karen suggested that the rates in lieu of the significant increase in expenses have to be reviewed.
32. Ben asked if the departments were asked to provide revenue projections along with their expense projections and was told yes. Select Board sets the water rates, which is the only department with a revenue source controlled in that manner. Police had projected revenues with accounts, Fire had revenues to date but without the associated account number.

The Budget Worksheet of Expenses and Revenues to date (actuals for 2007) were reviewed briefly. Ben noted it had only been a couple of weeks since the prior meeting. A general review showed most departments within a reasonable percentage left, except Water.

Tom reviewed the Interim Trial Balance generally, Karen noted in the September meeting we had gone over the BMSI manner of reporting net income.

The only outgoing correspondence was the Budget Committee document to the Select Board for our requested 2008 line item expenses.

At 8:25, there being no further business, Ben motioned to adjourn, Lori seconded, all in favor. The next meeting will be held at 7:00 on Wednesday October 17, 2007.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Moran, Secretary