Meeting Minutes
January 6, 2004, 6:30 P.M.
Corner Meeting House
Chairman Ron Mitchell called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. Also present were Committee members Donna Cilley, John Scott, David Landry, Norma Patten, Mark Roberts, Mike Blanchard, Selectman’s Rep. Reginald Caldwell, Linda Frawley (6:40), Gary Flack (6:40), Ken Ellis (7:20). Others in attendance were Town Administrator Donald P. McLelland, Sr., Administrative Assistant Cary Lagace, Pleasant Oberhausen, Dean & Ann Bennett, Jennifer Despres, William Brown, George Condodemetraky, Brian Loanes, Polly Berlin, Becky Witham and Geoffrey Cunningham.
Norma Patten moved to accept the minutes of the meeting on December 16, 2003 as written, David Landry seconded, the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes as written, R. Caldwell abstained.
Chairman Mitchell informed the committee that this is the last year for payment on the Village Sewer project, the Mill payments will be finished in 2008 and Public Works payments will be finished in 2009.
Norma Patten moved budget item 01-4711-001 to 01-4711-003, Mike Blanchard seconded.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept budget item 01-4711-001 to 01-4711-003 as presented.
Norma Patten moved budget items 01-4721-001 to 01-4721-003, Mike Blanchard seconded.
With no discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept budget items 01-4721-001 to 01-4721-003 as presented.
Mike Blanchard moved budget item 01-4324-440 Donna Cilley seconded.
Chairman Mitchell explained what happened at the Board of Selectmen meeting regarding the decision on the commercial tipping fee change. He indicated that the Board is going to review the policy currently in place and make changes, as they feel necessary. Linda Frawley asked about the ordinance for Town Meeting that had been discussed, Chairman Mitchell explained that due to the time frame the Budget Committee can’t do anything at this point, the Board of Selectmen will have to move forward with any changes.
Town Administrator McLelland explained that regardless of any action this year the money still needs to be gross appropriated and if changes did happen it would be on the revenue side to offset the gross appropriation.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was to accept budget item 01-4324-440 as presented, with one nay vote, Linda Frawley.
Pleasant Oberhausen gave a handout with a 5-year plan for a recycling center to the Budget Committee members.
Chairman Mitchell asked what the estimated savings will be, Pleasant Oberhausen indicated they can’t be certain until it is decided if the recycling program will be mandatory or voluntary. Chairman Mitchell felt it would have to be mandatory in order for there to be any savings.
Dean Bennett reviewed the proposal and the program for the site and indicated initially the program would not make money. John Scott asked about the market fluctuations, Mr. Bennett explained that other programs hold onto the product, watch the market and sell the product when the market increases.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the information given at the Board of Selectmen meeting regarding the Bestway proposal for their Route 140 facility that would offer the residents of the Town of Belmont free recycling. There was discussion as to whether or not residents would travel to the Route 140 site to do recycling.
Discussion followed regarding the purchase of land for the project, George Condodemetraky indicated that the Recycling Committee has a purchase and sales agreement on a 25-acre parcel on Route 106. Town Administrator McLelland expressed that the Committee doesn’t have authorization to sign such and agreement and any agreement would have to be approved and signed by the Board of Selectmen, George explained that the agreement is only good if the Warrant Article is approved at Town Meeting.
Town Administrator McLelland then asked if debt service expenses had been figured into the request for $275,000, as this would be approximately $34,000. George indicated it had not been figured on.
Chairman Mitchell expressed that if Bestway is going to put in a facility with no cost to the Town, that is the way to go. Recycling Committee members felt that residents won’t travel to Route 140 to recycle as the location on Route 106 will be more centrally located for all. Donna Cilley stated that if residents want to recycle they will travel to wherever the facility is located, and perhaps taking such a prime commercial site on Route 106 off the tax rolls of the Town isn’t such a good idea.
Town Administrator McLelland indicated that other sites had been looked at for the project at much less of an expense. He asked if the conceptual plans that were done are still good, it was indicated that they were and that was how the committee came up with a lot of its figures for the proposal being presented, Town Administrator McLelland passed the plan to the Budget Committee members for review.
Chairman Mitchell read the Warrant Article presented by the Recycling Committee to the Budget Committee “To see if the Town of Belmont will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $275,000 dollars for the purpose of purchasing a tract of land suitable for establishing a recycling facility, including environmental impact, site planning, engineering and preliminary site preparation and all other cost reasonably associated with the project and to authorize the issuance of bonds or note in said amount in accordance with provisions of the Municipal Finance Act, RSA Chapter 33 and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon and to take any other action or pass any vote relative thereto, provided that all income earned from temporary investments of said bond’s or notes shall not be expanded for the purpose of this article but shall be deposited in the Town’s general fund, further, to authorize the selectmen to apply for, accept and expend, without further action by the Town Meeting, any funds which may become available at any time for this project from the State, Federal or other Government unit or private source.”
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote for support of the Recycling Warrant Article; support of the article was defeated with Linda Frawley and Mike Blanchard voting to support and Gary Flack, Mark Roberts, David Landry, Ken Ellis, Donna Cilley, Norma Patten, John Scott and Reggie Caldwell voting not to support the article.
Linda Frawley moved the budget for Westview Meadows, Norma Patten seconded. Chairman Mitchell read the budget request amount, $10,800.00.
With no discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept the budget for Westview Meadows, as presented.
Sunray Shores Budget
Ken Ellis moved the budget for Sunray Shores, Norma Patten seconded. Chairman Mitchell read the budget request amount, $19,355.00.
With no discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept the budget for Sunray Shores, as presented.
Ken Ellis moved budget items 01-4331-101 to 01-4331-999, Norma Patten seconded.
Chairman Mitchell asked how things are going within the Water Department, Town Administrator McLelland explained the department has undergone rate adjustments based on an analysis of rates versus expenditures, a collection process was implemented, as well as investigations of a third well if the need should arise.
Linda Frawley inquired as to why benefits are listed in this budget when benefits for other departments are listed elsewhere in the budget and what the percentage of the population using water supply, Town Administrator McLelland indicated the Water and Sewer departments have to have benefits listed in their own budgets as they are separate entities from the Town and approximately 20-30% of the population uses the water supply.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept budget items 01-4331-101 to 01-4331-999 as presented.
Ken Ellis moved budget items 01-4321-101 to 01-4321-888, Norma Patten seconded.
Town Administrator McLelland explained that the sewer budget should work as an in and out account and the commission has been working on refining the operations to do just that. The commission reduced the rate, which leaves them short of covering their budget, but the approximate one million dollar surplus will be used over the next few years to make up the short fall. Gary Flack commented that if problems were to arise the surplus would be used up fast.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept budget items 01-4321-101 to 01-4321-888 as presented.
Ken Ellis moved budget items 01-4520-110 to 01-4520-719, Norma Patten seconded.
Town Administrator McLelland reviewed the work that had been done at the park this past year, including the drainage repair in the basketball/tennis area, bathroom repairs and the upkeep of the landscaping. It is felt that the skate park will continue to be a problem and may need to be closed, however, it will be monitored this coming year. Brian Loanes commented if the skate park were to be closed he felt the kids would just go elsewhere, perhaps to other areas of the community that may be worse.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was unanimous to accept budget items 01-4721-001 to 01-4721-003 as presented.
Ken Ellis moved budget item 01-4152-101 to be amended to $47,306.00, Linda Frawley seconded.
Town Administrator McLelland explained that Jeanne has recently acquired her New Hampshire Certified Assessors status making her a huge asset the Town of Belmont with the pay increase bringing her salary inline with what other communities are paying their assessors based on the NHMA study.
Linda Frawley asked if this is a change in grade because of reassignment or merit, Town Administrator McLelland indicated that with the certification she can now certify her own work and will be reflected in her job description, she is receiving calls from other communities and in order not to lose her, her compensation needs to reflect her achievement. Linda Frawley restated is it for merit or reassignment; Town Administrator McLelland explained it is for individual achievement compensation.
With no further discussion, Chairman Mitchell called for a vote; the vote was to accept budget item 01-4152-101 as amended, with one nay vote, Linda Frawley.
The committee will hold their Public Hearing on the Budget, Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. at Corner Meeting House.
Mike Blanchard motioned to adjourn; Linda Frawley seconded the motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m