February 4, 2004, 6:30 P.M.
Corner Meeting House
Chairman Mitchell called the public hearing to order at 6:37 p.m. Also present were Committee members Ken Knowlton, Linda Frawley, Donna Cilley, Norma Patten, Mark Roberts, Ken Knowlton, John Scott and Selectman’s Rep. Reginald Caldwell. Others in attendance were Town Administrator Donald P. McLelland, Sr., Administrative Assistant Cary Lagace, Town Planner Candace Daigle, Land Use Tech. Rick Ball, Police Chief Vinnie Baiocchetti, Public Works Director Robert Bennett, Jeff Marden, Sue Roberts, David Morse, Albert Akerstrom, Karen Gilbert, Merlyn McLelland, Selectman Ward Peterson, Chairman Doralyn Harper and Brian Loanes.
Chairman Mitchell called the public hearing to order at 6:37 pm.
Ken Knowlton moved to accept the minutes of January 6, 2004 as written, Mark Roberts seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Linda Frawley for clarification asked that the record show her Nay votes from previous meetings be recognized by name. She read the following statement showing her previous Nay votes “November 11, 2003 Personnel Administration (budget items 01-4155-100 to 01-4155-324) Nay, November 18, 2003 Police Department (budget items 01-4210-101 to 01-4210-125) Nay, December 16, 2003 Capital Outlay Improvements Except Buildings (budget items 01-4909-001, 01-4909-002 & 01-4909-003) Nay.”
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Executive Office budget, David Morse asked why the Trustee of Trust Funds are compensated in a lump sum instead of cost reimbursement, TA McLelland explained that it has always been handled in this manner, Sue Roberts offered that the change in the way it is handled took place the same year that Cemetery Trustees was set up. David Morse indicated he felt it would be easier if it were a budgeted salary.
David Morse asked why there is a Vehicle Allowance line item and Vehicle Fuel line item; Town Administrator McLelland indicated that per his contract he gets an allowance as well as a set amount of fuel per month.
David Morse asked about the Registry of Deeds line item Jeanne Beaudin explained that on occasion deeds need to be recorded as well as Land Use change forms and releases, and it is different from the line item in Financial Administration as that line item is used for recording liens through the tax office.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Town Clerk budget, David Morse questioned the increase in the service contract line item, Town Administrator McLelland explained the new postage system that was implemented causing an increase in the contract fee, however, the new system has created big savings in certified mailings and also allows for online tracking of these mailings.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Election & Registration budget, Town Administrator McLelland explained that there are 4 elections this year causing the increase in this budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Financial Administration budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Property Taxation budget, discussion followed as to how the raise amount for the Assessor was set. Town Administrator McLelland explained that this is a midrange level according to the NHMA 2003 study given for her certification completion and is an effort to keep qualified employees with the Town. Donna Cilley commented that it may not even be competitive and the amount of money being saved by not contracting out these services is significant. Karen Gilbert felt that employees should be made to commit to the Town for a number of years, Town Administrator McLelland indicated if someone has a way that this can be done legally he would be willing to listen. Jeff Marden commented that he believed the Assessor should start at the bottom of the scale.
David Morse asked why there is a line item for Vehicle, Fuel & Repair in this budget, Town Administrator McLelland indicated there is a town owned vehicle that is shared between the Assessing and Land Use offices.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Legal & Judicial budget, David Morse asked what it covers, Town Administrator McLelland explained any legal expense not covered under other budgets.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Personnel Administration budget; there was discussion as to the increases in these line items with Town Administrator McLelland explaining some of the increases are due to the addition of personnel and the state mandated retirement system requiring increases in the Fire Department and Police Department.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Land Use budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the General Government Building budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Cemeteries budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Insurance not Allocated Elsewhere budget, David Morse asked what the line item for Insurance Contingency is for, Town Administrator McLelland explained the Town has a $1,000 deductible on insurance and if a claim is filed the deductibles are paid from this account.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Police Department budget, David Morse asked why the taxpayers are being expected to pay for a $120,000 increase, Chief Baiocchetti explained that additional personnel have been hired as well as an increase in pay for present personnel with the actual operating budget only up approximately $17,000.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Fire Department budget, David Morse asked why the salaries for the administration hadn’t been adjusted with the Fire Chiefs retirement, Chairman Mitchell explained that the positions didn’t go away and they still needed to be budgeted for as the positions will be filled. David also inquired why Holiday, Special Duty and Overtime pay line have increased, he was informed that there is an additional holiday this year and that the pay increases for personnel are taken into consideration when estimating the cost of the other two line items.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Winnisquam Fire Department budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Building Inspection budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Civil Defense budget explaining that the need may not be there every year and there is no way to know when it will be needed so it must be budgeted each year, there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Highway Administration budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Highway & Streets budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Street Lighting budget; Jeff Marden asked if additional lights will be added perhaps on Concord Street, Chairman Mitchell indicated that the budget did not have funds for additional lights.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Highway Block Grant budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Sanitation Solid Waste budget, David Morse expressed that he doesn’t want the Town to pay tipping fees for commercial accounts any longer and he is disappointed that the issue was not resolved by the Board of Selectmen, he was advised that the Board of Selectmen are continuing to evaluate this issue for action later this year.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Health Agencies budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the General Assistant Administration budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the General Assistant Vendor Payment budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Park & Recreation budget, there was discussion regarding the drainage and other projects that were done at the park last year and will continue with the improvements this year. Also discussed was the skate park and that there is a group of interested residents getting together to discuss the future of the skate park and the park in general on February 12th.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Town Beach budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Library budget, David Morse explained the new benefits line item was to separate benefit costs for more accurate bookkeeping.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Patriotic Purposes budget, Jeff Marden asked why if Belmont Appreciation Day wasn’t being held any longer why the line item is still budgeted, Town Administrator McLelland explained that the line item is still used to recognize employee and volunteer of the year and any other recognition awards that may be given each year.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Conservation Commission budget, David Morse asked who the third salary line in this budget was for, Candace Daigle indicated the third salary line item was for her with an hour per week of her salary being charged to the Conservation Commission.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Principle & Interest Debt budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Tan Anticipation budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Water Commission budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Sewer Commission budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Capital Outlay Equipment, Vehicles & Machinery budget, Brian Loanes asked what the line item for Safety Compliance was for, Town Administrator McLelland explained that it is for the Safety Committee that continues to work hard at keeping the Town in compliance with safety requirements, the committee has saved the Town a lot of money in fines by keeping the safety requirements up to date.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Capital Outlay Improvements Buildings budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Capital Outlay Improvements Except Buildings budget, there was discussion regarding the traffic island to be installed at the end of Concord Street with Town Administrator McLelland indicating that it was gross appropriated with the actual cost to the Town being $5,000 with the State paying the other $10,000 for the project. Jeff Marden asked if that was the same for the park and ride project, he was advised that the park and ride will not be a State project.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Capital Reserve budget, Jeff Marden asked what the criteria for replacing a cruiser is, Chief Baiocchetti indicated between 75,000 and 100,00 miles, which Jeff thought was relatively low. Chief Baiocchetti explained with the quick starts and stops as well as the idle time that amount of miles is actually about double on the vehicle.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Estimated Revenues, David Morse asked for an explanation of the overlay account, Jeanne Beaudin explained that it is used when abatements or refunds need to be issued, the state allows it to be as much as 5% of total tax to be put aside.
Sue Roberts wanted to thank the committee for their work and she also expressed her appreciation for the fine work the Town staff and employees are doing to work within the budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Sunray Shores water district budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell reviewed the Westview Meadows water district budget; there were no questions or comments regarding this budget.
Chairman Mitchell called the public hearing closed at 8:12 pm.
At this time the budget committee agreed to sign the MS-7 reports as well as the MS-37 reports for the water districts.
Chairman Mitchell thanked the committee for all their work and asked that they come to Town Meeting to support the budget.
Ken Knowlton moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m., Mark Roberts seconded; the motion passed unanimously.