Select Board/Budget Advisory 12-11-08

Weathersfield Select Board Budget Advisory Committee Meeting December 11, 2008 Present:         Norman John Arrison Patricia Daniels Henry C. Cobb Others Present:    Larry Melen, Town Manager Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary Edith Stillson Darre Moore, Budget Committee Rolly Cann, Budget Committee 1.  Call to Order: Mr. Arrison called the joint meeting Weathersfield Select Board and Budget Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall. 2.  Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Workshop: Weathersfield Proctor Library Appropriation: Mr. Melen said the Library’s budget is down 10%.  He noted this is due in part to a paid septic payment.  Mr. Cann asked about the highway service of $1,000 and noted in the highway budget it was only for $500.   Mr. Melen said the highway budget is wrong and he will correct it.  The consensus of the Select Board was they are ok with the Library budget and there is no need to have Cheryl (Cox) come to a meeting to discuss it further. Solid Waste Management Fund: Mrs. Daniels asked if reducing the utility fee on the tax bill from $45 to $40 was the right thing to do.  Mr. Melen said he feels it is the right thing to do, as the transfer fund balance is where it should be.  Mr. Arrison noted that the workers comp premium increased last year and it looks like an increase again this year.  Mr. Melen said it is an experience pool so it’s not just our Town. General Fund: Mr. Cann said it looks like the big thing in the red is $123,000 level fund tax payment, Mr. Melen said as of today it is down to $74,000. Mr. Cobb asked how we can get this down more which led to discussion about what line items could be reduced without cutting services.  There was lengthy discussion on the general fund budget and ways to decrease expenses.  Mr. Melen said in order to have a flat budget we would have to cut services.  Mr. Cobb suggested looking at COLA, Mr. Melen said he is using the National average as the New England average is even higher.  Mr. Cobb said he would like to see the budget numbers if there wasn’t a COLA increase to see if we could have a flat budget since the COLA increase affects wages, FICA, social security etc.  Mr. Melen said that if we do not provide a COLA increase we would become unionized as every other Windsor County town is already unionized.  Mr. Melen said the Fire Commission budget is up 20%, Ascutney Fire is up 4% and West Weathersfield Fire is down.  Mr. Cann asked what the increases totaled.  Mr. Melen said the Fire Commission equaled about $1,500 and Ascutney Fire equaled about $6,000.  Mr. Cobb said he would like the Fire Commission and Ascutney Fire to try and decrease their budget.  Mr. Arrison noted that we have more police coverage but less police revenue.  Mr. Cobb made the motion to approve and direct the Chair of the Select Board to sign the Health Insurance Program notice to be sent to all insured employees dated December 11, 2008.  Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. 3.  Adjourn: Mrs. Daniels made the motion to adjourn.  Mr. Cobb seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.  The Weathersfield Select Board meeting with the Budget Advisory Committee was adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa A. Sargent Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 8, 2009 ______________________ Norman John Arrison ______________________ Patricia Daniels ______________________ Henry C. Cobb ______________________ Glenn Fisher _____________________ Daniel Boyer