Present: Daniel Boyer
Glenn Fisher
Norman John Arrison
Henry "Chip" Cobb
Dave Fuller

Others Present: Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Pat Daniels
Marilyn Houghton
Edith Stillson
Michael Todd
Bruce Cox
Cheryl Cox
Chief Brown
Wes Hazeltine
Ray Stapleton
Emory Morse
Joanne Morse
Darre Moore

1. Call to Order: Mr. Arrison called the joint meeting of the Select Board and Budget Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Budget Workshops:
General Fund: Mrs. Houghton said the Martin Memorial Hall Trustees would like to do away with the article that is on the Town Warning each year for building maintenance and put the money they would receive from the article being approved in with the General Fund budget. She said the article did not get approved last year and without it being approved there is not enough money for building maintenance. Mrs. Houghton said the Martin Hall will soon need a new hot water heater, new front steps, and a new roof among other repairs. Mr. Fuller asked if she had an estimate for this, Mrs. Houghton said no.
Mr. Melen said the article provides about $15,000. Mr. Fuller asked the balance at this time now; Mrs. Houghton said there is a negative balance.
Mr. Cobb said he feels a Trustee should speak at the Town Meeting to let the taxpayers know what the money is used for and that money is needed for maintenance and perhaps the article would pass. Mrs. Houghton said when the Martin's gave the Martin Hall to the Town it was under the condition that the Town maintain the property and if this isn't done it will go back to the estate. Mr. Melen noted we have always been in a reactive mode - not fixed the problem until the damage occurs and currently we are over budget.
It was discussed that the roof is approximately fifteen years old and we need to start reserving funds now. Mrs. Daniels said she doesn't think the townspeople realize the Select Board signed an agreement in 1962 to maintain the building.
The consensus of the Board was to put $15,000 in the general budget as a line item for building maintenance.

Mr. Melen noted we are working with a flat budget and also a recessionary budget as of tonight.
Mr. Arrison noted police fines were down so revenue is down. It was noted that the part timers are working less hours due to their other full time jobs and they are out at night time when there is less traffic.
Mr. Melen noted that the Catamount Health Care expense has been zeroed out all the way through because with the exemptions that they allow we do not have any employee's that qualify. He noted the Town Manager's benefit line item has gone from a single person to a family.
Mr. Stapleton asked when the computer repair/maintenance contract is looked at. Mr. Melen said it looked at each year. Mr. Stapleton said he has someone that may be interested in bidding on the service.
Mr. Melen said a big increase in the Town Clerk's office is due to the retirement line item for the Assistant Clerk, he said this is mandatory now - set by VMERS.
Mr. Melen said there is a big increase in the workers comp line item for Planning and Zoning because the class has been reevaluated. Mr. Cox said they are in the process of rewriting the Town Plan and as discussed previously, he would like to add money to the budget for public participation and for review and consultation from the Regional Planning Commission. After discussion the consensus of the Select Board was to add $2,000 to the budget to help with rewriting the Town Plan.
Mr. Melen said the budget reflects reducing the part time police officers line item by five hours and Martha's time by two hours. Mr. Fuller said he doesn't support reducing the hours for the part time officers - it was noted they are not working and have not been working an average of twenty hours a week for a long time now.
It was the consensus of the Board to reduce the Parks and Recreation line item to $1,300.

Highway: Mr. Melen said there are a couple grants that will be available soon - one for Class II paving and one for Local Structures so he hopes we qualify for 80% of the paving of Airport Road and also the bridge repair on Hidden Glen Road. Mr. Arrison asked what happens if we don't receive the grants. Mr. Melen said we wouldn't pave the Airport Road and the bridge repair would have to come from other funds. Mr. Melen said the applications are out now but we will not know before Town meeting if we receive the grants or not.
There was discussion on putting shur pac on Tenney Hill Road and Mr. Emory said the culvert area is a mess. Mr. Hazeltine said if they shur pac the road he will work on this area for him.
Mr. Cobb asked how much one less Highway Department employee helps the budget; Mr. Melen said the position was filled at the first of the year.
Mr. Melen said the proposal for long term debt is to replace the F150 police cruiser, a highway dump truck, the highway pick up (F550) truck and borrowing for paving. Mr. Cobb said he thinks paving borrowing is a good idea but doesn't feel the taxpayers will support this $500,000. After discussion Mr. Arrison recommended reducing the paving borrowing to $340,000, $100,000 for Tenney Hill Road and $240,000 for Weathersfield Center Road. Mr. Emory said he was told that Tenney Hill Road would be paved unless the town voted it down so he believes the Select Board should consider paving it instead of putting shur pac on it.
Mr. Fisher made the motion made the motion put an article on the Warning for $100,000 for paving Tenney Hill Road, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 - 1 with Mr. Fuller being the dissenting vote.
Mr. Fisher made the motion to put an article on the Warning for $240,000 for paving Weathersfield Center Road, Mr. Cobb seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 - 2 with Mr. Boyer and Mr. Fuller being the dissenting votes.

3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winter Proposal Contract: Mr. Boyer made the motion to have the Chief of Police and the Town Manager sign the contract for $18,076.80. Mr. Cobb seconded the motion which passed without dissent.

4. Proposed Highway Paving Borrowing: Discussed during highway budget.

5. Equalized Education Grand List for Fiscal Year 2011, Vermont Department of Education: Mr. Melen said the good news is our CLA is better so it will have a positive impact for us.

6. Proposed Warning for Annual Town Meeting: To be looked at next week - budget session on Wednesday night and the Warning needs to be signed on Thursday night.

7. Calendar Year 2010 Holiday Schedule: Mr. Melen said the Town will be closed on Monday as a floating holiday.

8. Executive Session for the purpose of considering the appointment of employment of a public official and for real estate: Mr. Fuller made the motion to go into executive session. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Select Board went into Executive Session at 9:50 p.m.

9. Adjourn: Mr. Cobb made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion which passed without dissent. The Weathersfield Select Board was adjourned at 10:24 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 21, 2010

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Norman John Arrison

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Glenn Fisher

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Dave Fuller

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Daniel Boyer

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Henry "Chip" Cobb