Present: Selectmen Casey, Ward, Grimes, Chairman Angley, T.A. LaFond, A.T.A. Bouchard. Also Present Finance Committee Members McCaig, Wood and Puskar.
Absent: O’Donnell.
Angley opened the hearing at 8:30 A.M.
Resident Paul Johnson requested a DVD of meetings be at the Library for viewing. Also would like a list of town owned vehicles along with gasoline amounts and repairs that town employees have use of. Angley advised him to submit his request in writing.
Police Department:
Police Chief Parker and Adm. Sergeant Miksch presented the budget. Only increase in the salary portion is contractual step increases. They anticipate article to fund the DARE Program. They will be discussing the DARE Program with the school department, and decide whether to seek funding. Parker stated they do not anticipate replacing the position of the student officer. This is to help bridge the budget deficit gap. Grimes questioned the officer who retired IOD. LaFond stated officer’s out on IOD the Town is reimbursed by the insurer for $400 weekly. However, since he was a student officer in the academy he was covered under the Worker’s Comp policy with MIIA. Resident Brian Lauzon questioned why it took so long for the Town to get confirmation on the June 12,
2006 retirement date. He stated he got this information from the Plymouth County Retirement Board. McCaig asked about the funding of the 6% increase settlement for the Police Union. He suggests putting $100,000 extra in the budget. They will be purchasing no new vehicles this year.
Board of Health:
Rob Tinkham presented his budget request which is level funded. He has put in a request with capital outlay for a new truck, as the present one is 10 years old. It will be paid from the SEMASS technical account, with no money from the Town. The new truck will be smaller and have better gas mileage. Testing of the five ponds in Carver was also discussed.
Fire Department:
Craig Weston and Eric Germaine presented their budget request. On salaries there was a slight increase on the dispatcher salaries to bring into line with the police dispatchers. They presently have 73 call fire fighters. In regards to the operating account there an added internet telephone charge. They hope to get a grant to take care of vehicle exhaust in the apparatus bay. LaFond asked how much has technology changed in the way of protective clothing in the past ten years. Germaine stated standards are constantly changing on equipment and apparatus. LaFond asked Weston how the LOSAP program was going, and Weston replied it is working. They have a wage and benefit committee that works well and are working on a point system with that program. McCaig asked
if they needed additional money for this year and Weston stated he e-mailed Peggy Wood and believes there may be a need for $5,000 in salaries. They are also installing 911 phones at all three stations with $3,500 received from IDFA to comply with state laws regarding the safe abandonment of an infant at any fire station.
Library
Carol Julius presented the Library’s level service budget. Besides the two librarians and herself there is only one 35 hour a week employee. All other staff is part time. The Library’s material budget is required to be 16% of the bottom line. They are required to be open 50 hours a week, and presently are open 52 hours.
O’Donnell arrived at 9:55 A.M.
Inspections Departments:
Mike Mendoza and Tom Emord presented their budgets and are level funded. Mendoza stated fees should be looked at every two years, and they try to come up with reasonable fees not to scare people away.
Emergency Medical Services:
Tom Walsh presented his budget. He will be requesting a new ambulance at this years ATM to replace the 1996 ambulance that has 116,000 miles. They have seen a 20% increase in call (1200 to 1300). Fifty percent of billing is Medicare and welfare and there is a 12% no collection rate.
Planning:
Planning Board member Alan Kingsbury presented a level service staffing request with a slight increase in expenses for professional memberships.
Town Clerk and Elections and Registrations:
Jean McGillicuddy presented a level service staffing request with a slight increase in expenses to possibly purchase new dog licensing software. The Elections salary line is down, but expenses are slightly up due to the number of elections.
Department of Public Works:
Bill Halunen presented his department’s level service budget that reflected only contractual step increases and no additional expenses. He gave an update on road work accomplished this year, with the majority being financed through Chapter 90 funds. He also gave a brief outline of spring work to be done which includes continuing the sidewalks from South Meadow Road up to the Town Hall. McCaig mentioned that department receipts have dropped $180,000 from ‘07 to ’09. Halunen stated depends on when we received the Chapter 90 funds. Snow removal has been high this year due to the five storms we have had. Halunen stated he had no capital requests.
Town Administrator/Selectmen:
LaFond stated budget is level services with only one step increase in salaries. No additional expenses are requested and no capital requests.
Town Accountant:
LaFond stated this budget is also level services this year with no capital requests.
Conservation Commission:
Sarah Hewins presented the Conservation Commission budget request. When questioned about the comments on page 3 of the request for increased hours for the office assistant, Hewins stated this is needed and that other departments have 19 hours of clerical support, and her office is allocated 12 hours, and there is a lot of work to be done. The Commission would like the Agent’s grade level changed from 6 to 9, however the budget request is level funded due to the financial outlook. Resident Brian Lauzon questioned what the ultimate end result would be if Agent placed at Grade 9 and if it is comparative to other towns. LaFond stated the Town’s Wage and Classification Plan was done in 1999 and has not been look at since then.
Building and Grounds:
Jean Bouchard presented the budget for FY09. Budget is level services on the salary line items with the exception of Clay Waterman’s wages that will be put in line with the maintenance/custodial pay scale in the union contract. There is a slight increase on the utility/heating expense items. Bouchard stated there are no capital purchases for the upcoming year.
Council on Aging:
Paul VonBurg presented the budget for FY09 which is level services. All programs and serves are going as expected. They have seen a decrease on on-site meals, but an increase on meals on wheels.
Assessors:
Ellen Blanchard and Karen Bell presented their level service budget request. They did express concern as they are coming into their busy time of year with Ellen time being taken up doing GPS duties for the Town.
Treasurer/Tax Collector:
Jack Franey presented his level services budget request. Franey stated that he would like the Assistant Tax Collector position be upgraded to Assistant Treasurer/Tax Collector in the future. Paula Nute has been of great help to him. Cash reconciliations are done up to September.
LaFond stated in the near future he will provide Selectmen with reasonable approach to getting the budget down to a balanced level. The additional assessment for the SBAA they would like to approach that through an article, and therefore see the budget increase at approximately 1.3%.
Motion by Grimes to adjourn, second by O’Donnell at 2:50 PM. Vote unanimous.
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