NEWBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 9, 2009 MEETING
Selectmen: Jim Powell, Richard Wright and Gary Budd .
Town Personnel: Dennis Pavlicek, Town Administrator; Donna Long, Administrative Assistant; Hank Thomas, Fire Chief; Cal Prussman, Highway Administrator
Public: Linda Powell, Dan Wolf, Bruce and Cheron Barton, Mary and Dave Thayer, Mary and Al Bachelder, Josh Perkins, Liz Tentarelli, Diana and Bob Morris, Sylvia Johnson, Bruce and Judy Healey.
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT: Bob Morris asked the Board where they envision the veteran memorial to be placed. Wright said that he thought the area on the side of the veterans hall would be a good location The Board told Morris that they are in full support of the project
APPOINTMENTS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Pavlicek read a letter from TRM describing the services that they offer in regard to improving cellular signals in the Newbury area. Powell told Pavlicek to find out more about the company.
Pavlicek discussed the renewal papers for the health officer and deputy health officer nominations. The board voted to keep Wayne Whitford as the health officer and Dennis Pavlicek as the deputy health officer.
Pavlicek went over paperwork submitted from the Division of Family Assistance and Town from the Department of Health and Human Services for interim assistance for a Newbury resident. Powell would like Bostic to explain this process to the Board.
The Board signed the town ordinances that were outlined by Chief Lee at the January 26th meeting.
Pavlicek read a letter from the Community Alliance of Human Services requesting $500. Pavlicek responded to the letter indicating that the request was placed too late, and that another request could be made next year prior to the budget committee meetings.
Pavlicek read a letter from the South Newbury Union Church requesting the use of the town office on Sunday, April 5th from 2-4 for a children’s Easter egg hunt. The Board approved the request.
Long showed the Board the new welcome folders and the final version of the annual town report cover.
Pavlicek read a letter from Gloria Whelan representing the Center Meeting House Committee looking to share the costs of a tent for the Old Home Day Celebration. Her request was to split the cost of the tent and to have the dinner at the mountain versus at the town office. The board thought it was important to keep all festivities here at the town office area and declined her request.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2009 BUDGET: The Public Hearing convened at 7:00 p.m. Selectman Powell opened the hearing by reading the posted notice. Powell went through each budget for each town department. He stated that the bottom line is down $2,993 from last year, which totals down 0.1%.
Powell said that the Executive Budget is up due to salary and benefits. It includes a COLA and merit increase as well as postage, printer and computer costs.
Election costs are down this year due to the fact that last year was a presidential election year.
Financial Administration is less than 1% higher. This again is due to salary and benefit increases for the financial administrator, tax collector, deputy clerk, treasurer, town assessor, assessing clerk, and deputy assessor.
Legal expenses have been reduced from last year.
Employee Benefits covers unreimbursed medical assistance for ambulance service, drug testing for employees, awards to people that go above an beyond the call of duty.
Planning Board is down due to the master plan being completed.
Zoning Board is down due to less work coming to the board.
General Government Buildings is up due mostly to the fuel and electricity increase. Diana Morris asked if the town charges rent for the use of the town office facilities. Powell answered, ‘not at this time’. Mary Bachelder asked what the status of the buildings in South Newbury were. Powell said that the money used toward the maintenance of these buildings is for normal maintenance such as painting and lawn maintenance.
The Cemetery budget is down from last year. Most of this expense goes toward lawn mowing.
Insurance and other General Government were outlined briefly.
Police Department is up $11,000 from last year. Powell explained that it is because we are currently in the last year of the leasing program for one of the police vehicles. Josh Perkins asked why there was a need for four police vehicles. Powell responded that the Newbury Police Department has had four vehicles for several years. Wolf asked if the police budget would go down next year and Powell said yes. Powell announced that most of the police radios have been upgraded as well. Perkins asked how often we have more than two officers on duty at the same time. Powell said that we occasionally have more than two and that the department has had four vehicles for quite a while.
Fire Department is up $19,000 (about 14%) mostly due to a heart monitor defilibrator and then the rescue tools from the grant. A back up power pack is needed in case of failure. Perkins asked why this item was not listed as a warrant article. Powell said that the Board felt that it was important enough to include in the original operating budget. Wolf asked what constitutes the numbers going in the budget vs. put in a warrant article? Wright said that the Board listens to the recommendations of the department heads and each case is treated
individually. There can’t be a policy that fits every situation. Powell said that each line item is listed in consistency with the need, importance and priority of the item. Wolf said that he thinks there should be more consistency for warrant articles. Perkins agreed with Wolf stating that all major purchases should be placed as warrant articles so that there is a purpose to town meeting.
Forest Fire budget is up slightly.
Code Enforcement is up slightly due to increase in salary and FICA. Bob Morris asked if there is a penalty for signs not in accordance with the zoning ordinances. Powell answered that there is a fee of $275 per day if not in compliance.
Emergency Management budge is down from last year.
Highway is up slightly from last year. Cal Prussman said that the biggest increase is the tires for the grader and salt. There has been a decrease in monies to be put toward dust control, and guard rails. Bruce Barton said that he thinks the road conditions are better than last year. Prussman reported that the department has been pre-treating the roads. Bob Morris asked if this cuts down on the use of sand, and Prussman said yes. Powell said that the new pre treatment is more environmentally friendly than salt.
The Transfer Station budget is down 2% mostly because there is an increase in recycling. Also, demolition costs are down due to less new houses being built.
Health Agencies is flat and covers CAP, ambulance service, visiting nurses association and the Kearsarge Area Preschool.
The Welfare budget is up slightly due to the amount of support needed to Newbury families.
The Information Booth is up $124.
Parks and Recreation is up $5,000. This is due to salary increases and the town share of FICA and Medicare. Someone asked about the cost of the Old Home Day fireworks and Powell answered $11,000 in which will be asked for through donations by area businesses.
Library is up $1,000 due to salary and FICA benefits. Tetranelli said that there is a need to increase the hours of the part timers at the library.
The Blodgett Sewer budget is down from last year due to the interest on the bonds. The bond principal has gone down.
Safety Communications has gone down.
Powell restated that the overall budget has come down $2,993 from last year. Tetranelli thanked the Select Board for keeping the budget down.
Powell then went over the money warrant articles.
Regarding warrant articles #4 and #5 are for the capital reserve fund. Warrant Article #6 is to spend $148,000 to extend the parking lot behind the town office, pave a portion of Fishersfield Road and conduct further studies for the town center properties. Warrant Article #7 is to raise and appropriate the sum of $146,537 to purchase a new one ton truck. Article #9 is for $3,000 to replace fencing at the cemetery.
Powell thanked everyone for coming to the budget hearing. The public hearing ended at 9:10 p.m.
After the hearing, the selectmen discussed the input from the public and signed the warrant.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Week ending February 7, 2009 were approved and signed.
ABATEMENTS/REFUNDS/EXEMPTIONS: None
INTENT TO CUT: None
BUFFER ZONE CUT: None
SIGN PERMIT APPLICATION: None
MINUTES: The minutes from the January 12, 2009 and January 26, 2009 were approved
and signed.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 9:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, February 2 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.
______________________ _____________________ _______________________
James M. Powell Richard Wright Gary Budd
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