Present:

Daniel Boyer
C. Peter Cole
Henry C. Cobb
Norman John Arrison
Patricia Daniels

Others Present:

Larry Melen, Town Manager
Lisa Sargent, Recording Secretary
Rolly Cann, Budget Committee
Graham C. Hunter II
Susan W. Hunter
Westley Hazeltine, Road Superintendent
Ray Stapleton, WWVFD Fire Chief
Peter M. Daniels
Mary Danko
DeForest Bearse, Land Use Administrator
Cheryl Cox
Ernie Shand

1. Call to Order: Mr. Cobb called the Budget Workshop to order at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall.

2. Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Sign Grant Agreement: Mr. Boyer made the motion to have the Town Manager sign the grant agreement between the Town of Weathersfield and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs and authorize him to draw down the funds. Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion, which passed without dissent.

3. Flexible Benefit Plan, Sign Amended Plan Resolution: Mr. Cole made the motion to sign the amendment for the Section 125 plan. Mr. Arrison seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

4. Budget Workshop
A. Proctor Library

1. Annual Appropriation: Mr. Shand said the budget they are working shows a 5% increase from last year. He noted the library has seen increased circulation and patronage. Mr. Shand said last year the furnace had to have work done to it in order for it to meet fire marshal codes and an alarm system is still in the works. He said once the new septic system is in they can look at the expansion.

Ms. Danko said Vermont libraries are supposed to buy so many books by State standards so new books are being purchased to bring us in line with their requirements.

2. Article for Wastewater Disposal System Borrowing: Mr. Arrison asked Mr. Shand to summarize where the sewer system is now. Mr. Shand said he is not sure where or what the system is now but there is a tank under the driveway of the Ascutney House. Mr. Arrison asked what happens if the vote to install a new wastewater disposal system doesn’t pass, Ms. Danko said we would have to get a porta potty. Mr. Arrison said that Otter Creek numbers looked high to him. Mr. Shand said he would rather go with a safe number. Mr. Melen noted the borrowing would be done after the construction is done so if the estimate is high we do not have to borrow that amount.

3. Article for Appropriation to Capital Development Plan: It was noted this is the same as last year, $5,000.

Mrs. Hunter said the Friends Group is trying to get 501C status at this time and reminded everyone that the Town owns the Library building.

B. Land Use Department, Annual Budget: Mr. Melen said the Land Use Administrator position is for 26 hours and he is asking for the hours to be increased to 30. Bottom line increase for this department is 35.72% as of now. Mr. Melen said a large part of the increase is Mrs. Bearse would qualify for health insurance benefits at 30 hours even though she would opt out of coverage.

Mrs. Bearse said she averages 29 hours now and there are things that need to be done that she can not get to like conversion of records in the vault. She said there are ten years of records that do not have a parcel id number on them now. She said violations take a lot of hours and there is a lot in the holding pen right now. Mrs. Daniels said we have come so far, we should allow the extra hours. Mr. Boyer agreed.

Mr. Hunter said the previous zoning administrator had an assistant and their combined hours were greater than 30. He said that this year we have been rewriting the by-laws so that time should go away but enforcement work will take up that time. He said as the Chair of the Zoning Board he strongly advocates the increase of hours.

Mr. Peter Daniels said he is not sure that when the by-law project is finished it will allow Mrs. Bearse any more time as there will be more to do with maps etc but he agrees she should be allowed more time as there are a lot of subdivisions, site plan reviews and violations.

Mrs. Bearse noted we would be receiving the grant for the interstate corridor so that will need to be managed too.

Mr. Cobb asked if enough funds were programmed for legal fees. Mr. Melen said we’ve spent more this year than we usually spend just on one case. Mr. Cobb asked Mrs. Bearse and Mr. Melen to look at the legal fee amount and adjust it if needed.

C. Highway Fund: Mr. Melen said that workers comp and insurance numbers have been adjusted since we looked at this. Mr. Arrison said he spoke with Mr. Melen and Mr. Hazeltine about the $70,000 in Montpelier and suggested talking to paving companies to see what we are looking at for cost. Mr. Melen said he has a call into Senator Leahy’s staff. The Board agreed we should be persistent in trying to obtain these funds.

D. General Fund: Mr. Stapleton said he went through the budget for WWVFD and expenses came to $25,000. He noted the Homeland Security grants have pretty much run out. He mentioned they spent $20,000 towards the new fire truck, $26,000 for a new roof and $19,600 on equipment last year.

Mr. Arrison asked the percent of revenue received for accidents. Mr. Stapleton said they do not have much luck collecting, they billed for six accidents and received money for two.

Mr. Cobb asked if the Fire Commission had seen the budgets, Mr. Boyer said they have looked at them. Mr. Arrison said he hadn’t seen either department’s budget.

Mr. Cobb said that we need to set goals and objectives with the fire departments this year. Mrs. Daniels said she would like to see something in writing that tells you if you have injuries what you do etc. Also who does what when it comes to grants for dry hydrants.

Mr. Melen said there is $3,000 in Pathogen Prevention again this year and wondered if that was needed. It was the consensus of the Board that the Fire Commission should discuss this and decide if any is needed and if so how much.

Mr. Arrison questioned if the Police Department revenue would go down with just one part time officer. Mr. Melen said we’re half way through the year and half way to our projection with just one officer for most of this time.

Mr. Cobb asked what Select Board other expense was for; Mr. Melen said for mileage, training etc.

Mr. Arrison asked what computer support was; Mr. Melen said Competitive Computers for maintenance and problems. He noted we pay extra for emergency help.

Mr. Arrison asked what crime insurance covered; Mr. Melen said crimes against us.

Mr. Melen said the Town Treasurer is asking for an increase in hours for the Assistant Treasurer, 10 to 13 hours. Mr. Arrison asked if that was justified with an accountant on board. Mr. Melen said the Accountant does not do bank accounts, he noted he has 1.5 finance positions on his staff and no control over the Treasurer’s office. Mr. Cobb asked to have them come in and explain the reasons for an increase in hours.

Mrs. Daniels asked if this would qualify him for insurance. Mr. Melen said not for health and dental but for STD, LTD, AD&D and life.

Mr. Melen said he increased the annual audit because we go out to bid again.

Mr. Arrison asked why the Lister hours were up. Mr. Melen said they said they need the extra hours to help with the appraisal. It was the consensus of the Board to ask the Listers to come to a meeting to discuss this.

Mr. Melen said there is an increase in the police equipment & supplies to replace a radar and purchase an AED. He said there is also an increase in vehicle repairs and supplies since the vehicles are getting older.

Mr. Melen mentioned this is the last year of the Golden Cross Ambulance contract.

Mr. Cobb asked if Mr. Grover was still a Fire Warden. Mr. Melen said yes, we don’t appoint fire wardens and they are a five-year appointment. It was discussed that Mr. Boyer will call Mr. Grover and see how he is doing since we haven’t heard from him in a while.

Mrs. Daniels asked if the George D. Aiken RC&D was an article, Mr. Melen said no, we got the request.

Mr. Arrison questioned $150 for Green Up Vermont; Mr. Melen said it goes to the State.

Mr. Melen said as of now the bottom line is up 9.88% and he would like to cut that in half. Mr. Cobb asked Mr. Melen to look at the bottom line and give some recommendations.

5. Adjourn: Mr. Arrison made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Boyer seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. The Select Board/Budget Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:48 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa Sargent

Approved by the Weathersfield Select Board on January 25, 2007

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Henry C. Cobb

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Daniel Boyer

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Norman John Arrison

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Patricia Daniels