Town of Atkinson

Budget Committee Meeting Minutes

December 29, 2009

Jim called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. The Board reviewed the December 15, 2009 minutes.

The Board began the process of finalizing the remaining budgets.

Clerical - 41304 – Bill informed the Board that a final decision on the position had not been made, and that one may not be made for a while. He also stated that the Selectmen are looking at the overall department as a whole (planning, building inspectors). The Board determined that they would set this part of the Budget at $50,000, but keep the health insurance and retirement lines open at $1 each.

Tax Collector – 41504

Computers – 41506 – Todd Barbera, Chairmen of the Technology Committee provided the Board with a 3 year IT plan which included a service contract, computer upgrades, maintenance & support as well as all the software license agreements for the Town. He informed the Board that there was $7,444 of license agreements contained in other budgets which he has centralized in his (Town Clerk & Fire). He informed the Board that Town Hall currently has 4 servers which will be consolidated to 2, maybe 1. Plus there will be a consistent offsite back-up protocol in place. Todd stated that as part of the inventory, his Board had identified 12 computers that were over 6 years old and that should be replaced. The Board asked if all of those computers are being utilized. He was unsure and will get back to the Board. The Board adjusted the new PC purchase from 12 to 6 for 2010.

The Board adjusted the Town Clerk budget to remove $4,242 for a license agreement included in the Computer budget.

Ted Stewart, Highway, informed the Board that the amount included in the 2009 budget for Crack Sealing had been encumbered and will be spent in 2010 which will cause there to be an overrun in that line in 2010. No adjustment to the 2010 budget is required.

Recycling – 43234 – Bill informed the Board that a final decision to close the brush dump to 2 months had not been made. Ted Stewart was in attendance and stated he would go along with the wishes of the Selectmen. The Board removed $1,551 from the budget.

Police – 4210X – Dave had made the adjustments made in the previous weeks. Valerie presented the Board with information from surrounding communities with similar population. She pointed out the Kingston’s police budget is significantly less than Atkinson’s. The information was from 2008 and in summary form. Valerie will get more detailed information which will enable a better comparison. The Board will finalize the budget tonight, but it can be re-addressed.

Fire – 4220X – The Board removed $3,000 from the equipment line for the license agreement now included in the Computer budget per Todd Barbera. The Board also removed $5,750 for the Haz/Mat district membership. Chief Murphy mentioned that this could be an area of savings.

Library – 45501 – Diane Heer, Librarian, informed the Board that based on the new gas contract that the heat line could be reduced to $17,500. Jim informed Diane that the Trustees had informed the Board, the Selectmen and the Public that the new library would not require addition staffing and in these times, expanding services is difficult. The Board decided to level fund the Library Aide line and corresponding FICA and Medi.

Next week’s meeting will be in the Planning office and the objective will be to set the revenue side of the budget, re-address any items in the budget and begin the MS-07 process.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM.

Respectively submitted,

kjb