Town of Atkinson

Budget Committee Meeting Minutes

December 12, 2006

Attending: Mark Acciard - Chairman, Jim Blackadar – Vice Chairman, Dave Paquette, Brian Boyle, and Paul Sullivan ex officio.

 

Mark called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM. The board reviewed the minutes from the December 5, 2006 meeting.

Fred Childs presented the General Government Buildings Budget.

Department Description Liaison

4194 General Government Buildings Mark Acciard

The proposed budget is $151,499, which represents a $62,372 (69.98%) increase over the 2006 budget. Fred highlighted the following changes:

All salary and salary related lines are up due to the 3% COLA.

The increase in the Kimball House is for a new roof ($17,600)

The increase in General Maintenance is for a new roof ($21,000) on Town Hall and a well ($30,000) for the heat pump. Fred stated that the back half of the roof continues to leak. Also, if the warrant article passes for the addition, the roof of both the old and new section would match. Fred stated that a 1,500-foot well would provide the continuous pressure and water at the right temperature to optimize the current heat pump system. The town has gone through 2 pumps recently due to problems with the pond.

 

The Board asked Fred to look into the recent well at the Atkinson Academy to see if that could suit the systems needs, and to see if a joint effort could be worked out between the Town and the School District.

Dave provided a copy of the Library’s revised budget to account for the 53^rd week. The new total is $310,953.

The Board began reviewing the draft Warrant Articles. Selectmen Fred Childs provided the Board complete copies. The following highlights the discussions on the Warrant Articles:

Library Bond - $2,724,000 (Gross Budget). Bond amount will be $1,734,000 and the remaining $890,000 will be from the Library Capital Reserve Fund. Requires 3/5 ballot vote.

Library Capital Reserve - $200,000 – If the Library Bond passes this article is void.

Fire Department Capital Reserve - $50,000

Recreation Capital Reserve - $25,000

Mosquito Control Expendable Trust Fund - $27,555 – This amount is to bring the total of the fund back to $48,000.

Fire Department Exhaust Ventilator - $25,000 – Paul S. will discuss this with Chief Murphy to determine its purpose.

Copier Purchase - $10,000

Road Paving & Reclamation - $106,386 ½ of Walker Road and $52,820 for Wood Drive. This Warrant Article is for the reclamation of the roads only. The binder to complete each road is contained in the Highway’s operating budget, and the top coat for both roads is proposed to be done in 2008. The Board discussed the possibility of combining the total costs of 1 road in the Warrant Article and removing the costs associated with the Warrant Article from the operating budget.

Cable TV - $45,952

Cable Studio & Town Hall Expansion - $658,599 – This Warrant Article will be funded by $290,000 from the ACT Capital Reserve Fund, $30,000 for Franchise Fees, and $338,599 from the undesignated fund. The Board has requested additional clarification on the Warrant Article from Town Counsel. Paul S. will research.

Wheelchair Van - $47,000 - $20,000 will be funded by donations and the balance of $27,000 will be a 4 year lease. Chief Consentino attended the meeting at this time and provided the following additional comments:

The cost of a used wheelchair van is approximately $7,000 less,

The current elderly affairs fleet consists of the old wheelchair van and one old cruiser. The undercover Chrysler is currently on loan from the Police Dept.

The Chief intends to transfer one of the cruisers coming of lease to elderly affairs, and transferring the Chrysler back to the Police Department.

 

Jim informed the Board that Chief Consentino provided him with the OT amount in the Full Time Officers line ($13,633). The Chief is requesting that $5,000 be left in the line to cover the 53^rd week.

Paul S. reported to the Board on several of his homework assignments as follows:

All budgets will be adjusted to account for the 53^rd week.

The increased telephone expenditures are due more lines, additional features such as voice mail. The per minute cost is down, but usage is up.

Uniforms for the Building Inspectors have been approved by the Selectmen.

 

Paul S. stated that he still needs to discuss the computers with Linda and Russ and look into the Master Plan amount of $17,000.

Respectively submitted,

Kjb

Schedule of Meetings

Oct 10 – No meeting

Oct 17 – Recreation, Memorial Day, Community Center, Cable

Oct 24 – Russ McAllister, Town Administrator will present his budgets

Oct 31 – No meeting

Nov 07 – Hospitals/Ambulance, Fire, Homeland Security

Nov 14 – Library

Nov 21 – Highway

Nov 28 – Police, Elderly Affairs – All $$ Warrant Articles Due (Draft)

Dec 05 – Elections/Planning Board/ZBA

Dec 12 – Finalize $$ Warrant Articles – Animal Control, General Government Buildings

Dec 19 – Conservation

Dec 26 – Open

Jan 02 – Open

Jan 09 – Open

Jan 16 – Public Hearing