Gilford Budget Committee Minutes
March 10, 2005 6:30 pm
Conference Room A, Town Hall
Members Present: Don Sibson, Bill Phillips, Derek Tomlinson, Sue Greene, Dick Hickok, Connie Grant, Diana Goodhue, Dennis Doten, John O’Brien, Sean Murphy
Absent: Phyllis Corrigan, Bob Brent
After the call to order and Pledge of Allegiance, the Chairman stated that the goal of the meeting is to review last year’s process and elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
A motion was made to elect Dick Hickok as Chairman (DS/SG/9-0). A motion was made to elect Don Sibson as Vice-Chairman (BP/DT/9-0).
The Committee decided that they would continue their practice of allowing topics to be reopened at any point during the process but they would not vote until the next meeting when a representative for that department can be present.
The Committee wants to have the school food budget itemized and thoroughly explained next year. They would like to see the wage increases for Adminsitration and Staff Support distributed by department rather than pooled together. (DD/JO/10-0)
The Committee would like to see a % of change column on the Town spreadsheet, showing the change from last year budget to next year requested.
They will accept public comment at the beginning of each meeting, but not during discussions. (CG/DD/10-0)
The Committee would like their schedule (including agenda topics) posted on the Town’s website and posted in the newspaper.
The working group summary form should include real recommendations from the working group. Forms will be provided with the budget books next year.
Revenue will be examined to see if there is a better way to present it in comparison with the expenditure budget.
Departmental backup should not include “same as last year” as a justification for any expense.
Derek Tomlinson notified the Committee that an itemization of State funding will be provided by the school next year.
Dick Hickok, Sue Greene, and Phyllis Corrigan were elected to the school’s Fiscal Committee. (CG/DS/9-0) The budget committee is interested in seeing a record of the school’s budget transfers.
A motion was made to request that the School Superintendent and the Town Administrator develop a list of towns that will be used as benchmarks for all comparative studies, with reasons justifying each.
There was a question of if the Outside agencies should be asked to present to the Committee next year was discussed and rejected.
Next year they will consider having the public hearing on two separate nights.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Shackett, Finance Director
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