Town of Gilford, NH - Selectmen's Minutes 09/28/2006

GILFORD BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING

FINAL BUDGET REVIEW

SEPTEMBER 28, 2006

The Board of Selectmen convened in a special session on Thursday,

September 28, 2006 at 2:00 p.m., at the Gilford Town Hall, 47 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH. Selectmen present were Chairman Dennis Doten and Connie Grant. Also present were Town Administrator Evans E. Juris, Assistant Town Administrator Debra Shackett, Administrative Secretary Sandra J. Bailey and Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector Jennifer Mooney.

The Selectmen recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

General Budget Review

Town Administrator Juris stated that the purpose of today’s meeting is to verify all previously voted upon budget items and provide a final vote for any items that have not been voted on.

The following items were reviewed by the Board:

Executive $445,708

Election/Registration $209,115

Appraisal $181,153

Personnel Admin. $2,049,184

Planning and Zoning $215,713

Cemeteries $ 21,600

Insurance $ 83,000

Regional Associations – Dennis Doten moved to recommend $7,914. Connie Grant seconded. Motion carried.

Police Department – Town Administrator Juris recommended cutting $12,000 from the Police Department budget, since an individual who was previously planning to retire is now not doing so in 2007.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $1,412,853. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Fire Department – Connie Grant moved to recommend $1,072,670. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Emergency Management – Connie Grant moved to recommend $10,540, adding $1,210 back into the Forestry Equipment line for protective clothing. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Other Public Safety – Connie Grant moved to recommend $37,024. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

DPW Administration – Connie Grant moved to recommend $175,653. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Highways and Streets – Connie Grant moved to recommend $1,378,375. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Bridges – Connie Grant moved to recommend $1.00. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Street Lighting – Connie Grant moved to recommend $18,240. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Vehicle Maintenance – Town Administrator Juris recommended reducing the Fuel line to $146,614, since the cost of fuel has gone down.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $229,235. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Solid Waste – Connie Grant moved to recommend $539,717. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Animal Control – Connie Grant moved to recommend $6,500. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Health Services – Connie Grant moved to recommend $51,896. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Welfare $ 64,000

Patriotic Purposes $ 125

Other Culture and Recreation (Thompson Ames Historical Society) – Connie Grant moved to recommend $0. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Conservation Commission – Connie Grant moved to recommend $1,300, removing the Invasive Species Management from the budget to be a separate Warrant Article. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $10,000 under Invasive Species Management and have it placed as a separate Warrant Article. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Debt Service $665,642

Cruisers – Discussion ensued on the amount to be recommended under Cruisers. Connie Grant moved to recommend $63,915. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

TC Vault Shelving – Connie Grant moved to recommend $23,475. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Vests – Connie Grant moved to recommend $3,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Fire Truck – Discussion ensued on the necessity of a new fire truck and the fact that the Board feels any request should be a separate warrant article. Connie Grant stated that she does not support the new truck and Chairman Doten stated that he is unsure. Connie Grant moved to remove $325,000 from Capital Outlay. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

New Ambulance Equipment – Connie Grant moved to recommend $6,654. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

New Fire Equipment – Thermal Imaging Camera – Connie Grant moved to recommend $12,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

DPW Excavator – Connie Grant moved to recommend $0. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

DPW Truck – Connie Grant moved to remove $73,500 from Capital Outlay and that any request would be a separate Warrant Article. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

GIS – Connie Grant moved to recommend $20,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Building Repair - Connie Grant moved to recommend $5,000, reducing the original amount by $5,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Compensated Absences – Dennis Doten moved to recommend $10,000, reducing the original amount by $10,000. Connie Grant seconded. Motion carried.

Police Station – Connie Grant moved to recommend $50,000, reducing the original amount by $150,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Ambulance Replacement – Connie Grant moved to recommend $50,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Bridge Replacement Fund – Connie Grant moved to recommend $271,600. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Highway Equipment $30,000

Laconia Water – Connie Grant moved to recommend $34,000. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Laconia Airport Authority – Connie Grant moved to recommend $10,000 and to remove this item from the regular budget and have it placed as a separate Warrant Article. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Library Budget Review

Katherine Dormody, Polly Sanfacon, Bill Seed and Daryl Thompson were in attendance to review the Library Budget, which commenced at 3:09 p.m. Library Director Dormody provided the Board with a brief overview of their accomplishments in 2006 and their goals for 2007. She then reviewed the budget, providing a brief explanation of each item. Town Administrator Juris stated that Selectman Boucher had questioned the $350 earmarked for a people counter.

Katherine Dormody explained that this information is required by both the state and federal governments and this will enable them to keep an accurate count.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $267,741 for the Library Budget. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Brief discussion ensued on the matter of carpet replacement in the Children’s Room. Library Director Dormody stated that although not frayed, the carpet is worn and is 20 years old. She also pointed out the in the Children’s Room, seating is quite often on the floor.

Technology Budget Review

Technology Director Don Girard provided several charts regarding various aspects of his budget over the past few years. He then proceeded to run through his budget, providing a brief explanation of which department each item is earmarked for.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $159,976 for the Technology Budget. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Parks and Recreation Budget

Director Herb Greene provided the Board with an extensive explanation of his proposed 2007 budget. Discussion ensued on the matter of changing the Recreation Assistant position from part-time to full-time. There were also several questions regarding proposed maintenance costs of various projects, including resurfacing the tennis and basketball courts, which Director Greene was able to answer and provide photographs for.

Connie Grant moved to recommend $209,748 for the Parks and Recreation Budget. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Skating Rink – Connie Grant moved to recommend $9,400. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

Returning to the final vote on other parts of the budget, Connie Grant moved to recommend $266,568 under Buildings and Grounds. Dennis Doten seconded.

Discussion ensued with Selectman Grant suggesting additional cuts to the Library Maintenance portion of the Building and Grounds budget. She moved to recommend $263,068 under Buildings and Grounds, the reduction being in Library Maintenance. There was no second to this motion so the proposed amendment failed.

Back to the main motion, Connie Grant moved to recommend $266,568 under Buildings and Grounds. Dennis Doten seconded. Motion carried.

The Board signed a revised 2006 MS-1 form.

Assistant Town Administrator Shackett advised the Board that as their delegate to the Local Government Center, she needs to know how they would like her to vote relative to changing the Town Clerk from an elected to an appointed position. The Board advised her to support this proposed legislation.

Town Administrator Juris advised the Board that the Department of Public Works will hold an Open House tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in honor of Bob Marden’s retirement. The Board approved a $250 contribution under the Employee Recognition line item for his retirement dinner.

With no further business before the Board, the Board of Selectmen’s

September 28, 2006 meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Administrative Secretary