Advisory Budget Committee Minutes

Wednesday January 6, 2010

PRESENT: Committee Members: Scott Simano, Howard Hatch, Dick McDanolds, Barbara Dutile, Dick Fabrizio, Wayne Fortier, Peter Conrad, Larry Corey, Eleanor Ingbretson, and Mike Conrad; Bruce Simonds was excused; Selectboard members: Lynn Wheeler and David Joslin; Town Manager Glenn English; Administrative Assistant Jo Lacaillade; Bob Fillian, John Landrigan, Melissa Graves, Abra Stefanos, Louise McGee, Glenn Hatch, Kyla Joslin, Samantha Smith, Kurt Davis, Jane Darby, Reita Jones, Dawn Langley, Louise

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm.

Recreation Department: Glenn Hatch gave an overview of all of the programs that the Haverhill Recreation Department currently offers along with attendance figures for those programs. Kyla Joslin and Samantha Smith spoke about the H.A.R.P. program and changes being made for the 2010 summer. There were many words of praise for the programs being offered and the number of participants. Mike Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($100,250) as presented; seconded by Larry Corey and carried unanimously.

Libraries: Mr. Fillion asked several questions of the library representatives in attendance. After a brief period Larry Corey called for a point of order that it was not the Budget Committee asking any of the questions and since that committee did not appear to have any questions for the libraries he made a motion to approve the budget ($49,597) as presented; seconded by Mike Conrad and carried unanimously.

Ambulance/North Country Home Health: Dick Fabrizio made a motion to approve the budget ($74,308) as presented; the motion was seconded by Barbara Dutile and carried unanimously.

Health Officer & Other Health Agencies: Peter Conrad made a motion to approve the Health Officer and Other Health Agency budgets ($1,726 & $19,175) as recommended by the Town Manager; seconded by Barb Dutile. There was a brief discussion about CASA and the Burch House who had asked for money this year but had not been included in the Town Manager budget. The motion to approve the Town Manager budget carried unanimously.

Patriotic Purposes: Larry Corey made a motion to approve the budget ($2,000) as presented; seconded by Dick McDanolds and carried unanimously.

Cultural and Heritage: Mike Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($600) as presented; seconded by Dick Fabrizio and carried unanimously.

Conservation Commission: Peter Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($250) as presented; seconded by Dick Fabrizio and carried unanimously.

Lower Cohase Chamber of Commerce: Dick Fabrizio made a motion to approve the budget ($1,104) as presented; seconded by Barb Dutile and carried unanimously.

Debt Service: Mike Conrad made a motion to approve the Debt Service budget (84,554) as presented; Barb Dutile seconded the motion which passed with all voting in favor except Larry Corey who abstained.

Warrant Articles:

• Recycling: There was a brief discussion about the number of users from Haverhill taking advantage of this service and how that number might be increased. Also discussed was a request for proposals that the Selectboard did to try to establish a local recycling center and the fact that the costs to do so were much higher than staying with the current program. Peter Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($16,500) as presented; seconded by Howard Hatch and carried unanimously.
• White Mountain Mental Health: Mike Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($5,894) as presented; seconded by Howard Hatch and carried unanimously.
• Rivers Reach: Mike Conrad made a motion to approve the budget ($480) as presented; seconded by Larry Corey and carried unanimously.
• Business Park Paving: There was discussion regarding the thickness of the pavement that would be put down if the budget was approved as presented by the Town Manager. This project will be done if an 80/20 grant that will be applied for is approved, if it is not approved, the paving will not be done. It was felt by many on the committee that since a grant is going to be applied for to cover 80% of the cost, this would be the time to put down another inch of paving so that hopefully the project will hold up better. Larry Corey made a motion to increase this line item to $130,000 so that a thicker pavement can be done; the motion was seconded by Mike Conrad. All voted yes with the exception of Eleanor Ingbretson who voted no.

Capital Reserves: There was a brief discussion as to whether it is wise to put money into a capital reserve when the interest rates are so low or would it be wiser to just appropriate the money when needed. Larry Corey made a motion to approve the Capital Reserve budget ($24,000) as presented; seconded by Wayne Fortier and carried unanimously.

Mike Conrad had some concerns about the money being spent on maintenance at the airport and the timing of when that maintenance such as snow plowing is done. There was also discussion regarding the construction in the business park. It was suggested that he attend an airport commission meeting and direct his questions to them.

Revenues: There was a brief discussion regarding the revenues as presented including the change of legislation that affects the Opera Block in Woodsville and the way it is taxed and the SAU lease status.

Larry Corey felt the budget committee should formally request that the Selectboard increase the paving to 4 inches at the Business Park since they had put in for an increase in that budget line. Howard Hatch wants the Selectboard pay closer attention to what the road crew is doing with their time; get better accounting of that time; and oversee more of how resources are being used. It was also requested by several members that an effort be made to appoint one person that will oversee all Town buildings including ones owned by the schools to make sure any and all maintenance issues are stayed on top of so that they can be addressed as they occur and not when they are at a crisis status.

The Advisory Budget Committee was advised that the Public Hearing on the budget will be held on February 4, 2010 at 7 pm.

Dick Fabrizio made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dick McDanolds and carried unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 pm.

Minutes transcribed by Jo Lacaillade