Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 1/20/21
Finance Committee Meeting January 20, 2021
This was a joint meeting with the Select board
Jon Sylbert, Michele Miller, and Rebecca Wolin present
Agenda joint meeting with the selectboard
Budget
DPW – Shawn made presentation of his budget
Dropping the temporary highway employee to $1, once highway 3 has been filled the department will have a full crew and temporary help will no longer be necessary
Highway OT (not winter): This covers any overtime before 7am and after 3pm Mon – Fri from April to November.
Vehicle/Equipment Estimated repairs coming up: approx. $2,500 on the grader to fix a wire and emissions issue, approx. $5k to fix an unknown issue (low on power, whistling noises) in the 2015 - 550
DPW Supplies adding new line for covid supplies
Covid Supplies: disinfecting supplies, sanitizer, gloves, masks
Storm Damage: This was a new line added last year to be more transparent in reporting unanticipated cleanup performed as a direct result of storm damage during the spring – fall seasons. So far this year there have been 3 significant summer/fall storms with major tree damage.
Capital
Gravel projects: The current budget and budgets to date barely allow the roads to be maintained and do not afford any forward progress. There are more than 15 culverts throughout town that need replacing. Properly maintaining gravel roads is approximately $32,500 (6” of gravel resurfacing or $21,500 for 4” (not including any culvert work that needs to be done which a basic, straightforward one can start at approximately $5k depending on the size and other factors)
Asphalt projects: Cracksealing can be upwards of $30k (number is dependent upon how many cracks need to be filled). Paving a mile of road is approximately $375k and resurfacing (mill & fill) is approximately $160k/mile and oil & stone runs approximately $80k/mile and this needs to be resealed every 1 – 2 years at $45k/mile (all figures have a lot of variables that can change this price and both do not include any culvert work).
Discussion ensued about the road mapping software/program that the highway department is still working on getting all the information uploaded to.
Discussion ensued about the capital request for a tandem axle truck which will not be outfitted with plow equipment.
Community Center Committee
The total operating expenses come to $11,340 not including the staff wages. These expenses come from a revolving account and the wages are raised and appropriated on town meeting floor. It was asked to make a minor adjustment and move $180 from custodial to the other expenses.
- The committee would like to give the administrative staff an additional hour each week. Jon would like to know how many hours are being spent to date to better evaluate the need.
- Rebecca inquired about custodial expenses and why there would be any when the Community Center was closed for some time. Laurie explained that the building was still used on a limited basis when people ran zoom programs from the building. It was mentioned that maybe volunteers could do the cleaning and they could buy rugs instead of paying for a cleaning service.
- The unpredictability of income from the community center was discussed.
- Lighting request (special article): Mary explained that in 2017 when they opened there wasn’t any exterior lighting so about a year later an electrician was brought in to address the issue. Neighbors have complained that the lighting is very harsh. Jon stated that the decision to spend the monies the first time was not an approved expenditure, not to mention it was spent badly and the committee should not be asking to pay for this issue twice. Steve informed Jon that the lighting was added as an emergency addition to keep community center guests safe at dusk. He also explained that the capital used came from another budget. It was requested that a second opinion be sought on the estimate. This will be tabled to a future meeting while additional information can be sought.
Building Inspector
The proposed budget is such a small increase and is only due to the estimated COLA increase that all agreed no further discussion was required.
- Don requested that for FY23 an additional line item be added for continuing education.