12-10-2018 Budget Committee Meeting
The Fairlee Budget Committee met on Monday, December 10, 2018 in the Town Clerk’s Office at the Fairlee Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to review the 2019 proposed draft budget before meeting with the Selectboard at 6:30pm in the Grange Room.
Present were:
- Dan Ludwig, Budget Committee Member
- Stephen Bentley, Budget Committee Member
- Elizabeth Wilson, Budget Committee Member
- Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, Town Clerk
- Charlotte Williams, Library Trustee
- Joy Weale, Library Trustee
The meeting was called to order at 5:25pm by Budget Committee Member Stephen Bentley.
Charlotte Welch and Joy Library Trustees joined the meeting to discuss three line items in the Library Budget that had been reduced by the Selectboard.
1. Salary for Librarian: The Library Trustees explained that their intent in this year’s budget was to bring the Librarian’s salary up to the average salary of other Librarians in similar size towns in Vermont. They started this process last year with an increase in her salary. They emphasized that the Librarian as her master’s degree in Library Science. They expressed concern that with 3% cost of living increase the Selectboard approved for all town employees would make it be difficult to get the Librarian’s salary up the State average in a timely manner.
2. Cleaning Salary: The Library Trustees explained they felt the cleaning person for the Library should make the same rate of pay as the Town Hall cleaning person. They felt this streamlined the two positions with the same rate of pay and would only increase their budget by $79.49 for the year
3. Medical Insurance: The Library Trustees said the Librarian questioned the large amount under her Health Insurance line item. Georgette Wolf-Ludwig explained that there had been an increase in the health insurance premium for 2019.
The Budget Committee thanked the Library Trustees for coming in with their concerns.
Dan Ludwig nominated Stephen Bentley for Chair. Elizabeth Wilson seconded the nomination. All were favor. Nomination passed. Stephen Bentley was duly elected Chair.
The Budget Committee reviewed and discussed the following department budgets and line items:
Summary Budget
No discussion
Administration
Treasurer’s salary increased to 40 hours per week. Assistant Town Clerk/Office Staff budget reduced. Georgette Wolf-Ludwig explained her intent with the proposed budget for the Assistant Town Clerk was to add additional hours for an Office Staff Support position. Town Administrator salary showed an increase.
Cemetery
Noted under Contractor Services the tree removal and maintenance funds where taken out and will now be paid out of the will be paid out of Cemetery Fund Account.
Community Organizations
Noted no Fairlee Community Arts, Upper Valley Land Trust and Public Health Council line items included.
Emergency Services Building
Dan Ludwig questioned if $600.00 for septic tank pumping was high. Noted that Under Repairs and Maintenance the proposed budget was $12,000.00,Selectboard reduced amount to $8000.00.
Fire & Fast Squad
Noted Increase in Equipment – New Fire line item and the Telephone & Dispatch line item. Forestry
No budget submitted. No funds budgeted under the New Equipment line item.
Health
Health Officer position brought in house and covered under Zoning Administrator salary.
Highway
Questioned Summer Roads line item reduction and Winter Roads over budget in 2018 and not increased for 2019. Questioned plans for Ditching since under budget in 2018 and plan for Culverts in 2019 under budget in 2018.
Library
Discussed with Library Trustees.
Listers
No discussion
Milfoil
Noted Treatment for 2019 will be for 39.1 acres half paid for by LMPA and LMF. Other
Where was Income from Sale of Weed Harvester noted?
Police
Questioned plan for future police protection. Noted new Animal Control Officer Wayne Godfrey. Questioned Equipment/Fees line item for new pistol and shotgun.
Railroad Station
No discussi
on
Recreation Council
Noted increase in Telephone line item.
Town Hall & Parks
Discussed Grant Income Fairlee Community Arts line item. Fairlee Community Arts is still funding raising for matching funds.
Trash & Recycling
Noted Grant Income from CVSWD for new dump greeter and signage at the transfer station.
Tri-Town Commission
No discussion
Zoning
Noted total expenses up. Town Plan – Consultant line item added this year for $8,000.00. Better Connections Gr
ant Income added for $54,000.00 and Grant Expense- Better Connections line item added for $60,000.00.
Water
No discussion
Capital Budget
Bridges and Culvert line item – no funding added Transfer Station line item added $40,000.00 Town Common line item – no funding added
Highway Rebuilding line item added $75,656.00 to continue paving Terry Hill Rd
Being there was no other discussion. The Chair adjourned the meeting. The Budget Committee then met with the Selectboard.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
Attest:
Georgette Wolf-Ludwig, CVC/CMC Clerk to the Budget Committee
Approved by the Budget Committee on: January 16, 2019