01-04-2022 Annual Budget Hearing Meeting
Present:
- Dan Ludwig, Budget Committee Chair (excused)
- Elizabeth Wilson, Budget Committee Member
- Stephen Bentley, Budget Committee Member
- Peter Berger, Selectboard Chair
- Catherine McGrath, Selectboard Member
- Tad Nunez, Town Administrator
- Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk
- Lisa Hinsley, Treasurer
- Noël Walker, Lister
- Jason Bachus, Police Chief/Delinquent Tax Collector
- Lance Colby, Head Water Operator
- Chaz Hinsley, Cemetery Commission Chair
- Beth Reynolds, Library Director
- Cyrie Lange, Library Trustee
- Jen Johnson
- Larry Martin
- Georgette Wolf Ludwig, Town Clerk (8 pm arrival)
Present – ZOOM
- Lance Colby
- Simon Holdaway
- Charlotte Williams, Library Trustee
Elizabeth Wilson started with:
Administration
No questions
Cemetery
No questions
Community Organizations
No questions
S Holdaway: Is the draft budget online?
Emergency Services and Building
No questions
Fire & Rescue
L Martin: Can we backtrack to the Admin. Section?
Administration (cont).
L Hinsley: Increase in computer & intern expense, cybersecurity insurance,
5.7% COLA for employees
C McGrath: $11,000 for auditor
L Hinsley: Admin budget
E Wilson: Professional fees are for what?
T Nunez: Attorney fees; consultation engineering; special meetings; VLCT Mac
can assist but ‘refer to attorney’
Fire & Rescue
L Martin: Cost?
L Hinsley: Actually decreased
Highway
T Nunez: Last two bills from today are an additional $28,000;
L Hinsley: from Nov 30
N Walker: Any funds to maintain Brushwood Rd?
T Nunez; Special project – $5,000 – for Class IV roads; beyond ditching & culvert
C Lange: Figures for Summer Road; labor costs?
T Nunez: Time & labor
Library
C Lange: Concern – page 2 of contract– no COLA for Library Director – Budget Comm – understand this
is not what we submitted; salary $44,091; Trustees in agreement. Sixteen years experience;
no salary increase-hired at $44,091; just as deserving of COLA
E Wilson: COLA factored into the $44,000?
C Lange: No discussion of COLA by Trustees for Librarian but all other staff. $1.31 increase
with COLA for Librarian; feel increase compared to actual – may not need increase
S Bentley: Cost of fuel going up. Negotiated 4-week vacation?
C McGrath: Concern about the equity of the Town Staff; we researched COLA between 2.5% to 5.7%;
Librarian position has gotten raise; equitable- same merit raise as Librarian
L Hinsley: 8% increase from previous Librarian
J Johnson: Hiring decision; hire people with experience; giving pay cut
C Lange: Not equitable that one employee only does not get COLA
P Berger: Negotiate of Trustees for hire; breaking budget; did not come to Town; “we are doing his” requirement; leeway 10%; understand not palatable; no conversation
C Lange: Talked to Town Administrator. Explained to Selectboard; did not know retirement
(formerly 5 years)
E Reynolds: Librarian: 2- week vacation; generous $38,000 to $41,000, 8% Samantha to Elizabeth
C Lange: Librarian has a contract, no dental
T Nunez: 3 weeks– 5th year
C Lange: Contract: 2 weeks, year 1; 3 weeks, year 2; 4 weeks, year 3. Discussion
C McGrath: Sign increases in the budget; necessary cuts; equity among employees; has benefits to no other employ
C Lange: Did not increase; negotiated salary – under budget; made cuts
L Martin: Appreciate the C Lange discussion; 7.75%, agree with equity of staff; difference
retroactive to 2021; 5.7% COLA
J Johnson: Give up those rules; hired a new Librarian
C McGrath: Selectboard – keep salary in range because Selectboard in charge of salaries
No chat on-line
L Hinsley: Add $2,000 to grant; 2021 ARPA grant
L Martin: On behalf of taxpayers; paying bill; delinquent taxes?
J Bachus: As of Dec 21, 2021 – $81,228.09
E Wilson: Is this normal?
L Martin: This is high
E Wilson: Took a moment to pause and comment on the overall tax bill and what % is actually town related monies vs. School related monies and encouraged all to focus on that as well.
T Nunez: Charlotte Williams – Librarian not included in COLA – this is a pay cut
L Martin: All in same boat; appreciate everyone’s work and to think about sustainability of how much people can afford
E Wilson: Thanked everyone for their input and will talk and recommend to Selectboard
C Lange: Process – does not reflect submitted budget; adjustments would be made on recommendation of Budget Committee
L Hinsley: Revised & changed during Selectboard meeting. No motion to change; all recommendations – until Selectboard decides
L Martin: C Lange, at last Selectboard meeting; never seen decision made except in public
C McGrath: Appreciate everything Librarian does
E Wilson: Comments as a Town member – library; COLA increase should be for everybody; 5.7% is too generous.
Hire new employee – negotiate salary & benefits – has NO bearing on previous
employment; market as such came into higher salary
Equity: every employee is underpaid; to penalize a new employee is wrong
Listers
N Walker: Reappraisal fund; decrease 38%; Selectboard to make adjustment; professional
Fees $10,000 (estimate) cover Board of Civil Authority hearings
L Hinsley: $10,000; is $7500. Okay?
N Walker: costs $1,000/day
Lake (Milfoil) & Town Forest
No questions
Other: None
Elections –Higher
Primary
General
Town
Police
J Bachus: Contractors? Orange County Sheriff’s – 12 additional hours, LM Associates works 10 hours/week in Fairlee;
L Hinsley: dedicated time
J Bachus: Sheriff – full time, Deputy – 20 hours/week
S Holdaway: This voted down in the 2021 Budget; same this year; up & down vote
T Nunez: In General Funds
P Berger: Turned down; data from data – more coverage – FT Orange County dedicated
officer absolute necessity for public safety
C McGrath: Vote as separate item. Last year no data
E Wilson: Any other questions or comments?
Railroad Station
N Walker: Grant match
L Hinsley: P & R grant, (Town matches $3,000)
P Berger, C McGrath, L Martin: take out of Fund Balance
Recreation Council
No questions
Town Hall & Parks
No questions
Trash & Recycling
L Hinsley: Attendant salary moved from Trash to Town Hall
Tri Town Commission –
P Berger: Dam maintenance – purchase buoys for in front of dam
C McGrath: Safety issue
Zoning
E Wilson: Registered Energy Coordinator
P Berger: Questionable value to the Town
Water
E Wilson: What does PER stand for?
T Nunez: Preliminary engineer report offset by grant
Capital Budget
L Hinsley: Capital Budget is in its 3rd year
Town Building & Land Reserves #31; title on document
T Nunez: Money to implement study report; done in phases for Transfer Station
J Johnson: Village enhancement $6,000 – tree trimming, Railroad Station, beach; use arborist for trimming
T Nunez: street removal of hazardous trees
E Wilson: Quotes each year?
T Nunez: too volatile; sole source
Emergency Equipment Reserve Fund
No questions
Town Highway Reserve Fund
No questions
Lake/Forest Reserve Fund
No questions
General Fund
E Wilson: Page 1? – Any questions? Question 10% increase in taxes?
L Hinsley: Cash available $25,000, same as last year
Fund Balance $334,464
No policy for use of Fund Balance; 4 months of operating costs
E Wilson: operating costs
L Hinsley: $50,000; Fund Balance of $200,000
E Wilson: 1%?
L Hinsley: $20,000 = 1 cent on tax rate
C McGrath: Selectboard will decide the Fund Balance policy
E Wilson: Credit on tax bill? Reduce taxes; one time?
L Hinsley: Credit could fluctuate year to year
L Martin: Who gets tax credit if sale?
C McGrath: COLA equity; public money; positions-COLA-genuine and accurate; negotiate new salary,
challenging, TM; big picture
E Wilson: Policy and procedures in place
S Bentley: Not a business
P Berger: Vacation, sick policies not reviewed in 20 years
S Bentley: Administrator of Town of all employees, buildings
E Wilson: Big supporter; stand firm, COLA should be for everyone
N Walker: Surplus Reserve Fund Balance; what was not done-need to get done. Roads Class IV
E Wilson: Good point
C McGrath: Don’t get done because not enough staffing
L Hinsley: Goal? With recommendations- Police & COLA
E Wilson: Budget Committee meet to discuss and make recommendations to the Selectboard
Budget Meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm
Attest: Joanna Bligh, Minutes Clerk