Members Present: Acting Chairman Bill Keefe, Donald McGettigan, Donald Davidson, Stuart Draper, Joyce Fisk and Kyra Brennan.
The meeting was called to order at 7:20 PM.
The FRES Budget Committee was present. Joyce Fisk presented the budget. The budget shows the salaries and benefits as they exist today. The warrant article shows the cost items agreed upon in collective bargaining. For the year 2002-03, the estimated amount is $44,258. For 03-04, the estimated amount is $82,061. This reflects the step increases plus a 3% raise. These amounts cannot be shown in the budget because they have not been approved by a vote of the people at a school district meeting. There was much discussion on the way the budget and the raises were shown. Carolann Wais explained this is the way the DRA has told them it must be presented. The Regular Education Totals were reviewed; they are down from last year. The Special Education budget is up 26.6%. This is a result of a student who is sent out of state. Insurance was discussed. The school currently pays 90% of the insurance for the employee and their spouse or family.
Next we heard from Stanley Young for the Heritage Commission. Michael Dell’orto and Leslie Wharton were also present. They would like the Town to establish a fund for the Heritage Commission. They are requesting a contribution from the Town of $500. The purpose of the fund will be to allow the Heritage Commission to accept gifts of money and property.
Bob Maguire and Jim Greene presented the Police Department budget. The line item for secretary has increased. Now that they are in the new Station, they will have a full time secretary. In the past, they shared a person with the Selectmen’s office. The other increase in labor is the 6th full time person they hired last year. That person was hired later in the year; this year’s budget reflects a full year’s salary for that person. A separate budget has been created for the Building, since they have nothing from the past; they have done their best to estimate costs. He wants everyone to know how much they appreciate the new station. He has talked to his employees, and they have all agreed that we do not need to appropriate the money for janitorial services for this first year. To show their appreciation to the Town, they have all agreed to pitch in together to clean the new station. Also discussed the items that need to be finished at the station.
The quote for paving the parking lot will be available for next weeks meeting. It was suggested that the Wilton Falls Building should pay for part of the cost, since they have the benefit of 40 spaces. Leslie Wharton stated that Wilton Falls does not have the funds available to pay for the parking area.
Jerry Greene presented a suggestion that the Town make a greater contribution towards an employee’s health and dental benefits. Currently we pay 100% of the benefits for the employee. If they have a spouse or a family plan, the employee pays for the insurance above and beyond the cost of a single person. He feels this is especially important when the schools are covering 90% of the costs for a family. We have employees with family plans that contribute between $94 and $163 a week for their insurance. This is a subject that he and Stuart do not agree upon, however, he wants the Budget Committee to know he believes the Town should increase their contribution towards insurance costs. He is not asking us to contribute 90%, but he feels we should make an increase to coverage.
Mark Whitehill was in to explain the increase in the Planning Board Budget. The number of cases has increased considerably. Mark explained the secretary line item is up because Kyra has been doing a lot of the filing and work in the office. This has been charged to the town office budget. This year, those hours will be reflected on the Planning Board budget.
Mark Whitehill and Jerry Greene were present to discuss the plans for the fire station. The Emergency Services Committee has been meeting with architects. They have not come to an agreement on the plans, but have 3 options they are considering. When the committee first visited us, they presented us with a $1,130,000 plan. This is what the fire department would like to see. The committee has 2 alternatives, one at $463,074 and the other at $994,000. The $463,074 would involve revamping the existing station and adding 3 bays. The $994,000 option would have 3 new bays and a new office/meeting area. These are the options. With these figures in mind, they are asking us to put money aside in Capital Reserve for the future expansion/renovation of the fire station.
Leslie Wharton was in to ask the Town to support the Main Street Association. They are the only Town in the Main Street Program that does not receive any support from the Town budget. She presented the Budget/Expenses and the Treasure’s report for the Main Street Association and a Main Street Municipal Contribution Survey. They are asking the Town for a contribution of $10,000. When they are soliciting contributions from businesses, they are often asked how much the Town contributes. They have been proud of the fact that they haven’t come to us before to ask for help. In the future, they hope the Wilton Falls building will pay for itself. For now, they would appreciate the support from the Town.
Bruce Johnson, Peter Graves and Steve Morrow were present for the Wilton Athletic Association. We had asked them to come in to discuss the possibility of moving the parking area from the Carnival Hill location to a lot across the street. Their biggest concern with this is that it does not side track them from getting the playing field in this year. Peter expressed concern if Milford would allow the lot to be used as a parking area. Stuart stated that is what the Town uses it for now. The lot is owned by Stuart but is used by the Town. He is willing to sell it to the Town for less than $40,000. The budget committee has discussed this and feels it would be much better to keep the parking off of Carnival Hill. The conservation commission has expressed their support for the idea. The lot would also be a good place for the Town to dump snow in the winter. Bruce did not have figures with him for the cost of the parking lot. They will get their plans and numbers together and come back in to us next week.
Stuart brought up the Ambulance budget. They had gotten back to him with new spreadsheets. They had answered most of our questions. Their surplus was a result of borrowing from a gift fund. This money had to be returned. They only have about $5,000 left in their operating account. He feels we should fund them for the amount they are requesting.
No budgets were approved tonight.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM
Kyra L. Brennan