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The original document may be obtained at the Town Hall.
Town of Danville
Board of Selectmen
October 8, 2007
6:30 PM
Selectmen Present: Russ Pouliot, Shawn O’Neil, Bob Moore and Joe Luna.
Selectman Luna moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II ( c ). The Board was polled – Russ Pouliot-y, Shawn O’Neil-y, Bob Moore-y and Joe Luna-y.
Present for the nonpublic session: Carol Coppola, MRI
At 7:10 Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to return to public session. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectman Luna moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to seal the minutes of the non-public session. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board requested Carol Coppola supply an estimate to put the Town into compliance with GASB-34
Others Present for this public session: Wade Parsons-Chief of Police, Sheila Johannesen-Animal Control Officer, Steve Woitkun-Fire Chief and Jill Fleming-Selectmen’s Clerk.
I Animal Control
a. Wade Parsons-Chief of Police addressed the Board concerning the depleted funds in the
Animal Control budget for 2007. He stated that it is anticipated by years’ end this budget will
be overspent by approximately $1,500.
b. Selectman Pouliot stated that Animal Control will be funded this year. If this budget is overspent the Board will find monies for the over expenditures.
c. After a review of the current total budget expenditures, the board felt that a $2,000 over expenditure can be absorbed by the budget. As of 9/24, the budget is 70% spent (including the $63,300 spent on the Fire Dept’s Emergency Call account but not applied for yet) at 73% of the year. The board asked that the ACO watch the remaining year’s expenditures closely.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to authorize the Animal Control Budget be overexpended to a cap of $2,000 to years end. The motion passed unanimously.
II Fire Department #4220.10
a. Steve Woitkun presented the Fire Department budget.
b. fd-120 salaries call – to date there have been 374 calls for 2007 which projected out for the entire year will total 488 calls as compared to 323 calls in 2006.
c. Selectman Luna asked Chief Woitkun to provide the Board with a bi-annual report for this line item to keep the Board up to date.
d. fd-122 secretary salary – although only 5.7 hours a week have been utilized to date, these hours have been kept to a minimum because the firefighter has covered some of the work while on duty.
e. fd-123 mechanic – the Board stated that this line item also increased significantly. Chief Woitkun reiterated that two of the firefighters were also mechanics and were doing maintenance while on duty and supplying their own tools thus helping to defray some of the cost. The hourly rate increase to $25/hour is much lower than the going rate of approximately $65/hour if the service was contracted out.
f. fd-290 physical health & wellness – it was stated that the Fire Department has not previously provided this service. The cost of $181.92 pp x 26 people reflects the need for TB testing and hepatitis B series shots.
g. fd-343 communications – In an effort to bring get all members current technology pagers, the Department is budgeting for six each year until completed.
h. fd-561 haz material dist fee – the previous $5,000 has increased to $5,375 based on per capita increase in Danville.
i. fd-681 rescue – this is the last year to budget for AED (automatic external defibrillator)
j. fd-682 protection of personnel has increased as the number of personnel has increased. Chief Woitkun stated that he has submitted an application for a grant which would cover “all new gear for every member”. The grant has been accepted and is under review.
k. fd-740 – station equipment –the Board reduced this line item by $197 and moved (for garage door maintenance) to General Government buildings budget. Leon Buzzell will be informed to increase his budget by $200.
l. There was some discussion to begin billing for ambulance calls in the future and setting up an account that those monies could be deposited into for future equipment purchases. Steve Woitkun will research on how to set this account up, who would administer the funds, bill, invoice and follow-up. The Fire Department is considering submitting a warrant article for such an account.
m. Selectman Moore expressed concern that if each Department sets up accounts to offset their expenses there will be less revenue coming into the Town into the general fund to help offset taxes.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to approve Fire Department #4220.10 Budget in the amount of $292,958. The motion passed unanimously.
III Fire Inspection #4240.30
a. There was discussion on reducing this budget to $1.00 as the inspections are being done by on duty Fire Department personnel. The account is left open in case this policy changes.
Selectman Luna moved and Selectman Moore seconded a motion to approve Fire Inspection #4240.30 Budget in the amount of $1.00. The motion passed unanimously.
IV Civil Defense #4290.10
a. The Board questioned the 41% increase in this budget over 2007. Jan Pouliot stated that there has been a Pandemic Planning meeting once a month which has impacted this budget..
b. The Board questioned how much grant reimbursement money has been received to date. It is not shown in the revenue report. Jill will check with Donna on this.
c. cd-810 training - The Board requested a new line item for mileage (cd-821) in the amount of $100 be created and reduce training by $100.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to approve Civil Defense #4290.10 Budget in the amount of $3,000. The motion passed unanimously.
V Forest Fire Control #4290.40
a. Although only $417.00 has been spent to date, Jim Seaver explained that they anticipate
purchasing more fire hose and a chainsaw before the end of the year.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to approve Forest Fire Control #4290.40 Budget in the amount of $2,100. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board again voiced their complaint that the budgetary process had been changed this year. There is a lack of information on the current forms that were distributed by the Budget Committee. The current forms do not provide expenditures to date or space for anticipated year end expenditures. The Board of Selectmen want to see the anticipated expenses through years end to aid in the review process.
VI Highway Engineering #4311.20
a. The Board recommended that this budget be zeroed out as there has been no activity in the past several years. Potential Town Engineer costs for non-highway engineering can be covered under Executive account ex-390 Professional Services and the board should raise that account figure by $1,000. However, the board agreed to keep this account open to cover engineering costs that might arise that are specific to the town’s highways.
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to “0” out hwe-310 but maintain #4311.20 Highway Engineering Budget and to increase line item ex-390 professional services by $1,000. The motion passed unanimously.
VII Other Issues
Selectmen’s Budgets – Auditing - The Board had some discussion of the last Budget Committee meeting and their voting down what the Selectmen had submitted. Below is an excerpt from the Budget Committee minutes of 10/2/07.
………“the proposed 2008 Auditing Contract budget (account # 4150.20)………….Shawn made a motion to accept the proposed 2008 budget in the amount of $16,400. Marion seconded the motion which failed as follows:
|
For |
Against |
Abstaining |
|
S. O'Neil |
M. Current |
T. Billbrough |
|
|
D. Meigs |
E. Sanders |
|
|
P. Sarcione |
A. Ward |
Betsy then made a motion to accept a modified budget in the amount of $18,400 to allow monies for the investigation and beginnings of adherence to GASB-34. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Deborah then made a motion to table the budget with a request that the BoS come back with a plan as to how and when to obtain GASB-34. Andy seconded the motion, which passed as follows:
|
For |
Against |
Abstaining |
|
M. Current |
S. O'Neil |
T. Billbrough |
|
D. Meigs |
|
|
|
E. Sanders |
|
|
|
P. Sarcione |
|
|
|
A. Ward |
|
|
Welfare Budget - Although the Town Clerk will submit the requests as that have been received, some submitted requests are allocated equally across area towns without regard to the tax impact due to the different town assessed valuations. Selectman Moore has recalculated two specific requests using the town valuations. Danville’s fair share of requested funds for Sad Café calculates to $2,850 and Meals on Wheels $1,100 and requests that the board consider these when the Vendor account requests are reviewed.
Town Report – the Board stated that the annual report will be mailed this year but a Warrant Article will be drafted to ask the Town’s opinion on not mailing in the future.
Fire Association Rental - Selectman O’Neil forwarded the following information “the price is $500 for each election (the day of the election). Availability the day before and the day after is subject to hall rentals, and the members would work with the Town. The Fire Association will be sending a formal price in writing”. Selectman Moore stated that this figure amounts to a $2,500 charge for 2008 because of the need for the hall 5 times and, in his opinion, is excessive. The Board stated that Elections budget will have to address.
VIII Approval of Minutes
Selectman Moore moved and Selectman O’Neil seconded a motion to approve the minutes of 10/1/07 as edited and amended. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to approve the public hearing minutes of 10/3/07 as amended. The motion passed unanimously. The Board stated that they would not accept another continuance.
At 10:25PM Selectman O’Neil moved and Selectman Luna seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill S. Fleming
Selectmen’s Clerk