BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JANUARY 17, 2006

 REGULAR SESSION

 APPROVED

 

Present:  George F. Dillon, Jr., Chair; John L. Saball, Vice Chair; Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk (arrived at 7:08); Peter S. Cunningham, Member; Mihran Keoseian, Member; Administrative Officer Jean E. Kitchen; and Kathleen Newell, Office Assistant.

 

Also present:  Town Accountant Valerie Jenkins.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. 

 

BUDGETS

Mr. Dillon stated that the budget request letters had been sent out to Department heads/managers from the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee stating there would be no new hours or personnel in FY07 without the approval of both entities.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that the Board would withhold voting until all budgets had been presented and reviewed.

 

Fire Department

Chief Joseph Bosselait was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Chief Bosselait reviewed the cover letter previously submitted to the Board and reviewed the following:

• Increase in wages for another full-time EMT
• Capital Plan carryover from last years truck replacement
• Request for additional Firefighter/EMS
• Current operating model and future goals of the Department
• Analysis of daily calls
• New Carbon Monoxide laws
• Fire Marshalls mandate of two commercial inspections per year per property for ISO requirements and quarterly licensing
• Goal to have five firefighters respond on initial engine to fire calls.
• Increase in ambulance revenue
• Agreement with Townsend ALS
• Capital items:  Replacement truck; plymovent

 

Council on Aging

Ms. Martha Campbell was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Ms. Campbell stated that the Council on Aging was requesting that the hours which had been previously funded by a grant be taken over by the Town.  Ms. Campbell stated that there was no social worker available to the Seniors and the current staff was addressing those needs of the residents.  Ms. Campbell reviewed the formula grant, which can be used for wages, but Groton will get the same amount of $5,588 for the next five years.  Mr. Cunningham noted that the needs have grown, and asked if there was some point at which the COA could not meet the needs.  Ms. Campbell stated that they were focusing on the current needs and had no idea where it will grow.

 

 

 

 

 

Water Department

Mr. Chris Kelley, Mr. Thomas Orcutt, Mr. Mike Brady and MR. Gary Hoglund were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Orcutt reviewed the budget as follows:

• Debt  SRF will balloon in FY07 & FY08 and debt will reduce $100,000 in 2009
• Expense Line Items  increase (utilities based on increases)

 

Emergency Management Agency

Mr. Bill Shute was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Shute reviewed the EMA budget.  The Board members thanked Mr. Shute for his dedication to providing emergency management for the Town.

 

Highway Surveyor

Mr. Tom Delaney was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Delaney reviewed the Highway budget as follows:

• Wages - $577,061
• Bottom line - $887,171
• Snow and Ice increased $75,000
• Trees level funded
• Dam Regulations will be added
• Capital $155,000 due to an escalation in price of dump truck

 

Sewer Department

Mr. Jim Gmeiner was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Gmeiner stated that there had not been a full board to vote this budget.

• Increase in system maintenance
• Increase in Office expenses, increasing in easement survey

 

Town Clerk

Ms. Onorina Maloney was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Ms. Maloney reviewed the budget as follows:

• Level funded except elections
• HAVA (Help America Vote Assoc.) supplies handicapped accessible machines which is required by the State.
• Elections  2 machines required, one for each location
• Machines are purchased by the State, requesting funding for programming the machines.

 

Tax Collector/Treasurer

Ms. Christine Collins was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Ms. Collins reviewed the budget as follows:

• Rates are improving
• Would like to combine banking/payroll expenses line items to one line item.
• Middlesex Retirement is a definite amount for underestimating.

 

Conservation & Water Safety

Mr. Peter Morrison and Ms. Barbara Ganem were present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Dillon noted that the expenses had increased from $4,900 - $12,000.  Mr. Morrison stated that they were combining land management and expenses together, and those two items together are less than the previous year.

• Increase in Legal and Engineering
• Water Safety  level funded, except COLA and wages

 

Building Maintenance

John Estabrook was present for this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Estabrook reviewed the budget as follows:

• No change in wages
• Increase of $80,000 in expenses, minor capital $45,000-50,000
• Request for pick-up and plow for hauling trash, recycling and plowing
• Duct work - $4,600
• Service Counter  Tax Collectors Office  
• Increase in inspections i.e. emergency generator, alarm, roof inspections, elevator inspections
• Replacement/Repair
• West Groton Fire Station  window replacement
• Senior Center- roof over entrance
• Center Fire Station- replace steel doors
• Center Fire Station  8 windows
• Squannacook Hall  replace with vinyl windows because of vinyl siding

 

Mr. Cunningham asked if a bicycle rack could be placed in the Town Hall parking lot.  Mr. Estabrook stated that it could be put in the final plan from Mr. Pine.

 

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to adjourn at 10:30 p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

 

 

Approved:  _____________________________       Respectfully submitted,

                  Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk                       Kathleen Newell

                                                                                    Office Assistant

 

 

Date Approved:  May 8, 2006