Town of Pittsfield
February 6, 2008
Budget Committee
Members present: W. Abbott, W. Case, L. Deane, G. Gilman, F. Hast, C. Keuenhoff, A.
MacLellan,
L. Okrent, J. Prue, L. Small (Select Board rep), M. Vaughan, L. Vogt (School Board
rep).
Members absent: Helen Schoppmeyer
Meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM by Chairman Keuenhoff.
Minutes of the January 30 minutes were approved as corrected. The School Budget
had a net change of $50,000 less rather than $50,000 more (as reported in the
minutes) to the current/revised
budget of $9,887,132.00.
Leslie Vogt explained that the School Board is projecting a $200,000 unreserved fund
balance at the
end of the year. This is due to savings in health insurance costs – the expected 10%
rise was
actually a 9% decrease; special education transportation and tuition has decreased
because a
special ed student has moved out of town; 1 special education paraprofessional has
resigned, a second may not be back next year, and these 2 positions will not be
filled.
Scott Brown was present to explain the SAU budget and the changes in cost since
Pittsfield is
now alone in the District with Barnstead gone. The bottom line cost for the 2008-2009
school
year of $8128 seems reasonable and gives the SAU a year to research other options
over the next year. Some options that have been discussed are the Music Room at
the High School, downstairs
in the Industrial Arts Building, or the attic at City Hall. Costs to renovate space falls in
the $18.000
range.
Leon Keniston provided committee members with the final Town Meeting Warrant
Articles.
There are 4 new ones and one has changed from the previous articles given to the
committee.
Article 5 is requested by the Conservation Commission: to raise and appropriate
$10,000 to
create a Forest Management Plan to come from the Town’s unreserved fund
balance.
Article 27 To approve the collective bargaining agreement between the Board of
Selectmen and
the Pittsfield Town Employees NHFT Local #6214, AFT, AFL-CIO at the following figures:
2008 – $39,863.15 (a 4.5% increase) 2009 – $35,318.77 (a 3.7% increase) 2010 –
$38,324.49
(a 3.8% increase).
Article 28 Changes in amounts as benefits were not added into the previous figures.
Teamsters, Local $633
2008 – $19.,698.24% (a 6.6% increase) 2009 $7,124.76% (a 3% increase) 2010 –
5,090.56
(a 2% increase.)
Article 31 $300 to be added to the Animal Control Budget of $500 to pay the
Humane Society costs
to drop off cats.
Article 32 $5,000 to be paid to the First Congregational Church of Pittsfield, to help
defray costs
of municipal clock repair.
Article 33. To create an expendable trust fund to be known as the Town Clock
Maintenance Fund,
for the repair and maintenance of the municipal clock and to put $1000 in this fund.
Fire Chief, Gary Johnson presented his plan for replacing an ambulance. The
approximate cost
of replacement is $162,000.00. Then, because of items that would need to be
replaced on the unit being taken out of service, these items would need to be
replaced to put on the new unit.
They include: a Defibrillator, portable suction unit, stretcher, stair chair, Continuous
Positive
Airway Pressure, a laptop, IO Drill, and miscellaneous equipment to bring the total
cost up to
$200,000.
Several other handouts were available to committee members, but because of
inclement weather
and the need to get home safely, no further items were discussed.
Public Hearing is Monday, February 11, 2008 in the Lecture Hall at the High School.
This hearing will cover both the School Budget and the Town Budget.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Joan M. Prue, Secretary