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Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
December 29, 2003
7:00 pm Meeting Opened
Present: R. Pride, J Hite
Clerk: W. Johnson, TA
Media: Meghan McCarthy
Bills and manifest for the week were approved.
7:15 Chief Tavernier met with the Board regarding his proposed 2004 police department budget. The part time salaries, overtime and shift coverage line items were discussed in detail and amended as follows: PT salaries to $2500, Shift coverage to $5400, OT stayed the same as proposed $5232, minor adjustments were made to other lines. WJ recommended encumbering $7000 from the 03 budget to offset some proposed 04 expenditures included $6,500 for training and conferences and $500 for new employee expenses, WJ noted this item could be approved with the other proposed encumbrances. A proposed 6% wage increase for the Chief and Sergeant was discussed and the Chief is to be prepared to support the new wages at the budget hearing and town meeting with evidence that the new rates are comparable or less than the area market wages
for similar positions. New patrolman wages would increase 3%. Approximately $30,000 in grant funds will offset 75% of the cost for the additional patrolman who is starting work on January 1, 04. A schedule to utilize the fourth officer position was submitted and discussed. The schedule will extend coverage and double cover some shifts to address some of the problems at school, early am call outs and downtown parking enforcement. The schedule will be flexible to assist in covering personal days, vacation time, training time, etc, while limiting impact on overtime use. The revised proposed 2004 budget was recalculated at $260,565.
JH moved and RP 2nd to move to non-public session per RSA 91-A: 3 II (a) with Chief Tavernier to discuss a personnel matter. So voted all.
RESUMED PUBLIC SESSION
JH moved and RP 2nd to seal the minutes of the non-public session. So voted all.
Chief Tavernier left the meeting at 9:10 pm
Board agreed to meet at 6:30 1/05/04 for a budget work session with K. Clement to review the highway budget. Public input will begin at 7:30 pm. WJ will note the change on the agenda.
WJ presented a draft proposal from Provan and Lorber for the water system corrosion control system. The estimate is $130,000. S. LaFrance would like to review the proposal and plans with the Board on 1/12.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
December 29, 2003
Page 2.
WJ submitted a list of budget funds to be encumbered from the general operating budget and the water and wastewater funds from 2003. After discussion JH moved and RP 2nd to approve the amended list of encumbrances as follows: Article 10 2003 Town Meeting $70,500 for road reconstruction in the Bergin Terrace neighborhood, Economic development/railroad station rehab; $5,000, Gov. Buildings; $10,000, Police Dept.; $7,000, Fire Dept/ $10,000, Dispatch: $800, Highway Dept. $75,000 paving, Recycling/transfer; $15,000, Water Fund; $20,000, Wastewater; $35,000. A detail list is attached to these minutes. Final adjustments to some encumbrances may be necessary when budgets are closed.
WJ presented a request to carry forward his unused sick and vacation time. The employee handbook policy limits vacation and sick day accumulation at 20 days each. Presently WJ has 23 days sick time. After discussion it was agreed to pay WJ for the three days over the 20 in 2004. Vacation carry over of 17 days was approved. Three personal days will go unused and do not carry over per the handbook policy.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:00 pm
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