Tentative Budget
10/4/11
The meeting was called to order at 10:06 AM.
Board Members present were Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest, Councilman MacDougal, Councilman Wrisley and Supervisor Boisen. Also
Present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Visitors included James Morgan, Highway Superintendent, Catherine DeWolff, Deputy Town Clerk and LeeAnn Hoskins, Secretary to the Supervisor.
The Tentative Budget was present to the Town Board. The Line items were discussed.
General Fund
The Town Clerk salary was increased from $17,313 to $21,800.
The Contingency Account was increased from $20,000 to $30,000.
The Health Officer was set at $500.
The Highway Superintendent salary was increased from $34,610 to $36,364.
The Beggs Park Dock line was discussed and it was determined that this money should be taken out of budget as a line item and set up as a capitol account.
The Summer Youth program was discussed and the Board feels there will need to be meetings to discuss this with Willsboro Town Board.
The Brass line in the budget was decreased from $750 to$500.
NYS Retirement was increased from $14,696 to $19,696.
Social Security was increased from $11,868 to $12,868.
Transfer-other funds was increased from $5,000 to $6,000.
Highway
Improvements-Chips was corrected from $45,000 to $49,450.
Equipment rental revenue was discussed and this line item for $178,000 is for the County snow and ice contract.
The cost of signs for the change in speed limits in the Town was discussed.
The signs charges are paid out of the Highway budget. An increase to the sign line item was discussed, as the cost of signs is expensive.
The Keytrol system billing was discussed and how the Fire companies and Headstart would be paying there bills to us.
Essex Lighting district was corrected from $4,000 to $4500.
Whallonsburg Lighting district was increased from $1500 to $2100.
Water
The issue of the contract with AES Northeast for the water wells was discussed and where we can put this expense in the budget the condition of the water plant was discussed. The system is aging and the cost to maintain the plant is rising. We need to make decisions as to which way we are going to go with the water issues. The cost of test wells were discussed. One test well will cost between $60,000 and $65,000. Supervisor Boisen said we have a contract with AES and even if decide not to stay with them we will have to pay them. The contract was signed in 2009 for $100,000 with AES. Supervisor Boisen will have more information ready for the Preliminary Budget. We will add $50,000 to the
Water contractual line in the budget.
Water/Revenues- $40,000 in unmetered sales needs to be moved up to metered sales.
Interest Earnings will be $150.
Sales of Scrap will be changed to $500.
Sewer District
The part-time certified sewer operator will be paid $20,000 per year and
the full time trainee sewer operator will be paid $23,400 per year.
Sewer District Fund line item Contractual was discussed and the $10,000
Is for training of the sewer operator and water testing at the plant.
The unmetered sales revenue was discussed. Supervisor Boisen said she feels we are only going to get $48,363 in revenue.
Supervisor Boisen is still trying to get a definite figure on the first principal payment for the sewer.
The tax rate schedule was discussed. The 2% tax cap was discussed by the Board.
Councilwoman LaPine said she had been at the Town Hall and spoken to Cathy Persons about the training for Leeann. Cathy said it would be a good idea for training 1 to 2 days a week to get LeeAnn trained in the new computer system and the books in order. Councilwoman LaPine said she feels we need to have her come as long as need to get the books correctly entered into the new system and LeeAnn properly trained to use the system for proper reporting. We need to find the funds to pay for the completion of this project. Councilman MacDougal said yes we need to get this project done so we can have the correct information available to the Board. Councilwoman LaPine said we will use the available money from 2011 to complete the project and then in the 2012 Budget have money available for any future needed training.
The next Budget meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 3PM at the Town Hall.
The Public Hearing for the Preliminary Budget was scheduled for November
10, 2011 at 6PM at the Town Hall.
Resolution #37
10/4/2011
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY Councilman MacDougal.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Essex hereby authorizes the
creation of a Part Time Sewer Operator at the salary of $20,000 per year.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS DULY SECONDED BY Councilwoman LaPine
AND WAS ADOPTED.
ROLL CALL:
Councilman LaForest yes
Councilman Wrisley yes
Councilwoman LaPine yes
Councilman MacDougal yes
Supervisor Boisen yes
The fuel bid was discussed. The Board agreed to place an RFP in the paper for bids on fuel for Town properties for 2012.
Supervisor Boisen said there was a problem with hook up at Barry Hamilton’s property. The Sewer contractors discovered when they hooked up the sewer at his property that the sewer collection at the marina would be going into the Town sewer and our ordinance does not allow this. We need to address this problem. Councilman MacDougal said a separate meter for the marina would be needed. A flat rate was also discussed as an option. A rate of $2500 per year was discussed. Supervisor Boisen asked the Board to give this some thought and bring their ideas to the next meeting as how we will handle this situation.
There is also a problem at Burley’s. The office has a bathroom that is not on the plans.
The cost of hooking up this bathroom should be paid by the Burleys since it did not show up the plans.
Motion to enter executive session at 1:05 PM. to discuss the Union contract made by Councilwoman LaPine. Second Councilman LaForest. Roll call Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilman MacDougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.
Motion to exit executive session at 1:35 PM. made by Councilman MacDougal. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Councilman MacDougal-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Supervisor Boisen-yes.
Reentered the Tentative Budget meeting at 1:37 PM.
Resolution 38
10/4/11
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY Councilman LaForest
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Essex hereby authorizes Supervisor Boisen, to sign the agreement between the Town of Essex and Teamster
Local #294 as amended on 10/4/2011.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS DULY SECONDED BY Councilman MacDougal
AND WAS ADOPTED.
ROLL CALL:
Councilman LaForest yes
Councilman Wrisley yes
Councilwoman LaPine yes
Councilman MacDougal yes
Supervisor Boisen yes
As there was no other business the meeting was adjourned at 1:37 PM.
Respectfully submitted Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk
