Minutes of the Lamoine Budget Committee
February 7, 2003
Vice-Chairman Joe Young called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM
Present were: Budget Committee members Joe Young, Hubene Brodie, Linda Feury, Robin Veysey; Administrative Assistant Stu Marckoon, School Committee member Faith Perkins. With excused absences were Reginald McDevitt and Henry Ashmore
Minutes
– Hubene moved to approve the minutes of January 23, 2003 as written. Robin 2nd. Vote
in favor was 4-0.
Recommendations
Article
11 – Stu explained this article is to appropriate enough money from surplus
to complete the town hall repair projects recently awarded.
He said the cost was $9,666, and there is $5,000 set aside for the
project already. Hubene moved to recommend $4,600. Robin 2nd. Vote
in favor was 4-0.
Article 12 – Stu explained the purpose of the article is to search for suitable land, and possibly put a down payment on a piece of land to hold it through the time it takes for a town meeting referendum. He said the public works study committee recommended the town look for a suitable piece of land. Robin moved to recommend $3,000 from the salt/sand shed reserve fund. Hubene 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 15 – Faith Perkins said the school board talked about a number of cuts. She said the board made cuts of about $23,000, taking some suggestions from the budget committee, and some cuts in other places. She said a home tutor and storage shed were cut. She said they left in the building study, some of the ballfield maintenance, and cut money from board legal fees and tuition, while leaving in money for the nurse. She said they cut a little more than the budget committee suggested. Joe said the budget committee suggested $21,500 and the school committee cut $23,000.
Ms. Perkins said the original budget presented increased the town’s share of education by 4.9%. She said the cuts imposed bring that down to 4.3%. She said they combined the $15,000 in the unspent school building study funds with the balance forward.
Linda said she still thinks there is room to come down. She said the town has got to reign in some costs. She said everything is difficult statewide. Hubene said she doesn’t approve of the French teacher proposal. Linda said the budget committee doesn’t want to tell the school committee how to spend its money. She said she would like to see no more than a 5% increase.
Joe said he spoke with Union 92 business manager David Bridgham, who asked how the budget committee would feel if the school committee cut $21,500 they were looking for. He said the school committee might see different priorities, and the budget committee doesn’t want to run the school. He said the budget committee represents the taxpayers. He said the school committee has a strong desire to come in with a united recommendation. He said a divided opinion could be damaging. He said the budget committee might have areas they don’t agree with the school committee, but the cuts have been made, and they exceed the original recommendation. Linda said she agrees, and she expects the professionals to make the choices. She said it’s a difficult year to add anything. Hubene said it looks like the school plans to add a French teacher and more hours for the nurse. Ms. Perkins said benefits for the Ed-Techs are an addition.
Linda asked if there were any talk about regionalization. Ms. Perkins said the school union already does that. She asked if there were any bigger ways to share. Discussion followed on the effectiveness of Ed Tech benefits. Hubene asked if the superintendent’s office ever cuts costs. Ms. Perkins said people do get salary increases.
Robin moved
to recommend $812,453.67. Hubene 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article
16 – There was a short discussion regarding state aid to education. Hubene moved to recommend $1,205,896.05. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 17. – Hubene moved to recommend $2,000. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Articles 18-22 – Hubene moved to recommend the articles as written. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article
23 – Linda moved to recommend $1,000 for the portable classroom maintenance
fund. Hubene 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article
28 – Stu noted that a Boy Scout plans to make Lamoine Beach Park an Eagle
Scout project that will help with improvements.
Linda moved to recommend $5,000 for parks and recreation. Hubene 2nd. Vote
in favor was 4-0.
Article
30 – Stu explained that the cost for dispatching is now a known figure
and this budget could be adjusted accordingly.
Hubene moved to amend the previous recommendation to $42,963.89. Robin 2nd. Vote
in favor was 4-0.
Article 32 – Hubene moved to recommend $19,250 for the 2nd half of the air handling system and painting for the fire station. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 33 – There was a short
discussion about grading, crack sealing, tree trimming and the Route 184/204
project. Robin moved to recommend $137,300 for road
maintenance. Hubene 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 34-
Stu reported he got an accurate tonnage estimate earlier in the week,
and adjusted the budget accordingly, based on $39/ton. Hubene moved to recommend $43,100 for major
road projects. Robin 2nd.
Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 36 – Hubene moved to recommend $18,000 for a revaluation. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 37 – Linda moved to
recommend $361,716 from General Fund Revenues.
Hubene 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Linda moved to recommend $14,000 from
Code Enforcement Fund Revenues. Robin
2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Hubene moved to recommend $1,000 from
dump closing funds. Robin 2nd.
Vote in favor was 4-0.
Linda moved to recommend $650 from
animal control fund revenues. Robin
2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Hubene moved to recommend $29,338 in
road fund revenues. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Hubene moved to recommend $28,416 from the Portable Classroom Rental Revenues. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Hubene moved to recommend $18,000 from
the Revaluation Fund. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 38 – Hubene moved to
recommend continuation of the funds as listed.
Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Article 39 – Hubene moved to recommend passage as written regarding use of Harbor Funds. Robin 2nd. Vote in favor was 4-0.
Next Meeting: The committee said they would meet again if needed.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Stu Marckoon, Adm. Asst.