March 17, 2009
Chairman Thomas Galvin called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. The meeting was taped.
Members Present: Robert Doyon, Tom Galvin, Stan Pilat, Pat Geary, D. Merriman, T. Graveline @6:35 P.M., C. Mallon and Roger Kergaravat.
Members Absent: Carl Graveline
Mayor's Report: Mayor Chatfield presented the budget items to be approved by the Council.
#5000 Office of the Mayor $176,434.00 (No Change) Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget for Office of the Mayor #5000 in the amount of $176,434.00. Motion seconded by C. Mallon. Unanimous.
#5100 Zoning Board of Appeals $1,650.00 (No Change) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for Zoning Board of Appeals in the amount of $1,650.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary Unanimous
#5150 Elections & Registrars $37,000.00 (Decrease of $600.00) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for Elections & Registrars #5150 in the amount of $37,000.00 with a decrease of $600.00. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Unanimous Discussion: P. Geary questioned K. Blinstrubas (Registrar of Voters) of the shift in duties from the Town Clerk's Office to the Registrar's Office. K. Blinstrubas advised among other issues, one would be to test the new ballot machines. P. Geary advised the new system and machines seemed to work well. K. Blinstrubas advised the Town will not be reimbursed for elections in the fall due to the elections are local.
$5250 Assessor $100,930.00 (Increase of $200.00) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for the Assessor #5250 in the amount of $100,930.00 with an increase of $200.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous. Mayor Chatfield advised the increase is due to an increase in the cost of the Assessor's School line item #5250-04.
#5300 Board of Assessment Appeals $350.00 (No Change) Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget of Board of Assessment Appeals #5300 in the amount of $350.00. Motion seconded by C. Mallon. Unanimous.
#5350 Tax Collector $97,050.00 (No Change) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for the Tax Collector #5350 in the amount of $97,050.00. Motion seconded by R. Kergaravat. Unanimous D. Lauber, the Town's Tax Collector, advised the line item #5350-04 Conference and Dues down due to the Tax Collector and the Assistant Tax Collector not attending as many seminars. Mayor Chatfield stated this is unfortunate because this is when the new tax laws are explained. P. Geary complimented on the great job D. Lauber does on collecting taxes for the Town.
#5400 Treasurer $5,200.00 (No Change) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of the Treasurer #5400 in the amount of $5,200.00 Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous
Town Clerk $103,182.00 (No Change) Motion made by R. Doyon to approve the budget of the Town Clerk #5500 in the amount of $103,182.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. 7 Approved/1 Abstained/ D. Merriman
#5600 Planning & Zoning Commission $9,300.00 (Decrease of $1,000.00) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for the Planning & Zoning Commission #5600 in the amount of $9,300.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous. Mayor Chatfield advised the decrease is due to the downturn in the economy.
#6050 Town Council $6,700.00 (Decrease of $250.00) Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget of the Town Council #6050 in the amount of $6,700.00 The decrease of $250.00 is for line item #6050-05 Sub Committee Expense. Motion seconded by R. Kergaravat. Unanimous. Discussion: C. Mallon would like to give the amount of $25.00 which is paid to each Counsel member monthly back to the Town. Mayor Chatfield advised this is a very good gesture, but due to Charter, the Council member cannot give back to the Town but could donate the amount to the Town. D. Merriman advised if anyone should be paid it should be the Planning & Zoning board.
#5400 Treasurer $5200.00 (No Change) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of the Treasurer #5400 in the amount of $5,200.00. Motion seconded by Stan Pilat.
#5500 Town Clerk $103,182.00 (No Change) Motion made by R. Doyon to approve the budget for the Town Clerk #5500 in the amount of $103,182. Motion seconded by P. Geary. 7 Approved/ 1 Abstained; D. Merriman
#5600 Planning & Zoning Commission $9.300.00 with a decrease of $1,000.00. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget for the Planning and Zoning Commission $5600 in the amount fo $9,300.00 with a decrease of $1,000.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous Mayor Chatfield advised the decrease is due to the downturn in the economy.
>#6100 Town Buildings $374,500.00 (Decrease of $5,400.00) Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of the Town Buildings $6100 in the amount of $374,500.00 with a decrease of $5,400.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous. Mayor Chatfield stated on the price of heating fuel for the coming fiscal year will be locked in at a price of $1.00 less than the 2008-2009 fiscal year. P. Geary questioned the amount of heating fuel used in gallons for the municipal buildings. Mayor Chatfield advised for the municipal buildings that the Town heats the amount of gallons is 14,000.
#6350 Conservation Commission $400.00 (Decrease of $50.00) Motion made by S. Pilat to approve the budget of the Conservation Commission #6350 in the amount of $400.00 with a decrease of $50.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous /b>
#6400 Inland Wetlands $5,000.00 (Decrease of $1,000).
Motion made by R. Doyon to approve the budget of Inland -
Wetlands #6400 in the amount of $5,000.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous. Mayor Chatfield advised the decrease due
to the downturn in the economy.
#6650 Fire Marshal $37,595.000 (Decrease of $1,825.00 Motion made by D. Merriman to accept the budget of the Fire Marshal $6650 in the amount of $37,595.00 with a decrease of $1,825.00 Motion seconded by S. Pilat . Unanimous Discussion. C. Mallon questioned the amount of hours the Fire Marshal works. Mayor Chatfield advised the hours range from 15 to 18 hours per week and sometimes the hours are less or more. P. Geary questioned if the Deputy Inspectors are working less. Mayor Chatfield advised that they are.
#7050 Commission On Aging $153,462 00 (Decrease of 500.00) Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget of the Commission on Aging #7650 with a decrease to line item for a total of $153,462.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous. Discussion C. Mallon questioned what line item #7650-07 Capital Equipment for a total of $2,000.00 was used for. Mayor Chatfield advised it is the amount the Director would use to purchase any item inside or outside for the Senior Center (such as tables, picnic tables, etc.)
D. Merriman advised the September 20, 2009 date will be posted on the Website for the Hazardous Waste Collection at the Town Garage from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. D. Merriman also noted as of July, a dumpster will be placed at the Recycling Center for all electronics including Computers and Cell phones.
Adjournment: Motion made by R. Doyon to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Meeting adjourned at 7:08 P.M. Unanimous
Thomas J. Galvin, Chairman
Rosalyn B. Moffo, Clerk