SELECT BOARD
                            MINUTES
                        January 19, 2008
Present:  Sharyn Brush, Jason Morrissey, Chris Oldham, Matt Maroney, John Zink, Jim Gulley, and Lodie Colvin
Also present: Stuart Hurd, Town Manager, several Agency representatives, Sam Carrara, resident, Art Barriere, resident, and Neal Goswami, Bennington Banner
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. The first order of business was to hear Agency representatives aggrieved by the decisions to cut funding at the last budget meeting.
Leitha Cipriano, Center for Restorative Justice, was first to speak. She expressed concern for the process and seeks a conversation with the Board to better inform them. She described a recent case and pointed out how the resolution benefitted all involved including the victim. They serve 300 children per year focusing their efforts in like skills, underage drinking, and community service. The funds requested are used to leverage State and Federal dollars, and she fears a reduction in funding could become permanent. Bennington is the largest contributor at $3,000; Manchester is second at $2,000. The remaining Towns give in the $500 to $700 range.
Joan Sakalas, PAVE, next spoke. She noted that the $500 cut amounted to 17% of the request. She was concerned that certain agencies were being singled out. An across the board cut for all would have been more fair she felt. The local dollars are used to feed and house their clients in emergency situations; they are discretionary in that way. J. Morrissey explained that these requests are discretionary in the Town's budget, in his opinion, and that the taxpayers are an important factor in his mind. All agencies are meritorious in his opinion. There was no malice intended. J. Zink, a founder of the original PAVE, felt that an across the board action would have been more fair, but that the Board could not come to consensus on that.
Elizabeth Eddy, BROC, spoke next. She reiterated the concerns already voiced. She had never felt this was a competitive process and had been satisfied with level funding over the years. The cut funds are a portion of discretionary funds that are emergency in nature. The $2,800 cut could allow 14 people to stay in a motel for two nights. That is the impact in real life.
Brian Billert and Rick Knapp next spoke to the $5,000 cut in battle Day funding. The Department raises $40,000 annually for the parade. Last year $17,500 was spent on bands. The requested $15,000 makes up the greatest portion of that. Most funds spent on the parade are spent in Bennington. L. Colvin and C. Oldham indicated they would reconsider their votes.
Sam Carrara then spoke with regard to closing the Rec center on Sundays. He believes it a quality of life issue, especially for seniors who can not get outside and exercise safely in the Winter months. He suggested that the Center be open from November 1 through April 1 to save money, and serve those who need it. L. Colvin indicated she would ask the Board to reconsider.
The Chair then asked the Board to consider the minutes of January 12, 2008. They were accepted as presented.
The Chair then explained how a vote to reconsider must be made and seconded from those individuals who were in the majority at the l;ast meeting. The Manager explained that a 5% cut form every agency would generate $4,000 compared to the $4,300 cut by the Board. The Chair felt we were being unfair to the agencies by making these cuts without more time to petition. Perhaps they should be placed on the ballot to gauge voter support. J. Morrissey indicated that in the overall picture, these were small, but difficult cuts. C. Oldham questioned the logic of treating the agencies differently, one to another. J. Zink was concerned that the Board may have erred last week and should reconsider. L. Colvin called for a motion on the Center's funding reconsideration. A motion by J. Zink to reconsider failed for lack of a second. A motion by J. Zink to reconsider the PAVE funding failed for lack of a second. A motion by J. Zink to reconsider the BROC funding failed for lack of a second. C. Oldham made a motion to reconsider the Battle Day funding. It was seconded by L. Colvin. It passed. A motion to restore the $5,000 by J. Zink, seconded by S. Brush, passed 6-1( M. Maroney).
Paran Recreation's funding application was now before the Board. On a motion by J. Morrissey, seconded by J. Zink, to level fund at $3,000 passed 6-1 (M. Maroney).
The Board then continued its review of the FY 2009 budget. 
The Highway Fund budget was first. J. Morrissey questioned 5100.560, Other Purchased Services at $14,500. The Manager explained that $12,500 of those funds were to cover the second half of a contract to survey and describe a number of currently unmapped Town roads. The current FY08 budget will be overspent, but this contract was important to secure additional mileage monies. On a motion by J. Morrissey, seconded by J. Zink, to cut $4,500 from this line and extend the contract another fiscal year passed 6-1 (S. Brush).The Board then discussed and clarified questions on the Downtown funding and the Enhancement project expenditures which have exceeded the current budget and then discussed the Traffic Control expenses for the crosswalk machine. M Maroney suggested removing funding for sidewalk projects from the budget and adding some of those dollars to paving projects. The Board took no action. The use of blacktop versus concrete for sidewalks was raised by J. Gulley. The Board took no action. In line 5240-680, there are contingency funds for placing fire retardant on a covered bridge. The Manager indicated that this could be cut in this year if the Board desired. On a motion by J. Gulley, seconded by J. Zink, the Board voted to cut the $5,000. The vote was 6-1 (J. Morrissey). In the Vehicles and Equipment section, J. Gulley discussed his dissatisfaction with flail mower purchase, but asked for no action. He also spoke at length on the pros of a wing plow. At a cost of $9,000, he felt that the reduced wear and tear on the small pick ups and reduced ovetime from other departments could show a savings. The Board requested that the Manager develop a plan to purchase a wing plow or two when the next large truck purchase is planned. That should be FY10. Discussion about the M318 lease /purchase clarified that this was a necessary purchase and should it not have been necessary, the Manager assured the Board that there would have been a reduction in this line. J. Gulley asked the staff to review the proposed trade of an F450 for a series 3500 truck. If this is the Mt. Anthony plow truck, should the Town consider a series 550 truck with a diesel engine. The Manager will discuss and return if the budget should be adjusted.
The Fire Fund was next. In line 4500.230, on a motion by J. Morrissey, seconded by S. Brush, the Board voted unanimously to cut $2,000 for a lap top projector. Insurance costs following the water damage claim were discussed but no action taken. In line 4540-230, M. Maroney asked if this amount could be budgeted as a reserve, and then allow the Manager to work with the Fire Chief to control when pagers and the like are replaced. The Board agreed. The Manager will adjust the budget and note on the Warning. The ID kit in line 4580.830 was questioned. Board members felt that there must be other alternatives in the Police Department or the Sherif's Department. The Manager will explore and adjust the budget if there are ways to save.
The Board then discussed the Rec Center Sunday opening. The Manager indicated that two part-time positions and a maintenance man would be required. If the union personnel would agree to shift the schedule and this time would be regular time, the only increase in the budget would be for the part-time help at $1,350 for the period November 1 through April 1. On a motion by J. Morrissey, seconded by J. Zink, the Board voted unanimously to reconsider last week's action. On a motion by J. Morrissey, seconded by J. Gulley, the Board voted unanimously to direct the Manager to negotiate work schedules with union personnel for the five month period November 1 through April 1. If possible, the budgeted will be adjusted and the Manager will report.
The ballot articles were next discussed. The article regarding the $50,000 reserve for improvements to the Leonard J. Black memorial Park was already voted by the Board. Discussions regarding the proposed wording resulted in no changes. An article regarding $240,000 for road and sidewalk work was next considered. L. Colvin suggested this should be a reserve as well. On a motion by S. Brush, seconded by J. Morrissey, the Board voted unanimously to place the question on the ballot as amended. 
In other business, J. Gulley noted that the Watson tree on east Road was down. The Manager indicated that the Town planned to grind out the stump and create a drainage ditch along the road. The Manager presented a"minutes excerpt" to be adopted by the Board to formalize the lease/purchase of the International truck scheduled for delivery soon. The motion to accept the lease passed. The Chair signed the "excerpt".
The Board then went into executive session at noon to discuss salaries of the Manager,. The Town Clerk and the Treasurer.At 12:16 pm the Board came out of executive session and took the following actions: on a motion by S. Brush, seconded by J. Zink, the Board voted 6-1 (M. Maroney) to give the Manager a 5% raise to $90,326. On a motion by S. Brush, seconded by C. Oldham, the Board voted 6-1 (M. Maroney) to give the Town Clerk a 5% raise to $27, 497. On a motion by S. Brush, seconded by J. Zink, the Board voted to give the Treasurer a 5% raise to $10,920. The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Stuart A. Hurd