SELECT BOARD
                            MINUTES
                        January 17, 2009
Present:  Sharyn Brush, Jason Morrissey, Chris Oldham, Matt Maroney, John Zink, Joe Krawczyk, and Lodie Colvin
Also present: Stuart Hurd, Town Manager, representatives of the Bennington Free Library, Lynn McCann and Barth Vander Els, representative of the McCullough Library, Rachel Schumacher, representatives of the North Bennington Trustees, Mark Boudreau and David Monks, Town staff members, Larry McLeod and Scott Murphy, and Laura Boudreau for the Norshaft Park, and citizen Tom Lyons.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. The business to be conducted was to hear from the agencies and trustees and to continue work on the FY10 budget.
B. Vander Els spoke for the Bennington Free Library. He described the operations, number of employees and volunteers, fuel use, and investment income. All factor into the requested increase. The Library is open 48 hours per week. Without increase in funding, hours would have to be reduced. The Board discussed fees for room use, the overall economic climate in the State, more aggressive fund raising, and greater funding from Shaftsbury and other Towns. L. McCann noted that the major purchase this year is a new server to replace a failing unit ($12,000). It is critical to the operations of the Library.
R. Schumacher spoke on behalf of the McCollough Library noting once again that the Village contributes through taxes to the Bennington Library and hopes to see a greater return fore the Village. Several Board members spoke in opposition to the perception that Bennington and North Bennington are separate communities. Board members noted the overall economic climate that is driving these discussions. 
M. Boudreau spoke on behalf of the Trustees. Both he and D. Monks were surprised at the request for $5,000 and noted that they had not voted on that. They would be satisfied with the $700, the same as last year. Next the Board heard from L. Boudreau about the Norshaft Park and the hope that the $10,000 previously committed by the Select Board was not at risk. After some discussion, that assurance was given. She then expressed a hope that someday funds would be in the Town's recreation budget to provide program staff to the Norshaft Park.
The Board then moved to the remainder of the budget. L. McLeod and S. Murphy joined the discussions. Staff reviewed the cuts and potential savings in staff and operational efficiencies which are projected by the move to the Working Foreman's position. S. Hurd agreed to look at fuel costs and use throughout the budget for additional savings. It was noted that L. McLeod was slated to receive $2,080 annually for the additional oversight work he is providing. The Animal Control budget showed an 8.06% increase in salaries. The Manager noted this is based on increased hours, not necessarily pay. He may look to cut that back some. In the Recreation budget, fuel use and energy efficiencies were discussed. Propane is being bid soon to seek a cost savings. An increase in user fees may be appropriate after we complete repairs and upgrades to the facility and exercise equipment. The staff were directed to seek input on the efficiencies of the boiler units from Quality Plumbing and others. It was noted that the salary increase in the Senior Citizens budget was an increase in staff hours.
The Board then, by consensus, reduced line 01.3000-562 from $10,000 to zero and increased the contingency, line 01.3000-790 to $2,500.
The discussion then turned more general in nature. The Board would like to see movement in the area of health care costs, whether in the deductibles, or in the Plan, or in the employee share, or in all of these areas. The Manager indicated that he had not begun that process yet, but would when the budget is finished. Staff positions may have to be cut in the FY11 budget if some savings can not be found. The Board asked that the Police Chief track the fuel and repair costs for the Tahoes and the Impalas so that the savings can be documented. The Board would like to review the revenue projections at a later date when more is known about any stimulus package impacts. It was suggested that savings could be found by holding the raises planned until January 1, 2010. The Manager felt that the focus of any change in salaries should be on the higher paid employees, not the administrative assistant positions. J. Morrissey hoped to bring the budget closer to a 1.5% increase, not the 2.66% it is now, not including today's cuts.
The Board, on a motion by J. Krawczyk, seconded by J. Morrissey, voted 6-1 (C. Oldham) to level fund the three agencies that spoke today. 
The Board then decided to meet next Saturday, January 24th at 9 am to finalize the budget and set the wording of the Leonard J. Black Park reserve, asking the voters to eliminate the reserve and place those funds in the General Fund as revenue. J. Krawzcyk offered to work with staff to explore geothermal as a heat source since it has been so successful in other Bennington sites.
The Board went into executive session at 12:03 pm to discuss salaries for the Manager, the Town Clerk, and the Treasurer. It came out of executive session at 12:20 pm. On a motion by J. Krawczyk, seconded by J. Zink, the Board voted 5-2 (J. Morrissey, M. Maroney) to offer 4% raises to the three individuals effective July 1, 2009.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:21 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Stuart A. Hurd