SELECT BOARD
                            MINUTES
                        January 24, 2009
Present:  Sharyn Brush, Jason Morrissey, Chris Oldham, Matt Maroney, John Zink, Joe Krawczyk, and Lodie Colvin
Also present: Stuart Hurd, Town Manager, and Neal Goswami, Bennington Banner
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. The minutes of January 17, 2009, were approved as corrected. Two spelling errors were found. The business to be conducted was to complete the budget work and review the Warning for Town Meeting.
The Board then moved to the remainder of the budget. J. Morrissey had several questions. He questioned if the Pathway ($500,000) expenditure shown in the Recreation budget was offset by grant revenue. The Manager pointed to where that was located in the revenues. He asked how the $150,000 unreserved fund revenue was determined and what was the current total. The Manager answered that it was the amount suggested by the Finance Director for which she had comfort at the present time. The Manager could not answer what the current total is without the budget status. J. Morrissey noted that should the Leonard J. Black Reserve funds be returned to the General Fund, the amount to be raised by taxes would be less than last year. The Manager agreed. J. Morrissey suggested that the staff's decision to "give back" 1% of proposed raises was to be commended; however, it does not appear to be necessary now. Discussion then ensued about the current economic conditions, the perception of voters who would see this as a recognition by the staff of the tough times, and the important message this sends. After much discussion, the Board agreed to send a letter to the staff involved commending and thanking them for their offer. It was also agreed that the Board would review the budget on or near December 31, 2009, and determine if a 1% raise could be then offered to all who participated.
The discussion then turned to the agency requests. J. Zink noted that he has supported the agencies in the past, but was concerned that the public does not understand the impact on the budget these agencies have at a total of $105,430. L.Colvin suggested that the Board should not work against the agencies, but it should point out the impact. Options discussed included individual board members writing letters or providing statements at the Floor Meeting.
The Board then discussed the impact of school budgets, the general knowledge of the voter, and how all this impacts a vote on this budget and the ultimate tax bill that is generated. 
The Chair then noted that there were no more issues to discuss involving this budget and asked for a motion. On a motion by J. Krawczyk, seconded by S. Brush, the Board voted unanimously to accept this budget, Revision "C" so-called, as amended by the salary discussion earlier.
Discussion then turned to the Annual Warning. The Manager noted that the draft did not include the Bennington Homeless Coalition, but the final Warning the Board will act on will include that agency at $25,000. M. Maroney suggested that the agencies be listed in order of the amount requested, highest first to lowest. On a motion by M. Maroney, seconded by S. Brush, the Board voted 6 - 1 ( C. Oldham) to revise the Warning in this manner. 
J. Morrissey and J. Zink were concerned with the proposed wording of the Leonard J. Black Reserve article. After brief discussion, on a motion by J. Zink, seconded by J. Morrissey, the Board voted unanimously to amend the Warning as follows, "Shall the voters of the Town of Bennington return the $50,000 Leonard J. Black Reserve to the General Fund as revenue?"
In other business, J. Krawczyk noted that the State was to return 80% of an $18,000 payment made by the Town to the Agency of Transportation as a local share for a project long-finished. Other towns had contended that such late billings are inappropriate. He asked the Manager to share the priority list for stimulus funds developed by staff. He noted that an upcoming joint meeting of the Vermont House and Senate Appropriations Committees would be available on Vermont Interactive Television. There was no other business.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 am
Respectfully submitted,
Stuart A. Hurd