TOWN OF SUTTON
Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall
93 Main Street
Sutton Mills, NH  03221

Budget Committee 
Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2017 6:00 p.m.

Committee Members Present: John Silverberg, Chairperson; Andrew Palmer; Steven Hamilton;Robert DeFelice; Richard Benson

Ex-Officio Present: Robert Wright, Jr.

Approved 2/13/17

1. Call to Order Regular Meeting
Chairman Silverberg called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 16th, 2016
MOTION: Ex-Officio Wright moved to approve the January 16th, 2017 Regular Meeting Minutes, as presented. It was seconded by Committee Member Benson. The motion carried. (6-0)

3. Meeting
A. Cost-of-Living Increase Deliberation
Chairman Silverberg distributed the Bureau of Labor Statistics information that he had received from Elly Phillips. Committee Member DeFelice explained that those numbers didn’t really hone in on the cost-of-living increases, and pointed to a subsequent email that he received from Ms. Phillips outlining solely the cost-of-living increases. Much discussion was had on the issue amongst the Committee Members to include topics of:

-Difference between approving a 1% increase and a 3% increase

-Inflation

-Remaining competitive with towns in the area

-Healthcare benefits

-Board of Selectman’s merit increase recommendations

-Regional cost-of-living increases

-Past cost-of-living increases approved by the Committee

MOTION: Committee Member Benson moved to recommend the 2% cost-of-living increase. It was seconded by Committee Member DeFelice. The motion carried. (5-0-1).
Ex-Officio Wright abstained from the vote.
The following line items were discussed:

Account # Account Name 2016 Budget 2016 Actual
(as of 1/30) Variance Under (Over) 2017 Budget Com. 1-02-4210-101 PD Full Time Wages $143,831 $93,419 $50,412 $101,155 1-02-4210-210 PD Health Insurance $137,028 $108,123 $28,905 $96,782
Ex-Officio Wright indicated that Line Item 1-02-4210-101, PD Full Time Wages, has been adjusted by the Board of Selectman from $101,155 to $143,831, which will include consideration of a School Resource Officer in the budget. This figure is the same as the 2016 Budget.
In the same vein, Line Item 1-02-4210-210, PD Health Insurance, will adjust from $96,782 to $106,782, which would cover the School Resource Officer’s health insurance for half of a year. He stated this was appropriate, since they are still in the process of considering candidates for the position, and does not foresee having a School Resource Officer in place until mid-year.

The following line item was then discussed:

Account # Account Name 2016 Budget 2016 Actual
(as of 1/9) Variance Under (Over) 2017 Budget Com. 1-01-4130-110 Ex Financial Manager
Ex-Officio Wright informed the Committee that the Board of Selectman has recommended $2500 for Line Item 1-01-4130-110, Ex Financial Manager, with hopes of filling the position.

MOTION: Committee Member Benson moved to approve the adjustments of Line Items
1-02-4210-101, PD Full Time Wages, from $101,155 to $143,831; and 1-02-4210-210, PD Health Insurance, from $96,782 to $106,782. It was seconded by
Committee Member DeFelice. The motion carried. (6-0).

MOTION: Committee Member DeFelice moved to approve the adjustments of Line Item
1-01-4130-110, Ex Financial Manager, from $0 to $2,500. It was seconded by
Ex-Officio Wright. The motion carried. (6-0).

4. Final Comments

Chairman Silverberg brought up the Public Hearing, to be held on February 13, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., and stated that he hoped that there would be a good turnout. Victoria O’Connor stated that the Notices had been posted in the South Post Office, North Post Office, Vernondale’s Store, Town Hall, Intertown Record, and on the Town’s website.

5. Adjournment
MOTION: Committee Member Hamilton moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. It was seconded by Committee Member Benson. The motion carried. (6-0)

Respectfully Submitted,

Victoria O’Connor, Recording Secretary

TOWN OF SUTTON
SUTTON BUDGET COMMITTEE