 Good evening. I'd like to call the Monday, January 16th Town of Berlin select board meeting to order with us tonight is flow Smith on my left Joe stop on my far left Carl Parton on my right and Dave gonna be here Also with us is Vince Connie our town administrator our town treasurer Diane Isabel. I'm Brad town Addition or changes the agenda one addition to add the select board report Public comment hearing none Town clerk appropriations and update for approval pick in your package. There is the morning notice The articles are on there. There were several that did not apply So the funding the total funding for the articles this year Excluding the fire department are 64,000 163 which is $34,000 less than last year And and the deadline has passed for getting on the ballot for yes, you'll also know on the Warning there are two numbers highlighted The fire department is is basically finalized by this highlighted in yellow There was a there was a question about the possible further reductions there that we had asked them and of course our budget number as well This last year's number and it'll be hopefully finalized tonight So those two numbers will be updated accordingly Well That being case. Let's take them change the order and put that in after the we'll vote on that first after the Approval of the final budget review, okay Anything else on that then no Request to cater permit three penny tap room A retirement party at the range correct 75 people Yep, I make a motion to approve the liquor license for the three penny tap room for Friday, February 3rd from 8 p.m. To midnight at the capital city's range 75 people expected like Bill said Any further discussion Hearing none all those in favor I try motion carries Final budget review and approval Okay, so in your package again, you have a summary report. I did not include the full 31 pages of the budget again Because we wish to that pretty much line by line But I did provide you with the summary. It's actually two pages You talked about using Harpa funds or some of the costs Hopefully bring our rate down. I think we were successful We had a 5.4 to 7.3 target from flow and we are in for the town budget at 7.3 So how did we get there? We eliminated out of the budget 26,000 for the zoning enforcement officer part-time We took that completely out. We took the 60,000 out that the public works had requested as well and We took 68,000 out from the capital budget a Reduction so the two funds that we took that out We basically reduced them to the same dollar amount that we had last year that brought them to that on top of that From there we funded using our funds Into back to the capital budget the hundred and eighty thousand for highway equipment The 12,000 for police guns and ammo and the 45,000 for one of the vehicle purchases We had proposed to this year and that would cover one of them That being done reduced our overall budget increase to 7.3 for the town operational expenses Then we have the the fire department Right increase of approximately 13.4 So the town 13.09 Excuse me 13.09 Thank you, John That brought us up to 19% increase And on this sheet I did not revise it today at 98,000 now becomes 64 thousand 163 for the appropriations Said Diane calculated the Overall reduction would be roughly with that Around 20.7 With a full amount of the fire department so based on that Using our buffons if we took another hundred thousand dollars of our buffons and use that Towards the appropriations for the fire department So the town would pick up 287. I would pick up a hundred thousand that would bring us down to about 17.7% overall instead of the 19 that it shows there 17.7 and you have a case in your packet that shows where the capital funds are as well the two accounts that those would come out of three accounts including the Police cruiser and that Diane was kind enough to do some other calculations today for us if If we wanted to get down to around the 10% overall With everything we would need to cut another 250,000 dollars out of the budget approximately so I think somewhere I just want to be clear where the math is working so The fire department increase was 13% and if we go with the correct other town You just added the seven to the 13 Now the the fire department increase Is 13% Over their budget not the total town budget right correct. All right there increase over last year's budget, right? So is it just coincidence that our increase of seven and their increase of 13 equals to an overall budget of 20 or just just coincidentally the numbers work Okay, if you were to do the math, that's what you would come up with So if we use another hundred thousand of our funds for the fire department which cuts The cost to 17.7 correct next year when the fire department comes with their budget will it look like? 39% increase No Because they're requesting from the town 387,000 this year, okay, right? so if they come with a 10% increase it'll be 10 10 percent over that 387,000 the 287 is The hundred thousand is just the our funds offsetting the town the impact to the town They're still requesting the same amount of increase. It's how we're paying for it is the difference kind of shell It's to be quite frank. It's no different than what's Technically, it's no different than what we've done in the past like last year in buying down the tax rate It's just where the funds coming from instead of coming out of a our fund Not so it's Calculate the tax rate then we would put a line on them in their same I'm not in favor of using the additional hundred thousand of ARPA for the fire department I do think the nineteen percent that it's gotten down to it's good I think the seventeen point seven to the nineteen percent I'm just not in favor of using that extra hundred thousand to bring it down just that Small amount. I think there's Other uses for that. That's just my own opinion I think I don't know my opinion in the use of the ARPA Funds should be something that's like long-term and not a 12 month you know event of some sort You know like I I See that the guns in ammo for the police I see the guns are gonna last Let's say 8 10 12 years whatever that might be I see that is good use of the ARPA funds But the ammo is going to be spent that year and maybe not maybe the best use of ARPA funds And I guess I just want to say that the fire department did not ask for ARPA funds to be used towards their budget As I see it when we use the I'm fair using the ARPA funds to buy down this buy down this budget However, the ARPA funds are an outside source whereas before when we bought it down it was from internal revenue already in Correct, so to say absolutely So next year Unless we have a surplus in the budget we're Gonna be against all Most likely and are the numbers back Are the numbers in this budget still inclusive of 8% For all staff. Yeah, so I think that's a topic we should discuss as well hmm The only thing with the wages from my point of view is until until something breaks this inflation to where cycle we're in and These how are you going to retain people? I know it's difficult and I I see your point and I've considered it myself. I just think 8% I'm not quite there at 8% Times are tired of time Times are hard all over. Well, what's calling that? Was 8.7% So there's two problems to that 8% number, right? So for the last two years, I've been looking at the LCD looking at the salaries across the state from a comparative level I also looked back and I can I can go find it the notes of the last I think it was eight years. I asked you for dining right you gave me of The cola versus this raise increase for the staff and we were over 13% behind until last year Last year we gave a roughly 6% increase which left us a little over 8% behind On average when you do the comparison This year that 8% matched with the cola brings us up to just about even with both cost of living and The average across the state for the similar positions Just put that out there for information. So we played a little bit of ketchup over the last couple of years as well what what Total savings would there be your effect on the budget would there be for a one? each 1% Decrease from that 8% so if it was 7% Yeah, can we give them? The the total of the increase for the year for the salaries is a little over $30,000 If you take that out of the total you're probably looking at You're not looking at even 1% all right not quite 1% because it's about 50,000 That's changed a lot used to be 1% was 30,000 So 1% off the 8% is 30,000 and 1% Lower in the total budget is 50,000 Put out my thought and then we can discuss it discuss it But I was thinking 5% this year and then revisit it next year I respect the 8 the 8% would bring us in line with the current cola But I just think looking at the budget and everything that we've needed to cut out and looking at it fiscally responsibly I'm looking at 5% 1% For staff and I do highly respect all of our staff and certainly Wouldn't want to lose anyone But I would I that's where I'm at so In our wages compared to In vltc, we're How we're at the median or we're just above it or just below Overall we're about median. We have a couple that are Just slightly above and we still have a couple that are slightly below as well So we're about split and mr. Sawyer just joined us. Oh good Sorry, I'm late, but I was unaccustomed to the time change No worries glad you're here discussing the budget So flow you're you're talking about a 5% instead of the 8% We don't necessarily we don't have contracts or anything we couldn't I guess Have a town employee Talk to the town employees if we did something less than eight with the idea that we're going to try and make it up next year How about something like that kicking the can well, we are to an extent we are You know, we can't promise that would be let's say another 3% to make the 8% Which we're going to be behind the ball Well next year that this time what I'm what I'm looking at is if you have if you still have a 7% inflation Next year 3% isn't going to do much more. There's 100% behind. Yeah They're still dropping Well, that's speculative. We could say what if we had 3% inflation next year and we could make up so it's a guess guessing game and inflation probably follows federal government spending and energy prices, so You know the spending is going to be obscene, but well the energy prices are too I don't see anything pardoned expression. I don't see any coming down the pipeline What are your thoughts Dave on the budget Well, I haven't had a lot of opportunity lately to look the whole thing over but talking about the you know increase in the pays by whatever percentage that you know, I came in late, which you're thinking Uh about doing I I've been looking at all these reports of of Of where you know the shortages on on Items from beef to everything else that I believe inflation Is probably going to be higher than what it is this year I hope not but all the reports are leaning that way. Uh, you know with the shortages in beef and and and uh Just everything So I I don't feel good about it Not thinking that it's going to be a you know a a two or three percent increase in inflation. I think you're going to see it Above five You know more into seven eight percent If not higher Well, Dave what's your thoughts we were talking about? Perhaps reducing the uh pay increase from seven seven seven eight to five So that's a three percent reduction in in in the employees pay increase and Then try to make it up next year and I'm not my point was I don't see that it was going to get any better next year And the and the employees will be a little further behind the eight ball or we will be too Yeah, yeah, no, I don't I I I don't think I would be in favor of a three percent Decrease I mean it may be that boy. I don't even really feel good about two one Uh Because you're you're going to be playing catch up and all you're going to do is put your employees in a worse spot If inflation continues down the way that that that it appears to be going We made a compensation this year when uh, when you know, we recognized The employees with a retention bonus this year for we did that who got that the town Yeah, the money out of the opera funds Yeah And hopefully if that if the if the employee retention bonus Proves fruit we we have saved some money going down the road because the trouble I'm saying is if we lose anyone How are we going to replace them? And what's it going to cost us at least here? We have a known figure Whereas if we hire someone I mean I have the same skill level of course if you hire somebody with less skill level you can get a Lower rate on the hourly But at the same time There's other factors there that are pleasant to with an unskilled workforce And in the market the way it is trying to find somebody to fill some of them seats. It's almost It just you can't be done. I mean uh, not effectively Uh, you know going from eight to six maybe and then having the opportunity next year to make it up a little bit I mean It's speculative to think that it it's not going to be that high inflation next year, but I mean the possibility is is I mean it could be less So we might have the opportunity to make it up. I don't know about making up 3 So I brought up last meeting with the state of vermont did we got a percentage increase? and then A couple bonuses And it's my understanding that the bonus could be out of arpa funds Um, so what if we were to kind of compromise with what we're all saying and did the five percent But then gave a half a percent bonus june 30th for folks that worked the first six months and then A christmas bonus of a half a half a percent um December 31st For the folks that worked that six months to get it up to six percent But we still get the 90 thousand dollar savings on the overall budget we use Just 30,000 of arpa funds So it's kind of meeting in the middle but not necessarily We're sorry, where do you come up with the 90,000? Oh, I thought 30,000 for every one percent lower. So if we went from eight to five, that's no the eight percent The total across the board for the eight percent increase for salary is like 32 or 33,000 dollars in total In total for everyone It's not a big amount Oh boy, it sounded so sounded much better What? So we're arguing over So we're we're only talking of the difference of what was it 36,000? Less than that, but yes That's the total for non-union And i'm coming at it from the perspective that five percent is respectable And that we could look at it as well next year as we would and that I'm in favor of the bonus suggestion. I think that that is also um a wonderful Wonderful concept as well as using some of the arpa funds for the bonuses Again, it's not a huge amount of money eight percent is a sizable amount for an increase in tough times And so it's definitely a big discussion, you know, given we do respect our staff And just the question is do we want to go forward with a full eight percent increase? Or do we want to pare it down so? Well, i'm not seeing this as a pay increase. I'm just seeing this as keeping the Keeping the the employees boats level from sinking because if we if you Do five percent with eight percent inflation nationwide You're coming up the employees are leaving are losing three percent of their income And you're saying the the nationwide is an eight percent inflation that right now is the number seven something It's seven something. I think it's I think it's in the high sevens I haven't had to hard to look lately but if I mean You're basically you're basically allowing the employees to lose ground here if you if you reduce their eight percent That's what I see And again, I'm just going to bring it up for again day for your benefit Of what I said earlier how part of this eight of eight percent was calculated at the time of doing this It was an eight point seven percent cost of living and I worked with diane over the last eight years to look at What the salary increases were compared to cola? um It was around eight years To see how they compared or kept pace and they didn't keep pace We were roughly they were the staff was roughly about 13 percent behind what cola would have been So they had already been losing ground the last several years So between last year and this year We tried to make up a fair percentage of that also using The leagues of cities and towns report for comparative salaries to see where we were So with an elsewhere Sorry go ahead No, I was just thinking Seeing as you've looked at that across the board How are we fairing With the leagues of city and towns across the board for for employees two years ago We were behind across the board with last year's increase We got just about there a couple were almost on the money for the for the average Um, and some were lower with this year We have a couple above the average and a couple below the average so overall We're right about average with this year's numbers Okay But we're still behind by about well, I know I shouldn't say that About two percent overall on the on the cola two or three percent total from years past but And what's your feet? What's your feeling? I mean With what you're hearing out there across the board and in other communities You have you heard anything from of there? What they're leaning on a cost of living increase or anything. Have you heard anything? I haven't talked to any of the other towns yet And I've been looking to see what's come out, but I haven't seen much on that yet So I really can't I can't speak fairly on that because I don't don't really know at this point That's right The other thing to bear in mind is you know, we went through union negotiations I know we're talking about the eight percent, but that's just the non-unionized employees um Our police force is getting A six percent Plus a four percent plus a cost of living six percent year on year for the next three years I'll be honest with you that's that's about the number I felt That that would be a comfortable increase, but I know wouldn't want to put our employees you know In a sink and ship But six percent seems to be a number that that That I would definitely feel comfortable with I mean, I'm not objecting to the eight percent, but I've just That seems a little high But overall we're only talking 30 something thousand It just seems like this year we've every All throughout the year it seems like we've been raising pays and adding positions for stuff So so it's not just a 30,000 it's the amount of money that we've uh We've either added positions or raised stuff throughout the year That I could you know, I just keep thinking back to There's so many factors in this the vermont league cities the towns not taking into consideration the benefits and benefits Berlin has good benefits, I think from this house. We um Occupation is like real estate in the sense that location and uh You know work climate and environment is is important and a factor as well But there was also a pretty big insurance health insurance Cost increase and when we're thinking about Cost of living And yeah, hey really the eight percent It sounds like pretty fair, but I mean, there are a lot of people and we talked about the private sector where they're uh income may be going up to meet cost of living but People on fixed incomes people on benefits, you know structured benefits Aren't probably getting that so there are people that it's most adversely going to affect With our you know 20 budget that uh We have to think about too I just a good calculation on what it was. It's 31,890 dollars across the board Uh, if you take 2% of that away total You're looking at six hundred and thirty eight dollars I just didn't sound right. That sounds too low 31 90 31 890 minus two percent Minus two percent six hundred and thirty seven dollars and eighty cents so Total administrative budget is 200,000 This is so it's three into Does the 389,000 dollars is the total Of the eight percent increase for all the staff that are getting it highway and staff That total increase for the year is 31,890 dollars total So you're saying it's how much was it six hundred and some odd dollars. Yep, six hundred thirty eight dollars It's all out of your statement by dropping it to percent and We're talking over 10 employees So that's what 60 bucks is Nine nine employees because one isn't getting it because he's a new hire Gotcha Nine into six hundred dollars Well, let's come up with a number. I can't see wasting too much time on this It would correct me if i'm wrong, but i'm looking at this and that would be an increase of nine employees of like 32 hundred dollars an employee correct If everybody had the same salary, but actually don't so right right Yeah, i'm just i'm just doing the rough math on it And is there anything we could do for the one hire Now that you bring up that topic, you know, whatever we agree to tonight Being that's going to exclude one employee. Is there anything we could do to factor in something for that employee as well The it was considered in the hiring rate that the oh, I see he was paid. So he's very well Is there something we want to see? Oh I was just uh Once we get off. I don't know if there's going to be a decision here It needs to be tonight I guess I was going to have a question on your your summertime overtime Is that what it is? I don't know if this will make this any easier, but I'll tell you a little bit what I'll take for a position on this quite quite frankly for 638 dollars If that makes the difference, I'll take that off my increase Whatever percentage that comes out to be take it off my increase and leave the rest of them For 638 dollars I'll donate that from my my increase. I'll reduce it by that amount to hit that number Well, I'm just looking at the salaries and talking about what that would really affect I think it's fairly clear that if you're going to cut anything if you're looking for any amount It's going to be a little bit of everything You know if you're going to take 1% off or 2% off the the salaries and not save a whole lot I mean you're going to go down through this whole thing and we're going to have to just Cut a little bit to get to some mark I'm offering the board that the percentage to cut it to the number that you wanted to 638 dollars Take off my increase Along leave the other where they are that keeps them Where they need to be my opinion I'm happy to do so I'm not for you. I'd be more For the 8% myself because we're only talking things aren't something I'll always say to me so I mean It's Yeah, I guess I'm not alone Well, I mean once again, it's always the problem that The increases come in the in the in the thousands and your savings come in the hundreds Mind your pennies and the dollars take care of themselves Yeah, I guess I'm much more supportive of the 8% Than I was for any of the new positions we we added and really those are the dollars we spent Which forces us now to argue over the pennies that the new police officer on like The first day it was asked for we just said yes, that was in my opinion as the loan Advocate against that hire it was a mistake Uh, you know, those are the big spending things that are have us where we are right now on top of the police I mean that is making the police budget 13 plus percent increase and You know 19 for the fire department We all support the fire department, but a 19 increase is a lot. It's a big percentage. That's not a 19 increase For the fire for the appropriation request Well, yeah, it brings it from 7.4 19. Oh, well total. Okay, right 13, right 13 still big percentage. Maybe I got the police 17 and 13 The police's increase over last year's 17. Yeah, sorry. I got this mixed up. Yeah, those are the Just just on that note. You should have a Paper that looks like this because we were asked to look at the police budget as well So basically, uh, just real quick on that Everything in blue is is union contract requirement We can't change that everything in the burnt orange color is contract driven. So there's contracts for those There's some that are zeros. So obviously they're not applicable The one yellow one was transferred to ARPA funds And everything else is as what's available to look at cutting supplies uniforms Advertising training the needle fees equipment maintenance fuel And prisoner lodging and so on and so forth. So again, we're pretty limited um on what the cut there and and several of those Didn't increase over the last two years already so Get something we can look at and talk about And and you'll see from 23 to 24 just the wages for full-time salaries. I mean, that's partially the new contract But it's also the new officer And that's probably 80 to 90,000 80,000 new officer maybe so All right So I want to just go around and give a number for the Of the 8% and see if we can come to a consensus and go to the next more impactful Decision Yeah go I'm looking at what the the 1% reduction would Bring to the budget. I think I'd be in favor of leaving 8% and for the employees for basically It's a retention thing It really is You know our assistant So we have a new a new position there the assistant treasurer between that and the in the new police Officer, I mean, that's that's a chunk right there Um, so I'm in favor of the 8% keeping it Cool same Yeah, I don't think this is a hill worth dying on. I'll go I'll go 8% too Okay, can we move on to the next one? Never Dave or was he How you feel I'm in favor of the 8% and and You know I was in favor of the new police hire I think that you know Over the last couple of years being there and seeing what they were up against and being short people and and you know Just the obstacles And and the way the town of Berlin is growing and these positions as we added Are going to be beneficial to us down the road and and as they are now Uh, so we're definitely in favor of the 8% Okay What was the next one on the Anybody have anything else you want to take and Look at The highway summer, what do we have for overtime during the summer? Oh, okay Is it really much no, it's not much at all. I think it's like incidental. It's emergencies That type of thing Most of the numbers we're looking at are driven from last year's expenses Correct You know, there was some Pretty sizable increases and things that we did control Assurances off the top of my head was like 30 almost 35 percent increase alone Over last year talking liability in workers To hear the answer to your question is yes, they were based on actual dollars The price of gas obviously In materials and even the price of a vehicle now You know the trouble is you'll buy them today Tomorrow or whatever they deliver them You know the the price has been on up Another couple grand So what's what was the what do you say again was a total decrease in the budget using the aqua funds? or the We used 180,000 for the highway crew 45,000 for the police vehicle and 12,000 for the uh The guns So I leave this with a with a net increase in the budget of what percent? 7.3 percent So the total budget dollars would be 4,086,931 dollars and that's That's on the sheet that looks like this in here 950 So in the town report for voters that are going to be actually researching Yes, what the budget is what will they see and I want to be clear We're talking about with the appropriation 177. Okay, they will see seven 7.3 percent they will see three articles The town budget of 4,086,931 And they will see the fire department at 387,109 And they will see the article appropriations at 64,163, but those will all be listed All the appropriations will be listed as separate articles down through but the total will be 64 163 So that would that would reflect a An overall if we do not use the 100,000 For the fire department an overall increase of 20.7 percent And I think Diane has some numbers what that would mean to a 200,000 for a 200,000 home That would be approximately 200 and six 260 dollars more a year So I'm sorry. I wasn't in on this a little earlier and I just I heard the numbers on the fire department And that that increase this year was how much? 13.9 Right 13.9 What was the increase over two years because it seems like last year The increase in the fire department budget was considerably higher than that last year Am I correct or over two years? It's got to be Because wasn't it somewhere around a 20 increase last year? I think it was around 18 last year. What happened? Yeah What's the what's the what's the big ticket item? I mean, what's wow? This seems a lot over two years. I know why last year's increase was that I But what why again are we looking at? double digit numbers increase on the fire department side we got rid of a 1997 Sorry 78 aerial Okay And it was it was replaced with a 2001 And so that comes with a $19,000 loan payment annually Okay Yeah, I just I was just questioning because I I knew it was pretty high and it just seemed like It wasn't going to be that this year, but so okay Well that answers my question So I you know and again I go back to my school board experience on the school board Budget they actually show these amount increase from the previous year's budget on the ballot. That's that's state law now So in the town report Will they see a Align item in the town report book that shows 20.7 percent Town budget increase I don't know how that's But remember in the town report we don't include the appropriations because we don't know if that's going to pass Okay, and that and we're calculating that in this Okay, so they'll see everybody will see 7.3 percent, which is okay for the expense And to speak for the fire department at least on the Proposed budget it does show the increase And the appropriations this year is less than last year last year it was Right right 98,000 last year. So that's a savings of 34,000 this year on what's being requested in the appropriation The appropriations that didn't take in uh reapplied were they absorbed by another group they combined their Their grants and whatnot I didn't really look that much to compare it because I was looking for the big number, you know What was missing so the smaller ones to me seem to be pretty much the same as prior years 250 to 500s I don't see like groups that are combining. I know what you're talking about Groups are kind of the same doing the same type of thing, but yeah Yeah, I don't see that the big ones the library. What was interesting is gmc's not this year Well, that was a big chunk last year Yeah, because I was like, I believe like 26,000 last year Once you get beyond the library it's uh, you know the cemeteries 10 again Then home health hospice is the next at 71 50 and then 3000 for the council on the aging and then the 2000 mental health 1200 975 875 Well, I think rachel has said that most of them are asking for exact same amount this year as they had last Yeah, that's correct And I don't think there's any new ones There were a couple but they were small amounts Well, uh, how much is left in the opera account? There is 321 321 thousand 11 dollars and 60 cents And you should have a sheet like that So at 7.3 percent overall increase Could that police officer be paid through alpha? Yes salaries What's the salary? I always guess a rough guess and that's the middle would be like 65,000. That's just a rough So that's basically 1% Yeah And that was the new police officer you're talking about yet And what about the non-budgeted? Employee in the office so that's the treasure system treasure Would you take the two and look at the Well, I mean That's nearly so The paying for the officer Would basically take it from 7.3 down to 6.3 Well, especially if I take the officer and I take all the benefits and that would be well over 65,000 And I do try to pack the benefits in there Because you get to fight a match you've got the beamers and then you've got I don't know how much that you can use our performance for The benefits yeah, yeah salary benefits you can It's a whole package This this new this new officer. What is it? Have we done any projection what that's going to cut down on overtime? Well again watching the overtime Initially when he came on board there was a fair amount of a decrease in overtime As we got colder and things people moved around You know the the calls and the overtime Have gone up Haven't seen him start to come back down yet though So it it fluctuates with Current events. I guess is the best way to put it Are we fully staffed with able-bodied officers right now? We've got one that's still partially Workers come so he's able to work in the office and help helps a great deal of that With that, but he's not full time. He can't come on the road and definitely not go on the road from one It's more than that been Function you can do right now Do we still have one down in the academy? No, okay We're basically fully staffed except for the one that's on let's call it Admin duty right now How long do you expect him to stay there? Great question. I don't know the answer to that yet That's got to have a little bit of an impact On the overtime it does it does Well, it's just in treasure where she paid I think with benefits She would be probably the 60 range 40 they salary is 25 760 and then she has insurance to us Yeah, but she does have health insurance to us Are you thinking around 60 that's fair. So that would bring it down to 5.3 percent I'm moving both into carpet Yeah But again, that's that's only going to be for this year Right and you have the same issue next year because obviously you need those decisions Well, the board wants it down to once the increase in the budget down to three to five percent I don't see much other ways to do it Yeah Problem with that though. I see is what's going to happen is this next year. We're really going to look bad Because you're not going to be able to do it two years in a row. You're going to be looking at a larger increase in the budget No You'll be looking at an increase on an increased budget Increase on an increased budget well If you drive it down to five percent this year Yeah, oh, okay. I see I see what you're saying. I see what you're saying. So you'll have okay. All right Yeah, my thought process on that was skewed. I see what you're saying though Yeah, okay Thoughts from the board so is the Discussion the two positions and pain Gallery of Benefits with the funds we should be somewhere around the hundred and twenty-ish Thousand is that correct 60 something for the We'll be actually know with it be more with benefits for the cost. Okay, like the 80,000 range I would imagine Don't look at 140 or 150 out of the other funds Yeah, so the budget is the same the tax impact is lower if we take that And then what is that that brings the art for money down to under two About 180s About 200 Yeah, we're at three Take it'll take roughly half that right Yeah, so you'll be around 180 once 160 180 Depending what the total of the benefits comes comes though. So Again, I just just want to point out that we we're already buying it down by over 200,000 right now with our buffins 236,000 roughly But Roughly what yeah 200 what was that? We're already using 236,000 of of our buffins to buy it down And that's for the guns and all these other purchases. That's for the 45,000 for the police vehicle 180 thousand dollars for the highway equipment And uh, $12,000 for the police guns and ammo this year Yeah, because where did we start at 515,000 or something like that? Yeah Start it The total from the beginning yeah, that was uh 831 515 more 12 correct Okay, and that he that has to be used by A certain time there was a certain time on that correct correct has to be obligated By the end of I think it's 2024 and spent by the end of the 2025 I believe That's why No, we're doing a good job Again, I wouldn't have turned to doing that. I was concerned about much more is again next year right At some point it's it's you know It's kind of like kicking the can again. It's going it's gonna buy this Yeah, what would you suggest in vans for for cutting? um again, yeah There isn't much of a choice if we're going to do it that that's where we're going to the way we're going to have to achieve it I mean, I like I said, I've already taken 237 Thousand of our funds to bring it down Right as far as buying equipment and things Not getting you know, we're we're there We've done about all that we can we've got one more Well, if the the radios have already been approved, but we've got one more system to replace for the police their computer systems um And now it's coming soon Those are the things that you know again long term Have the best and biggest impact for us for the for the dollars but but short term you know, we're We're pretty much out of out of options at this point Based on the the other costs that have gone up that again that we don't directly control Well, we we I think that we've done our job on the ARPA funds putting it into, you know, capitals that Our long term to help the town Um, you know, I guess I I don't know Well, as I understand it the only thing yes, you want to present something that looks like a pipe Go ahead. Sorry about that. That's right, Dave. Um The only thing that I was thinking with using the ARPA funds for that was at least it would take and uh Get us to where We'll know have well, we'll have a certainly have a better and a clearer picture As to what the economy is going to do by this time next year If we go if we if you listen to some of the economists, they're talking recession Some say we're going to come out of this. I mean My own personal feeling is that we're probably going Going to a some sort of a recession, but I don't know how bad Again, my my my thoughts on on using it for the two positions are those are going to those are going to hit us hard Again next year $200,000 $120,000 Next year that's going to hit us again Um, we won't have the ARPA funds to cover that Um, and again at some point, you know, we're using 180 000 for highway equipment. We're not going to have that again next year um If I put that back in the budget next year We're going to take it out again to reach our goal And instead of going every seven years, we have to go to eight years on a vehicle to pay maintenance costs But we've learned to be out and I also heard that the new trucks may be going down to a five-year warranty and not a seven another problem is that the Is that it was late what another couple years on the payload? correct that and a truck at some point So how does I guess if if we were to reduce that on a on a Further reduce that from eight percent to six 6.3 or whatever it was. How does that impact? Like a What's that it's at 7.3 right now 7.3 So if you got it down to 5.3 By using the ARPA funds, how does that impact? Yes, it would be clear today. We we we used our performance to go from To get to the 7.3 right How much of it did you use to get to the 7.3? 200 and 225 and 13 $237,000 All right, then I don't know that I would use another 200,000 that you have the funds because I think that We're going to have some issues that we're going to need that money next year I think the thing that jumps out well to me as a voter when I wasn't on the board is significant increases like You know, I'd scan through my town report And I'd look at whatever police department 300,000 police department 450,000 and that would draw my eye And make me question it I think 7.3 percent gets us we were at 15 percent last week or somewhere up around there as far as the total 18 It's it's a high number, but we are You know, everybody knows everybody at home knows that We're battling inflation just like the town is I don't think we're going to get that number any lower with the new the three new positions we hired. So I think spreading out the The pain for this year and next year puts next year's board in a better position and this year's board in A position where the budget will still be approved by voters. I believe that 7.3 Where's the third hire? The higher the public works director The police officer and the assistant Public works officer is paid for by the public works department Comes out of their operating budget they get through the sewer water and sewer Including all the benefits It won't touch the general fund. Yeah, but wasn't there a number that we thought it wasn't there Appropriation or something that we we gave to the we authorized for the public works board That wasn't coming out of that thing it increased No, we got that already Okay, all right We're on it You know, I'd be a favorite seeing it to 7.3 myself. I mean, uh, it's a big It's a big increase, but just just a girl's point So so everybody understands that the one new hire on the staff that we have that's in this Raised that portion of the budget by almost 25 percent by one staff member Yeah Raised what portion of the budget the the staff portion of it admin staff But the percent increase Not the total. Yeah, the the portion of the budget for staff for the office So I get that So do we make a motion to accept the recommendation or the number 408 That's it or 4,086,931 But it is 408,651 it is $20 more I'll tell you I'd be willing to make that motion with that 7.3 increase, uh, 7.3 or 7.3 one now So whatever that number was to uh to go forward with that budget I think that the voters will approve the budget You might hear a little bit of squawking But I mean there was some stuff last year that I thought For sure we'd have heard more about that that didn't And I feel comfortable with that number and not not being here for all of the budget stuff and very little of it myself I think you guys have done a hell of a job Second you you made the motion. Okay. I'll move they made the motion Any other discussion on this Okay, so with the 7.3 increase, where does that leave the budget again at 4,086,951 I know I won't even ask Vince to take that $20 out of his pay personally I'm okay with that I said I won't ask So if that increase they had How much is in is in the operating insurance insurance? Any talking health insurance or are you talking all the insurances of all the insurance Especially the liability The workers come too. Yeah So there's a figure on this page where it's the 150,149 It's on this page Impact page Assurances In your 10-130-50 account It's 150,149 dollars roughly about 30 percent 31 percent That's a 31 percent increase. Yep All the last year's numbers was 114,252 So that's That's workers call health insurance itself Over last year went up 23,870 dollars. There's health insurance, right? I'm I'm basing that all seven percent, but I'm also basing it on more people this year than last Okay And last year was five percent increase Any other discussion on this Later in favor All right Motion carries Now they should be do the or they had to do the math before the Warning Yeah, okay, so the warning article two will now read But some of us Four million eighty six thousand nine hundred fifty one dollars for necessary town expenses for the period July 1-203-2-30 at 424 And the other one for the The number for the um prior to correct me. I heard that's the correct number, but that's the correct number No, it's 387-1 on number 387-1 on 9 Yes That's last year's number. I'm sorry, 365 So the article four shall read shall the town appropriate 387,100 by dollars to the Berlin volunteer fire department for payment of necessary expenses from July 1-2023 through June 30-2024 All the other items in there They're correct Here motion on the article I make the motion to approve the article as presented and outlined by vince this evening A second all right Any further discussion on it Should I be honest brah I don't see why not you're not appropriating we're not you're not spending the money or you're just putting it before the bill More discussion any no more discussion on this all of them Remember we we have a motion on this already. Okay I'm so happy Um, all those in favor note further discussion Those opposed motion carries real budgets Approval licenses permits vouchers and applications I make the motion to approve payroll warrant 23-15 For payroll from January 1st to January 14th 2023 paid on January 18th of this year in the amount of 60,000 $332.99 and payable warrant 23 g 13 with Checks number two two six one seven to two two six four nine for payable for the amount of 48,362 dollars and 32 cents and the december 2022 general journal entries I second Any further discussion In favor Motion carries Approval of january 9th 2023 minutes I make the motion to approve the thursday january night 2023 minutes as presented I second Any Further discussion All those in favor All right Abstain Motion carries Would you give us a select board report There's a copy of it in your should be a copy of it in your package This is for the tax report Actually gave it to you last week as well a sentence to you But you haven't had a chance there's another copy in there Pretty much trying to standardize it You're here on here kind of changing numbers in any specifics So this looks a lot like last year's with the To make the change your numbers changed You do accept that I'd ask that y'all sign it tonight so I can give it to rachel to get into the report The motion on you signing it I'm just finishing reading it just to do a One quick additional cursory review So I'll make the motion to accept the select board report As presented Not second Any discussion on it Dave No All those in favor Aye Motion carries And Roundtable Joe I'm uh just gonna Say again that the Berlin fire department does have Um an open seat on the board of directors open to any Town resident, um, and this would be a position that would be appointed by the select board So anyone interested You could contact your select board Well, nothing this evening. Thank you Now Dave no I'll entertain the motion to adjourn To make the motion that we adjourn tonight's regularly scheduled select board meeting One second All those in favor Aye We're adjourned