2010 Special Districts & Preliminary Budget Meeting
Supervisor Wallace C. Piotrowski called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with 30 seconds of silent prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present -
Absent - Vincent J. Graber Jr., Councilman Supervisor Piotrowski read the Fire Prevention Code instructing the public where to exit in case of a fire or an emergency. BENEFIT BASIS BUDGET Motion by Supervisor Piotrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Bove, to remove the 2010 Benefit Basis Budget from the table.
Motion by Supervisor Piotrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Meegan, to adopt the 2010 Benefit Basis Budget as proposed.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET - GENERAL & HIGHWAY FUND Motion by Supervisor Piotrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Bove, to remove the 2010 Preliminary Budget from the table.
Councilman Clarke asked Town Clerk Patricia DePasquale to comment on her request that funding be reinstated for a part-time person in her office. Mrs. DePasquale responded that the part-time person was very important to cover sick days, vacation time, and periods during the year that were extremely busy in her office. There was a time when the part-time position was funded at $8000, but that was reduced over the years to $4000 and now it was being eliminated completely. Mrs. DePasquale noted that 2010 will be a transition year as her office takes on the tax office duties and responsibilities effective January 1, 2011 and this part-time position will be very important to assist with the preparation prior to that date. Supervisor Piotrowski stated that one of the employees in the Town Clerk’s office used to take care of computer work for town departments but is no longer doing those duties. He questioned if the additional time that employee has would enable him to do some of the part-time person’s work. Mrs. DePasquale responded that the main use of the part-time person was to fill in when the office is short staffed and during particularly busy times such as sale of hunting licenses, etc. She and her deputy will also be busy learning the ins and outs of the tax office which will take them away from their regular duties at times. Councilwoman Meegan also commented that the workload in the Town Clerk’s office has increased with the Planning & Zoning Board responsibilities, and although Mr. Manley is no longer doing the computer work, he is at the Senior Citizens Center taking caring of the records in storage at times during the week. Councilwoman Meegan thought it would be advantageous to town departments to have a secretarial pool that the offices could pull from to cover sick days, vacations, jury duty, etc.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET - GENERAL & HIGHWAY FUND (continued) Supervisor Piotrowski noted that the $4000 would be an increase to line item #1.1410.0139. He further referred to Rev. Anderson and the YES counselor’s request for additional funding for line item #1.7311.0102. Supervisor Piotrowski had met with Rev. Anderson and the YES counselors and they were satisfied with an additional $10,000. He asked for the other board member’s thoughts on this increase. Councilwoman Bove questioned if $20,000 had been deducted from the electrical inspector line item and suggested that it be used to fund the part-time position in the Town Clerk’s office and the additional $10,000 for the YES program. Town Auditor, Wayne Drescher of Drescher & Malecki, LLC responded that he had noted that change but was waiting for the Town Board to vote on it. Supervisor Piotrowski stated that in relation to the electrical inspector position they will also need to deduct $35,000 from income line item #1.1255. He further stated that Highway Supt. Matthew English requested the following changes:
Supervisor Piotrowski stated that when he calculated the expenditures for each of these line items from information provided in August 2009 the figure did not include specific bills that come in after that date. Mr. English also requested additional funds for the Salary of part-time laborers line item #1.7110.0149. With the new gang mowers he is purchasing, he will be able to take a reduction, but asked for $110,000 instead of $100,000. Councilwoman Bove questioned where the proposed increases will put the 2010 budget. Mr. Drescher responded that the proposed increases amounted to a $53,000 increase in the 2010 budget, which still resulted in an approximately .7 percent tax decrease. Motion by Supervisor Piotrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Meegan, to approve the proposed 2010 Ad Valorem Budget with the following amendments:
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Supervisor Piotrowski, seconded by Councilwoman Meegan, to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 P.M.
__________________________________ PATRICIA C. DEPASQUALE, RMC/CMC |