SB Notes Tue March 28

Meeting Items
Added to agenda

• State requires there be a right of way before the Branch Bridge replacement can start. The work is being done with government money. Abutters must be notified and there needs to be a hearing.

6:05 p.m. Joint Meeting with Finance Committee/FY24 Budget— discussion

• Accountant: requested $10,000 increase, suggestion is to give him a $5000 increase.  We have an issue with proprietary software that needs to be addressed.
• Added 5 hours a week for building maintenance.
• Animal inspection stipend, need to increase stipend as more work has been added, taking over rabis duties.
• Vehicle gas & oil stays at $40,000.
• BoH overpaid Mosquito Control by $4000, so the BoH expense line should be reduced by $1000 as this year is considered pre-paid, also the next 3 years. Attempts to get the overpayment have run into administrative problems.
• Discussion of highway department workload, better time tracking is needed, possible reduction of 1 crew member to reduce expenses.  Other towns with more roads have fewer crew.  It may mean adding contract labor at certain times, but should be a savings overall if done.
• Discussion of the expense for broadband MLP manager position which was supposed to be finite. There is a concern that Heath broadband overhead is higher than comparable  towns.
• Discussion of FRCOG payment of approx. $5000 for nursing services which are not fully utilized and how to better manage this.

o Financial picture—present and immediate future outlook

• With the significant increases in education costs, broadband payments coming due, and the normal increases in costs of everything, the Finance Committee and the Select Board are looking at some hard decisions to cut expenses.

o Review of ATM articles—amend legal posting locations, creation of new revolving fund.

• Jacobs Road added as posting site.
• There was a lengthy discussion on the revolving account and I am not sure of the outcome.

Other Business
o Highway Foreman position—evaluate and regrade for additional duties

• Regraded with a salary increase.

 Mail

• ​KP Law rate increase of $10/per hour