BENNINGTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
                    BENNINGTON TOWN OFFICES
                        205 SOUTH STREET
                   BENNINGTON, VERMONT 05201
                   SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2010
                            MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lodie Colvin-Chair; Sharyn Brush-Vice Chair; 
Joseph Krawczyk; Jason Morrissey; Matthew Maroney, Christopher Oldham and John Zink.  
ALSO PRESENT: Stuart Hurd-Town Manager; Michele Johnson-Human Resources & Contracts Administrator; and Scott Murphy-Community & Economic Development Director.  
At 9:02 A.M., L. Colvin called the meeting to order.
1.  Minutes - January 16, 2010
S. Brush made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted.  J. Krawczyk seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous.
2.  F.Y. ‘11 Budget Work Session - Final
L. Colvin began the session by questioning a reconsideration of $7,500. for a contingency for engineering services in the Highway Fund.  The Town Manager explained that he didn't believe it is necessary.  The Board held on their decision to not include the $7,500. within the budget.
L. Colvin confirmed the Board's direction that the Battle Day funds would stay budgeted as is.  Any additional monies needed will be raised through fund-raising.
C. Oldham arrived at 9:04 A.M.
L. Colvin shared a conversation she recently had with M. Boudreau from North Bennington Parks & Recreation.  He contacted her as a follow up from last Saturday's budget work session meeting and wanted to let the Board know that he reported back to the Village of North Bennington Trustees.  From that follow up, the Trustees have agreed to establish a $10,000 line item within their budget.  He also said that the Trustees are willing to allow a member of the Bennington Select Board to have input into the spending of Bennington's share of funding if it so desires.  J. Morrissey spoke up and said he didn't agree with that and didn't feel that the Board should have a comment on that.  Others agreed. 
J. Morrissey discussed that he was contacted by members of the public regarding the recent Banner article discussing the 2% raises.  He questioned the Town Manager as to what kind of an impact would a 1% raise on July 1st, 2010 and 1% on January 1, 2011 have on the budget rather than the entire 2% on July 1st?  The Town Manager replied that the 1% for Department Heads pay is $8,295.  Breaking the raises into two segments costs $4,600. each segment. If the Board was to do this, the Town Manager asked to be included.  J. Morrissey asked about the clerical staff pay and where we are with pay with regard to the union?  He questioned if they are in line?  The Town Manager replied that the clerical staff is the lowest paid of the full time staff, generally lower paid than the private sector.  Many are parents and helping to support families.  Some are single parents.
J. Krawczyk asked where we are with the union?  He asked if they take our offer, will it save us in 2011?  J. Morrissey replied that it will save us in 2012.  S. Hurd agreed with J. Morrissey.
J. Krawczyk noted that Department Heads voluntarily gave up 1% for ½ year already and the Board was going to give it back to them at the ½ year mark if the money was available.  Then when we had the money they voluntarily gave it up again.  J. Krawczyk spoke against 
J. Morrissey's suggestion.  L. Colvin agreed with J. Krawczyk's philosophy.  She spoke in favor of the 2% increases.  S. Brush agreed also.  J. Krawczyk spoke about the Highway Department.  He was in favor of the good job they do.  He hears what J. Morrissey is saying; however, he feels that what the Department Heads did is admirable.  The Town gets KUDOS for being 1st in the State on many levels and that makes us open for grants.  S. Hurd was the #1 Town Manager last year in the State of Vermont with many Town's competing, and Bennington's got the #1 Police Department.  J. Zink agreed and spoke that he didn't want to hurt the little people.  These are the people that do the things that make the quality of life things happen.  J. Zink felt because staff has been so effective there is not much to cut. 
L. Colvin spoke that she is fine with the $28,000. budget cuts proposed/recommended by the Town Manager.  
M. Maroney spoke that he was thinking about this all week.  The Board should direct the Manager and staff to explore cutting $500,000. from the budget in $100,000. increments.  The staff needs to prepare recommendations of what services would be cut.  M. Maroney would like a plan by August 2010.  A well thought out contingency plan.  J. Krawczyk proposed a suggestion wondering how people would feel about one day off per month without pay?  L. Colvin suggested this is not something we are implementing.  This would be a contingency plan only.  J. Zink is supportive of this plan.
J. Morrissey questioned account 5100.560 what kind of services?  The Town Manager explained that it includes surveying and similar types of administrative services.
M. Maroney asked the Town Manager if he was comfortable with the electrical costs cut from the streetlights?  S. Hurd indicated not entirely, but with the LED project in place, it should be possible.  S. Brush asked if we are charged per pole?  S. Hurd replied per meter.
J. Zink asked about the police uniform coats that were cut from the Police Department's budget.  The Town Manager explained that the Chief said this would have been his first cut as well.
C. Oldham asked about the software contingency.  S. Hurd explained we haven't used it over the last year.  The small tools are reduced.
J. Morrissey suggested making a Select Board contingency $10,000. for the Board to consider over the coarse of the next year should funds be necessary.  C. Oldham spoke of his concern that this is micro managing.  He feels the Manager should be responsible.
J. Krawczyk asked the Town Manager about the Town's line of credit.  He asked if the Town asked for 1 ½ million rather than 1 million, wouldn't that give us a contingency?  The Town Manager explained that would cost the Town interest.
J. Morrissey made a motion to accept the Town Manager's recommended $33,000. cuts from the budget and to put $10,000. in a contingency account within the Select Board's Budget.  The motion was seconded by J. Krawczyk.  The vote was unanimous.
L. Colvin asked if there should be a limit to the amount of the expenditure from the contingency that the Town Manager would like to have permission to expend without needing Board authorization such as $1,000., etc.  S. Hurd suggested that the Board just wait and not set any prior authorized limits.  He would rather wait and see how things go and acquire Board authorization per occurrence.  If necessary, we can come back to it in the future.
J. Zink brought up the Chief of Police's position.  He suggested delaying the next Chief's salary and benefits for three or six months.  The Town Manager said no.  He suggested if that would be a direction, he would delay the Lieutenant's position.  S. Hurd would rather have a Chief of Police in place right away.
M. Maroney questioned the line item for the crash data retrieval equipment.  The Town Manager said it was listed within the wrong line.  J. Krawczyk commented that he is still working up north on getting funding for the crash data retrieval equipment and he very well may get it.
M. Maroney inquired if there has been any progress made between Rural and Bennington Fire Departments regarding the extraction fire equipment?  S. Hurd replied nothing yet.  J. Krawczyk questioned why don't we merge?  S. Hurd discussed the history of and between the two departments.  M. Maroney requested a written plan for extrication equipment for tools and training from the Bennington Fire Department before any additional equipment be purchased.
Discussion ensued regarding consolidation between the Rural and Bennington Fire Departments.
M. Maroney discussed that you need the better part of one year to prepare such discussions.  You would need the two entities to discuss this and neither are willing to do so.  J. Morrissey discussed the possibility of a paid department.  M. Maroney suggested one paid chief or an administrator.  The Town Manager said the Fire Department did not like the idea of a Department Head hired by the Town Manager.  They like an elected Chief.  J. Krawczyk plans on approaching the Rural Fire Department regarding consolidation.  J. Zink asked the Town Manager if a consolidation occurred, could all operations be run out of the River Street Fire House?  The Town Manager said no.  Most likely, the Willow Road Fire House would be kept.
L. Colvin asked if there was any other business?
J. Krawczyk discussed the Governor's announcement that there was two million dollars for highways and some should come our way to Bennington.  J. Krawczyk complimented S. Murphy on the Hydro project.  J. Krawczyk is hoping to have S. Murphy speak up north to help with the permitting process.
L. Colvin asked if anyone had any additional questions?  There were none.  J. Krawczyk made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 A.M.  S. Brush seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted
Michele M. Johnson