A meeting convened at Town Hall at 7:35 PM.
Members in attendance: Bothwick, Burbott, Cabot, Carr, Croft, Kenney, Putnam, and Swanson
Members absent: Herbster
Others present: Town Accountant, Town Administrator, and BOS, chair
Mr. Bothwick presided.
OPERATING BUDGETS
Conservation Commission – The Chairman joined the meeting. The budget was reviewed with no questions.
School – The recent estimated allocations are 5.3% for Essex, and 5.8% for Manchester. The District is not using their reserves.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT – Draft 2-22-07
Articles 2, 16, 17, 27, and 35 - The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval. There may be available funds for Article 27.
Article 5 / Items 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 19 - The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval of these items. Available funds may be used for items 11, 13, 17, and 19. Should item 15, which reoccurs, be included in an operating budget?
Article 5 / Item 5, 7, and 8 – The sense of the Committee is to not recommend approval. Item 5 may be 1-2 years premature. There is no staffing plan.
Article 5 / Item 6 - The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval for one unit at $9,600.
Article 5 / Item 12 – Can Enterprise funds be used, or can this project be bonded?
Article 5 / Item 16 – More information is needed. The project should be amended to read water meter reader replacement.
Article 5 / Item 20 – There is concern that this may be an inappropriate project since home owners on Raymond Street are still experiencing a sewer moratorium.
Articles 6, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, and 32 – The sense of the Committee is to recommend the advice of the Planning Board.
Article 7 – More information is needed.
Articles 11 and 12 – The sense of the Committee is to not recommend approval.
Article 13 – Ms. Burbott MOVED “to recommend approval at no additional cost to the Town”. The MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
Article 14 – This will likely be eliminated or passed over.
Article 15 – The sense of the Committee is to recommend the advice of the BOS.
Article 26 - The sense of the Committee is to make a recommendation on Town Meeting floor.
Article 28 – The culvert should be enlarged and can only be discussed if the study is done. Enlargement will relieve flooding. Informal bids came in at $18,000 - $120,000. Formal bids have also been done, and $35,000 for Horsley and Whittier encompasses a Town wide approach. The Town Accountant reports that there is $15-16,000 in drainage available funds for this project. The high bid is $80,000 and add on work could increase it to $112,000. The Con Com Chairman will report back on March 13 a supplemental bid from Horsley and Witten to include the necessary work that will be identified in the study.
Article 29 – Jeffrey’s Creek has more silt than other areas, which is causing flooding and blockage. The project is likely to be over $30,000. There is $20,000 available from prior funds.
Article 30 – The Town Administrator will speak with the tree warden and report back.
Article 31 – The sense of the Committee is to not recommend approval. They will encourage the petitioner to have this expense added to the DPW operating budget.
Mrs. Cabot will review all of the Planning Board articles and report back their intent to the Committee.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
State Highway Aid – The amount will be available at STM.
Tuck’s Point Chowder House emergency repairs - $51,000 is available from a school appropriation for this $25-30,000 project. The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval.
Singing Beach - The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval of $3,500 for Painting parking lines.
Singing Beach Bathhouse - The sense of the Committee is to recommend approval of $4,600.
BUDGET SUMMARY - $60,000 is included for unsettled salary negotiations for the DPW, Fire, and Police.
MINUTES – The minutes of 2/13/ 07 were amended to correct A&R to ANR, and were adopted as amended, Burbott and Swanson ABSTAINING.
The meeting adjourned at 10:43 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Sabella
Clerk
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