HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-2003 Budget
TOWN OF GROTON – BUDGET WORK SESSION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 AT 7:00PM
Those Present:
Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor, Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman, Donald F.
Scheffler, Councilman, Duane T. Randall II, Councilman, Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman,
Richard C. Case, Jr., Highway Superintendent, John J. Norman, Town Justice, Margaret Palmer,
Court Clerk, April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk, Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper, Richard Gamel.
Purpose of meeting was for Board Members and department heads to have discussion on their
respective department budgets.
Discussion began with the Highway Superintendent explaining parts of his proposed budget. In
Machinery, Equipment DA5130.2 he had budgeted $143,000 for the purchase of one complete
single-axle snowplow truck at an estimated cost of $100,000-$110,000 and a cab and chassis for
replacement on another truck at an estimated cost of $75,000-$80,000. These would be bought
on State bid. Assembly and fabrication associated with cab and chassis would be completed by
Highway Department. The complete truck would replace the 1966 Brockway. Money in this
account would come from the $32,000 usually budgeted here, part of the County Contract
money, and $11,000 left over from purchase of the loader this year.
Mr. Case budgeted for a 4% raise in fuel prices. The highest paid in 2003 was $1.45, with an
average of $1.09. He calculated $1.50 per gallon based on the 6,000 gallons used last year.
DA5140 – Brush and Weeds – We have an ongoing expense of trying to maintain the cemetery
on Route 222.
DA5142 – Snow Removal – Reflects cost of steel, deicing salt and fuel.
DA5148 – County roads that we contract to plow – payment of money is always one year
behind.
DB5110 – General Road Repairs – Goal is to repave 5 miles of road per year – price of
aggregate is going up.
DA3310.42 – Increase in boot and clothing allowance for Highway Department employees.
DA8989.4 – Reclamation of Gravel Pit - $6,000 – In April 2003 we were given 2 years to
complete reclamation. Work has been done in bottom of pit to increase drainage. The plan is to
start from the South East corner and work from there. Joe Graham presently beginning work at
sloping this off. There have been no complaints for neighbors.
A1640 – Central Garage – Plan to continue needed work on overhead doors, replace air
compressor and explore alternative power source.
Mr. Case asked if the Board might be able to give permission to order snowplow truck at next
Board Meeting. The Board did not think they could do this until after the budget was approved.
Budget Work Session Page 2 September 23, 2003
Clerk Scheffler had budgeted $600 for a website. Supervisor Morey said that this would be kept
in his budget as he had someone to do a website now. Clerk asked if he had someone to also
maintain it and he said yes.
A1450.4 – Elections – Money was budgeted to cover expense of Presidential election.
Discussion took place on purchase of handicap panels for voting machine with no decision being
reached.
A1410.2 – Equipment – Clerk had budgeted $800 for repair and/or replacement of equipment.
This was moved into A1410.4 Contractual.
Supervisor Morey asked Justice Norman why he had requested a 42% increase in wages for
himself and only 3.5% for the Court Clerk when she was the one who did all the work. Justice
Norman said that the Court Clerk was not the one who got up at 2 o’clock in the morning for an
arraignment, did not spend time doing his research and did not have the responsibility. He said
that the workload for the Town Justices had doubled in the past year and provided the Board
with the numbers as well as comparisons to other town courts. He felt that $12,000 for each
judge would bring the wages up to parity with courts that are as busy as the Town of Groton
Court. Supervisor Morey pointed out that Justice Norman had recently attended a meeting at
which he stated that he loved his job so much that he would do it for free. Justice Norman said
that he did not believe that he said he would do it for free and that if the Board wanted to
continue to attract capable people to these positions they should consider paying a reasonable
wage. Supervisor Morey said that Justice Norman knew what the pay was and what the workload
would be when he took the job and since it was public service he should not expect a higher
wage. Justice Norman said that people who work in public service expect to get paid a fair wage
for the job done. Justice Norman was questioned about performing arraignments for other
municipalities and he explained that this was standard procedure, it was reciprocated by other
towns and it was according to law. It was suggested that he could just not answer his phone.
Justice Norman also felt that both judges should be paid the same amount and that it was unfair
to pay one more than the other since they would be sharing equally in the workload. Councilman
Sovocool replied that it had always been that way and he saw no reason to change.
A1110.13 – Clerk, Personal Services – Court Clerk was asked whether she had been able to
adequately do the job in the 27 hours per week allotted for her job in 2003. She replied that it
seemed to be adequate and that she was using just about all of the 27 hours each week.
A1110.2 – Equipment – Money was budgeted for a computer system and printer for the Judge.
A1110.4 – Contractual – Justice Norman explained that costs for their conferences could not be
totally covered by the $600 allotted for such expenses and they had budgeted $700 for this.
Supervisor Morey said that the limit was $600 for anyone to attend a conference.
As department heads were leaving the meeting, Clerk Scheffler was called back and the Town
th
Board decided to call a Special Meeting for Tuesday, September 30 at 7:00PM so that the Clerk
could present the Tentative Budget to the Board. Clerk said that she would post this in the
required places and notify the news media, as required by law, and that she would also place an
ad in the Shopper.
April L. Scheffler
Town Clerk