PITTSFIELD SELECT BOARD BUDGET MEETING MINUTES
To listen to a recording o the meeting, please click here: https://bit.ly/48zswzL
DATE: January 11, 2024
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben; Joyce Stevens (via Teams)
PUBLIC PRESENT: Trish Abbondello
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#1 – NEMRC approve and sign contract
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
NEXT MEETING DATE: Regular – January 18, 2024
ADJOURNMENT:
Ann called the special budget meeting to order at 5:59pm. AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann presented one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ seconded. All in favor.
OLD BUSINESS: Trish opened the discussion explaining the undesignated fund balance and budget disbursements the Board would like to make. Discussion as to whether to put money for an audit in this budget. Ann would like to add $10,000 for a financial audit. Trish said she learned that an audit is not required annually. Joyce felt that since we had the money, we ought to do it, so we don’t have to ask the taxpayers at a later time. Trish also told the Board that as of July 1st, a childcare tax of .44% of wages ($455 GF/$298 HW) would be imposed. She said it can be deducted weekly or as a one-time payment. Discussion. The Board felt a one-time payment would be best and that the employees should not have to pay that. The Board also discussed what to include in the Budget Disbursements for transparency.
1. Budget – General Fund
- Budget Disbursements
Recreation Fund – increase to $5,000
Town Hall Reserve Fund – keep as $15,000
Contingency Fund – keep as $10,000
Village Green Paying Reserve – increase to $15,000
Town Office Maintenance Fund – increase to $8,000
Computer Equipment Fund – keep as $1,000
Library Capitol Improvement Fund – keep as $2,400
Reappraisal Fund – increase to $3,000
Village Green Trees – (New) $5,000* (*to replace trees that have died)
Pittsfield Select Board Budget Meeting Minutes page 2
January 11, 2024
2. Warrant. Ann sent out copies of the draft for discussion. The list of open positions was reviewed. Several of the Articles were discussed.
- Article 5 – The Board decided to remove this Article from the Warrant as the money is available and does not need a vote from the taxpayers.
- Article 6 – The Board has been unable to find anyone willing to take the position of Energy Coordinator. Discussion as to whether to try and hire someone using the MERP grant money. It was decided to remove this Article from the Warrant and address this issue differently.
- Article 7 – The Board decided to move the money from the Sand Shed into the Recreation Fund.
Ann asked if the education tax rate becomes 1.41%, should the municipal operating budget be reviewed and lowered. AJ noted that the budget was pretty bare boned. The school budget wasn’t anything the Board could change. It was agreed that the municipal budget could be amended from the floor at the Town Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Listers – The NEMRC contract was effective beginning July 1, 2023 until Jun 30, 2024. It contains all the items in the previous contract. Ann moved to approve, and AJ seconded. All in favor.
The Board signed the contract.
OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The Accounting, Auditing and Financial Policy which was approved at the last meeting was also signed.
NEXT MEETING DATE: Regular – January 18, 2024
ADJOURNMENT: Ann moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:13pm. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf
Approved: January 18, 2024
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
To listen to a recording o the meeting, please click here: https://bit.ly/48zswzL
DATE: January 11, 2024
PRESENT: Ann Kuendig, AJ Ruben; Joyce Stevens (via Teams)
PUBLIC PRESENT: Trish Abbondello
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: NB#1 – NEMRC approve and sign contract
OLD BUSINESS:
- Budget – General Fund
- Warrant
NEW BUSINESS:
- Listers – NEMRC contract
NEXT MEETING DATE: Regular – January 18, 2024
ADJOURNMENT:
Ann called the special budget meeting to order at 5:59pm. AJ seconded. All in favor. Ann presented one Agenda Modification (see above). AJ seconded. All in favor.
OLD BUSINESS: Trish opened the discussion explaining the undesignated fund balance and budget disbursements the Board would like to make. Discussion as to whether to put money for an audit in this budget. Ann would like to add $10,000 for a financial audit. Trish said she learned that an audit is not required annually. Joyce felt that since we had the money, we ought to do it, so we don’t have to ask the taxpayers at a later time. Trish also told the Board that as of July 1st, a childcare tax of .44% of wages ($455 GF/$298 HW) would be imposed. She said it can be deducted weekly or as a one-time payment. Discussion. The Board felt a one-time payment would be best and that the employees should not have to pay that. The Board also discussed what to include in the Budget Disbursements for transparency.
1. Budget – General Fund
- Budget Disbursements
Recreation Fund – increase to $5,000
Town Hall Reserve Fund – keep as $15,000
Contingency Fund – keep as $10,000
Village Green Paying Reserve – increase to $15,000
Town Office Maintenance Fund – increase to $8,000
Computer Equipment Fund – keep as $1,000
Library Capitol Improvement Fund – keep as $2,400
Reappraisal Fund – increase to $3,000
Village Green Trees – (New) $5,000* (*to replace trees that have died)
Pittsfield Select Board Budget Meeting Minutes page 2
January 11, 2024
2. Warrant. Ann sent out copies of the draft for discussion. The list of open positions was reviewed. Several of the Articles were discussed.
- Article 5 – The Board decided to remove this Article from the Warrant as the money is available and does not need a vote from the taxpayers.
- Article 6 – The Board has been unable to find anyone willing to take the position of Energy Coordinator. Discussion as to whether to try and hire someone using the MERP grant money. It was decided to remove this Article from the Warrant and address this issue differently.
- Article 7 – The Board decided to move the money from the Sand Shed into the Recreation Fund.
Ann asked if the education tax rate becomes 1.41%, should the municipal operating budget be reviewed and lowered. AJ noted that the budget was pretty bare boned. The school budget wasn’t anything the Board could change. It was agreed that the municipal budget could be amended from the floor at the Town Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Listers – The NEMRC contract was effective beginning July 1, 2023 until Jun 30, 2024. It contains all the items in the previous contract. Ann moved to approve, and AJ seconded. All in favor.
The Board signed the contract.
OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The Accounting, Auditing and Financial Policy which was approved at the last meeting was also signed.
NEXT MEETING DATE: Regular – January 18, 2024
ADJOURNMENT: Ann moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:13pm. Joyce seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Beyersdorf
Approved: January 18, 2024
/ /
Ann Kuendig Joyce Stevens A.J. Ruben
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