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Minutes of 7/17/2013
September 18th, 2013
Minutes July 17th
Members in attendance: Bonnie Maroney, Mike Hogan, Joan Karpf
Public present: Linda Dowling
Meeting commenced at 7:00pm in Library.
Discussion of minutes was discussed from April, May, and June. April minutes had been amended accordingly. Joan makes motion to accept April Minutes. Bonnie seconded. All in favor.
Mike spoke about schedule for budget discussion with department heads. Bonnie explained normally Dept. Heads come before the selectboard and the selectboard then submits to budget committee.
Further discussion about the procedure after the selectboard presents the budget to the budget committtee. Bonnie suggested inviting department heads to budget committee meetings if there are any questions.
Joan discussed past practice, that budget committee members have attended the selectboard meetings in which the dept. heads are presenting their respective budgets.
Setting up the schedule for future budget committee meetings was discussed.
Mike discussed the expenditures and whether or not individual items are being purchased by individual dept.’s or collectively. Bonnie mentioned items such as paper, and office supplies and that they do buy collectively. The respective lines have been separated and broken up to see what each dept. actually spends on said items.
Discussion about certain line items that have gone over or under and what might be asked from that dept. heads about such line items. Some items are flat fee that is paid throughout the year.
Discussion about the budget workshop that is being held in Bartlett NH on Sept. 10th. Joan mentioned she is signed up for it, $75 dollars including lunch.
Joan mentions legislative updates about the meals and room tax. Joan discussed there is movement to work back towards the 60% /40% split on rooms and meals tax. The state would retain 60% of the tax while distributing the remaining 40% to the individual towns based on population. Currently that rate is at approximately 75% / 25%.
Joan spoke about DOT being short on monies and there may be grant money that is negatively affected by this.
Joan spoke about overall health care costs. Joan asked what the town employee’s contribution is to the current health care is. Bonnie responded currently the town employees contribute 15% to the health care coverage provided to them through LGC.
Joan mentioned that a current employee health insurance cost is $15,920 and the actual salary of that person is $32,000 per year. Joan mentioned the town’s current expenditure for health insurance is $151,953 and that this is an astronomical cost. Different options about different health insurance practices were discussed. Bonnie mentioned certain types of flexible spending accounts.
Joan mentioned that employee’s salaries should be looked at as the total benefit package and that when health costs are nearly half of what their salary is, that is inefficient.
Joan mentioned she would like to see the employees pay more and is more involved in their health costs, which would save the town more money but also give a salary increase. Mike suggested discussing this with the employees and explore the situation. Further discussion about different types of policies and insurance continued.
Rob mentioned could there be employees that might be able to go on spouses insurance and offer a buy-out for doing so. Bonnie mentioned most employees are the main insurance coverer for their spouses now. Rob mentioned the comparison of salary vs. health costs are exactly why employees work for the town. They may like that part of the benefit package more than the salary increase. Bonnie mentioned that employees pay their percentage out of the salary that they are given and that amount goes into the general fund and then is paid towards the totals insurance costs.
Joan made motion to adjourn at 7:30pm and Bonnie seconded. All in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Gauthier.