Board of Selectmen January 12, 2000

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JANUARY 12, 2000

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marty Illick

John Rosenthal

James Sheldon-Dean

Robert Mack, Jr.

OTHERS: Wendy Schroeder

Louis Cox

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Illick called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to

order at 1:15 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices.

BUDGET

Board members resumed their budget discussion from the previous

budget meeting, December 29, 1999. Board members began with the

Fire & Rescue which Schroeder reviewed, noting she had met with

3 members of the department, at the board's request because the

percentage increase requested (20%) was too high. Schroeder and

the Fire Rescue members cut $3,500.00 from the budget.

Schroeder explained in the past Fire and Rescue expenses had

been paid out of the general fund, but now with the capital

budget in place, expenses have to come out of very specific

budgets and $16,000.00 will be carried forward from the general

fund to the capital budget for major expenses. Schroeder noted

that EMT salaries are up and although some of the Fire & Rescue

from the previous year were underspent, that some costs were

deferred that can't be deferred again. Mack asked why there was

so much money budgeted for electrical power ($4,100.00) when the

new station will be under construction and Schroeder responded

that power will be needed in order to build the station. Mack

suggested cutting that expense to $2,800.00 and board members

agreed. Illick cut the heating fuel budget by $1,000.00 and

Mack asked that the budget for protective clothing be put under

the capital fund. Sheldon-Dean suggested cutting the public

education program to $100.00 for rescue and $200.00 for fire

prevention and board members agreed.

Board members reviewed town charitable donations, which

organizations had written to the town requesting money and which

had done presentations to the board on their needs. Board

members agreed to the following expenditures:

Vermont Center for Independent Living $330.00

Women's Rape Crisis Center $500.00

Chittenden Food Shelf $300.00

COTS $500.00

Vermont Cares $0

Vermont Adult Learning $0

Project Home $0

Board of Selectmen -2- January 12, 2000

Schroeder reviewed revenues.

Board members reviewed the Selectmen's budget. Board members

increased the budget for the minutetaker by $125.00. Illick

questioned the wisdom of having the advertising budget at $0 and

Mack suggested if the board had to advertise for open positions,

etc., the money could be taken out of the miscellaneous line

item, which was set at $1,000.00. Illick wondered whether

$20,000.00 for legal expenses was enough money and asked what

the current expense is. Sheldon-Dean said the legal expenses

are currently about $11,000.00 for six months.

Board members reviewed the medical insurance coverage for town

employees and the town policy on employees eligibility for

coverage. Schroeder said she had given some thought to the

previous discussions on eligibility for coverage and had some

recommendations: don't separate health insurance and cash

benefits, instead strive for equality with all employees being

eligible to join the plan; have a 2-tier plan with full-time

being defined as 30 hours per week, as this would solve the

problem with what to do with 2 employees currently working 30

hours per week and getting full coverage; and don't give payment

in lieu of insurance because it becomes a problem when

circumstances change for the employee such as divorce or death

of a spouse.

There was a discussion of assigned hours in the Town Clerk's

office. Mack said he wanted to have both the Assistants work a

maximum of 20 hours per week each and Illick discussed the

problems that would create for Marlene Mansfield and suggested

the board move on through the budget and return to that budget

later.

Board members reviewed the Planning and Zoning budget. There

was a discussion of combining Louis Cox's two positions to one

line item and Cox discussed the problems with doing so; that as

the Zoning Administrator he is an agent for the town and as

Deputy Health Officer, he is an agent for the state. Mack and

Cox discussed Cox's scheduled hours.

Mack suggested moving budgeted consulting money for Planning &

Zoning's Town Plan to be used for legal fees since the Town Plan

was so close to completion and board members agreed to try that.

Board members agreed to making the minutetaker's hourly rate to

$10.50 per hour.

Board members discussed hours in the Listers office. Mack

suggested having Listers work 13 hours per week each as they are

currently, instead of the 15 hours a week that was requested as

reappraisals were done this year and he didn't think as many

hours would be necessary.

Board members made no more changes to the Delinquent Tax budget.

Board members discussed the highway budget, noting that the lack

of snow and ice had saved the town money so far this year.

Board members discussed Demeter Park and expenses for ball

fields.

Board of Selectmen -3- January 12, 2000

Board members discussed the Library budget and made no changes.

Board members reviewed the Recreation budget and removed trash

expenses pick up from the beach and skating rink, leaving the

overall budget at $13,825.00.

Board members reviewed the Conservation Fund, and discussed

cutting the Educational Technology budget.

Board members discussed the Town Hall budget and painting the

interior of the town hall.

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Illick:

"TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn