A budget workshop was held by the Town Board of the Town of Moreau on October 15, 2003 in the Town Office Building, 61 Hudson Street, South Glens Falls, New York.

Supervisor Gutheil opened the meeting at 6:09 p.m.

The Town Clerk called the roll, which resulted in the following Town Board Members being present or absent:

Harry G. Gutheil, Jr. Supervisor

Rich Hewlett Councilman (arrived 6:10 p.m.)

Bob Prendergast Councilman (arrived 6:11 p.m.)

Niki Baker Councilwoman

Todd Kusnierz Councilman

None

Also Present: Jeanne Fleury, Town Clerk; Fran Thibodeau, Bookkeeper/Payroll Clerk

The board started by reviewing the Highway Tentative Budget.

Supervisor Gutheil had put in the Tentative Budget under Revenue Code DB2110 $1,094,156.00 in sales tax revenue and the more thought he gave it he wondered if the amount should be reduced by one-half and the fund balance should be used to make up the difference.

Discussion followed.

Mike Shaver, Water Superintendent arrived at approximately 6:30 p.m. to go over his budget with the board.

Supervisor Gutheil stated that sewer rates would have to be reinstated through the end of the year and that the board would have to review the budget and rates before the end of the first quarter in 2004.

Water District 1 is in trouble financially; the budget is very tight. The rates will probably have to be raised and the brackets of .50 and .45 cents per 1,000 gallons of water consumed will have to be done away with.

Discussion followed on a new truck for the Water Department. It was the consensus that if the current truck could be retailed at a price acceptable to the board then a new truck would be considered. Fran was asked to split up among the five water districts $26,000.00 the cost of a new truck and to split up the same amount of revenue among the five districts.

Mike Shaver talked about his salary briefly. He explained how he took a decrease in health insurance going from the family plan to single plan. Supervisor Gutheil told him that the board couldn’t base a person’s pay on whether they take the family plan or not.

Mike Shaver suggested offering a buy-out for those who are on the single plan since the single plan costs the Town less. There is currently a buy-out for those who don’t take the insurance and those on the family plan get the benefit of that plan and then there are the single plan holders who are stuck in the middle. The board discussed how this would work. Especially when a single person could get married and ask to go on the family plan.

Mike Shaver then asked for a clothing allowance. The Highway Department gets a $300.00 a year clothing allowance and the Transfer Station gets an allowance for shoes.

Councilman Hewlett stated that most unions get a $75.00 allowance for shoes and he would be okay with that.

Mike Shaver also asked the board to consider a buy-back on unused vacation time.

Stephen Gram, Recreation Director, arrived at 7:10 p.m.

The Recreation Director requested walkie-talkies in his budget and explained that a good set is needed so they can communicate with the beach. The phone bill at the bill has been rather hefty lately.

A gator was also requested. Stephen Gram explained that the golf cart they have is a 1995 and it doesn’t run. They have one gator they use now. A new gator could be used for fertilization if a tank is purchased to hook onto it. A new gator costs about $7,250.00.

A groomer was requested and this would be to create x-c ski trails around the perimeter of the park. They would then have to purchase equipment to tow it around. Warren County uses snowmobiles. Supervisor Gutheil stated he was concerned with liability having a snowmobile down there. He wondered if this could be contracted out. He asked Steve to contact some of the snowmobile clubs to see if they would be interested.

After reviewing the year-to-date expenditures again for A7140.415 this line item for Niagara Mohawk Bills was increased to $4,500.00.

The line item A7140.450 labeled Miscellaneous (Music Concerts) is really used for supplies according to Stephen Gram. A7140.480 Miscellaneous is really where the money for concerts should go. Nothing was added to this line at this meeting. It will be reviewed again.

A7310.484 was changed to zero and the $400.00 was put in A7140.484.

Stephen Gram advised the board of some of the projects he would like to do under annual upgrades:

New scoreboard irons installed at a cost of about $4,000.00

Dugouts and roofs need repair

Stephen Gram explained that his $3,500.00 request under A7310.480 was for the music events and currently the Tentative Budget shows zero.

Stephen Gram asked for a copy of the draft salary study from the county.

Supervisor Gutheil advised him that it was a draft report and not for distribution per the county. He didn’t think that anybody would be happy with it if they saw it. He suggested that the employees base their requests on what they feel the job is worth and why and not base their requests on a study.

Stephen Gram stated that he wasn’t happy with the $600.00 raise being proposed for him. He pointed out to the board that he took over the soccer program and ran it this year, in place of five people that ran it last year. He didn’t think the proposed increase was fair.

Supervisor Gutheil stated that the $1,400.00 health care benefit increase plus the raise wasn’t shabby. He stated that the board could freeze health care and let the employees pick up the difference in exchange for a better raise. He stated that the Town gives more paid holidays than even the county. It was his intention to leave employees contributions at 5%, but the board hasn’t deliberated on this yet.

Stephen Barody, Highway Superintendent, arrived and the board reviewed his budget.

The board discussed with him the $40,000.00 line item for the in-ground fuel tanks. Stephen Barody explained that the reason the fuel tanks weren’t replaced yet was because he needed specs. He suggested that the Highway Committee or Buildings & Grounds Committee go with him to the Town of Wilton and see what they have and figure out what we need. The current tanks were installed in 1987 and are double walled steel tanks. One is a 4,000-gallon diesel tank and the other is a 2,000-gallon gasoline tank.

Stephen Barody requested in his budget $5,000.00 under B8540.480 for Stormwater Management and it was not included in the Tentative Budget. Stephen Barody explained that he requested this money, because he figured if the Town got a grant then it would need matching funds. This was a result of the class he and Joe Patricke attended on Stormwater Management under the new Federal Plan. The other $5,000.00 under B8540.480 was for Hudson Drive Drainage. He normally includes money to clean the drainage lines. It was the consensus to put in $5,000.00 for Stormwater Management and zero for the Drainage Lines.

Stephen Barody also requested funds for the hiring of four new employees. He stated that he needs bodies to get the work done. He had 14 employees when he started and now has 11 including himself. He thought they could start as laborers and work their way up. Discussion followed on this.

Culverts were discussed. Supervisor Gutheil asked for a list of roads that needed culverts replaced and cost and then they would consider adjusting the budget.

Councilman Prendergast asked Stephen Barody to list in order of importance the equipment he needed, which he did as follows:

Supervisor Gutheil said he would like to see more roads paved and less equipment.

Stephen Barody stated that in 2005 he would be requesting a grade all gradall. The one they have is a 1995 and it was purchased used. [amended 10/23/03]

Discussion followed on whether or not to put the $100,000.00 that the Supervisor put in the Tentative Budget for a large truck towards a grade all and budget for it in two years rather than one.

Stephen Barody explained that the Brush & Weeds Fund is really a catch-all budget for things like fire extinguisher maintenance agreements, landscape seed for ditch lines and supplies.

It was agreed to put in $200.00 under DB5140.457 for landscaping.

Stephen Barody stated that the reason his request for sand was higher than last year was because his supply is really low.

The Transfer Station/Landfill budget was reviewed briefly and that concluded the first review of the entire budget.

The next budget workshop was scheduled for October 22^nd at 6:00 p.m.

Workshop was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Fleury

Town Clerk