Alton Town budget committee appoints Mitchell, elects chair and vice and sets October meeting dates

All right. Good evening, everybody. I'm Ryan Heath, the town administrator. I'm going to go ahead and, point that we don't have an active chair or structure right now, called the budget committee meeting for September 23rd, to order. And, starting off, on the table there, there was an agenda.

The Alton Town Budget Committee met Sept. 23 and completed organizational business ahead of the fall budget season. Town Administrator Ryan Heath opened the meeting and said the committee lacked an active chair and vice chair after several members' terms ended or members left since last year. The committee appointed Brock Mitchell to fill a vacancy, elected a chair and a vice chair by voice vote, set possible fall meeting dates and discussed how budget materials and incoming federal disaster reimbursements will affect planning.

Heath noted that the town has prepared budget binders for selectmen and for the committee, and that he will "start filtering them into your books as they're approved" by the Board of Selectmen. He said he wants to give committee members time to review materials at home rather than voting on budgets the night they are presented: "Not trying to drag it out too long, but obviously make sure that everybody feels comfortable with the information they're being presented and ample ample time to ask questions."

On appointments and leadership, Heath relayed an email and application from Brock Mitchell (described in the meeting as a former selectman) and the committee moved to accept the application. A motion to accept the application (recorded in the transcript as "Rob Mitchell" in one place and "Brock Mitchell" elsewhere) carried on a voice vote. The committee also nominated and approved a chair (identified in the transcript only as "Beth") and a vice chair (identified as "Jew") by voice vote. At the meeting the committee agreed that the appointment to fill the vacancy will be for a one‑year term.

The committee discussed scheduling conflicts among town boards and suggested Wednesdays as the best recurring night. Members identified Oct. 9 (the second Wednesday), Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 as calendar options; the committee settled on holding two October meetings to allow staff time to finish town budgets after selectmen presentations. Heath asked the committee to expect budget binders to follow the Board of Selectmen's meeting the next day and said staff will also distribute materials by email.

Members raised operational items including draft minute approval and electronic signing. Heath explained two options for minutes: the committee can approve the prior meeting drafts even though many of the original attendees are no longer on the committee, or leave the documents as posted drafts. Committee members asked whether documents such as warrants and assessing records must carry original signatures; the discussion noted that some documents are subject to rules about original signatures and that the town will check whether electronic signing (DocuSign) is permissible for particular documents.

Heath reported incoming federal disaster reimbursement funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), saying "right now, it's approximately 531,000. There's another anticipated 170 or so that's, hasn't arrived yet, but it's on its way." He said the board will consider using the FEMA reimbursement warrant article to offset road reconstruction and to help fund the town's fund balance. Heath also said he received audit numbers showing the town's fund balance at about $4,600,000: "I've never seen it up over 4,000,000." He characterized the balance as healthier than in recent years but emphasized that specific allocations will be decided once budget numbers are finalized.

The meeting closed with committee members agreeing to advertise the vacancy and recruit additional volunteers. Heath said he will circulate schedules and materials and the committee adjourned by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept application of Brock Mitchell to the Alton Town Budget Committee (fill vacancy, one‑year term): approved by voice vote; mover/second not recorded in transcript; vote tally not specified in the record. - Motion to elect "Beth" as chair and "Jew" as vice chair (as transcribed): approved by voice vote; mover/second not recorded in transcript; vote tally not specified in the record.