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Budget Committee approves 3% across-the-board wage increase and advances departmental budgets
Summary
On Jan. 14, the Budget Committee adopted a uniform 3% wage increase and approved multiple department budgets and line-item changes, including raised engineering and legal professional services and harbor-related allocations; the law enforcement item was tabled pending sheriff’s office input.
The Budget Committee approved a uniform 3% across-the-board wage increase and advanced several departmental budgets at a Jan. 14 meeting.
Bill Alcorn, a Budget Committee member, moved to adopt a 3% across-the-board wage increase; Banner Moffat seconded. The committee approved the motion unanimously. Alcorn then moved to approve the administration budget, with Moffat again seconding; that motion also passed unanimously.
The committee agreed to keep the Selectmen line at $6,000 after a motion by Banner Moffat, seconded by Eric Davis, which passed without objection. The assessor’s budget was approved with a 3% increase to match other wages; the committee noted that the part-time assessor position carries no retirement benefit. That motion, moved by Bill Alcorn and seconded by Banner Moffat, passed 4–1 (the transcript does not identify which member voted against).
On professional services, the committee approved reallocating funds to set engineering at $20,000 and legal services at $10,000 after a motion from Bill Alcorn and a second from Andrea Hogan. Washington School expenses were approved — members noted a new custodian will cost more, landscaping improvements were planned, and the school boiler dates to 2006 — with Alcorn moving and Hogan seconding; the vote was unanimous.
Committee members also approved several town property and harbor-related items. New harbor float funding will remain in the Harbor Reserve; Thorofare lease funds were set aside in case they are needed (the committee is awaiting a response from the Lewis family); hydrant cost increases were noted as being in line with the water rate increase; and Indian Creek lease money is intended to cover the owner’s insurance. Bill Alcorn moved approval and Andrea Hogan seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
The law enforcement budget item was tabled to allow staff to collect additional information from the sheriff’s office; no funding vote was taken on that line. Finally, with no other applicants for the CEO/LPI position, the committee concluded that finding a cheaper candidate was unlikely. Banner Moffat moved to approve that line, Eric Davis seconded, and the committee recorded a 4–1 vote in favor (the record does not specify who opposed).
Votes at a glance: 3% wage increase — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Banner Moffat; outcome: approved unanimously. Administration budget — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Banner Moffat; outcome: approved unanimously. Selectmen line $6,000 — moved by Banner Moffat, seconded by Eric Davis; approved unanimously. Assessor 3% increase — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Banner Moffat; outcome: approved 4–1 (opponent not recorded). Professional services reallocation (engineering $20K, legal $10K) — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Andrea Hogan; approved unanimously. Washington School budget — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Andrea Hogan; approved unanimously. Town property/harbor items — moved by Bill Alcorn, seconded by Andrea Hogan; approved unanimously. CEO/LPI line — moved by Banner Moffat, seconded by Eric Davis; approved 4–1 (opponent not recorded).
The committee recessed further action on the law enforcement item pending more information from the sheriff’s office; no date for follow-up was recorded in the meeting notes.
