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North Berwick budget committee approves a slate of municipal spending articles, all pass unanimously
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting the North Berwick Budget Committee approved multiple appropriations — including $705,765 for public works (amended), $335,195 for the fire department and $338,200 for the transfer station — with all motions passing by 11-0 votes.
The North Berwick Budget Committee on Feb. 18 approved a set of municipal spending articles covering public works, roads, fire department needs, a capital vehicle purchase and transfer station funding, with each item passing unanimously.
Chairperson Rebecca Reed opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m., the committee approved the Feb. 11 minutes and then moved through the articles on the warrant. Committee member Gregg Drew made the motions on the floor and committee member Julie Fernee frequently seconded; votes on recorded articles were 11-0 across the docket.
The committee amended Article 23, the Public Works appropriations, to reduce the Winter Public Works line from $150,000 to $100,000. Staff member Dwayne Morin said the winter account currently holds a substantial balance and the town is considering carrying forward about $75,000 to a future year; the amended total for the public works article was $705,765 and the committee approved it 11-0.
Other approvals included Article 24, a $275,000 capital-vehicle request; Article 25, a $128,640 road bond; and Article 26, a $326,360 roads appropriation that officials said will fund work on Chadbourne Lane, Cider Mill Pond Road, Pheasant Hill Drive and Morrills Mill Road (Route 4 to the bridge). Each of those motions passed 11-0.
The committee also approved several fire-related articles: Article 9 ($335,195 for the fire department), Article 11 ($44,340 to a fire pumper reserve), Article 12 ($50,000 for new fire station planning) and Article 14 ($34,100 for SCBA equipment). Article 15, a $42,000 request for radios to be paid from the undesignated fund balance, likewise passed.
Article 22 funded the transfer station at $338,200, with $245,700 of that to be covered by the enterprise fund; the committee approved that request 11-0.
The committee set tentative future meetings for Feb. 25 (parks and recreation, rescue and police), March 4 (library and outside agencies) and, if necessary, March 11. Committee member Gregg Drew moved to adjourn at 7:56 p.m.; Roger Guptill seconded and the meeting ended.
Votes at a glance: minutes approved (Feb. 11): moved by Committee member Gregg Drew, seconded by Committee member Julie Fernee — vote 11-0. Article 23 (Public Works, amended to $705,765): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee — vote 11-0. Article 24 (Vehicle, $275,000): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Vice Chairperson Kelly Rouillard — vote 11-0. Article 25 (Road bond, $128,640): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Mark Rouillard — vote 11-0. Article 26 (Roads, $326,360): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Kelly Rouillard — vote 11-0. Article 9 (Fire Dept., $335,195): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee — vote 11-0. Article 11 (Pumper reserve, $44,340): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee and Mark Rouillard — vote 11-0. Article 12 (Fire station planning, $50,000): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee — vote 11-0. Article 14 (SCBA, $34,100): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Mark Rouillard — vote 11-0. Article 15 (Radios, $42,000 from undesignated fund balance): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee — vote 11-0. Article 22 (Transfer Station, $338,200; $245,700 from enterprise fund): moved by Gregg Drew, seconded by Julie Fernee — vote 11-0.
