Emergency Virtual Select Board Meeting
Tuesday January 26, 2021
7PM
Members in Attendance Via Zoom: Dan Harvey, Matt Bykowski, Cynthia Browning, Tim Williams, Todd Wilkins
Member Absent: None
Also present via Zoom: Nick Zaiac, Town Administrator, Janet Barry, via phone
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Mr. Harvey at 7PM
Public Comments: None
Old Business: Budget Vote 2021: The Board and Mr. Zaiac reviewed highlights and major changes to the 2021 Budget figures and discussed how to use the surplus money from the 2020 Budget, $25,248 non- highway, and $187,622.37 from Highway, and Mr. Zaiac presented different scenarios for the Board to review. He suggested $20,000 or $40,000 of the surplus could be used for over time Highway contingency, with $20,000 covering 50 hours a week for each crew member until the end of April, and $40,000 covering 55 hours per week for the same timeframe. The Board all saw the need to minimize a tax increase but also save for Highway Winter over-time, and found a compromise they were all comfortable putting into a motion. Ms. Browning made a motion to adopt a surplus disposal breakdown as depicted in line 45, columns G and H of the draft budget, $90,000.00 saved, $77,622.37 to offset highway property taxes, $20,000.00 for Highway Department overtime contingency, with a total budget of $1,704,323.00. Mr. Williams seconded. The approval of the entire budget as presented carried unanimously. Town Meeting Warning: The Board reviewed Article 4 “Shall the voters authorize the transfer of $90,000 from the 2020 Highway Department surplus into the Capital Reserve Fund”. Ms. Browning made a motion to allocate $50,000.00 to the Benedict Crossing Bridge line, $15,000.00 Ash Borer line and $25,000.00 to the Loader line. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Ms. Browning amended her initial motion to read allocate $50,000.00 to the Bridges and Structures Fund and to authorize Town Administrator Mr. Zaiac to edit these into Articles as is relevant. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The Ash Borer fund was created to have matching funds available should the State offer grant money for ash tree removal and to have funds available to remove Ash trees in a Right of Way if needed. Certify Highway Funding: Ms. Browning made a motion to certify that funds raised by municipal taxes are equivalent to or greater than $300 per mile for Class 2 and Class 3 roads. Mr. Bykowski seconded. Motion passed. Warning Approval: Mr. Wilkins made a motion to approve the Warning as written on 1/26/21 with appropriate revisions as discussed. Ms. Browning seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Report of the Select Board for Town Report: Ms. Browning melded the article she had written with the report Mr. Zaiac wrote for Town Report, which the Board agreed offered a good summary of the events of the year. Mr. Bykowski made a motion to accept the combined draft for the Select Board Town Report that was emailed at 5:03PM on 1/26/21. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Mr. Bykowski amended his motion to include authorizing Mr. Zaiac to make appropriate typographical errors to the report as needed. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment: Mr. Bykowski made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Wilkins seconded. Motion passed; meeting adjourned at 7:30PM.
Minutes taken by Janet Barry