DRAFT

TOPSHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES

MONDAY, November 27, 2023

Present: Donna Otterman (Budget Committee Chair), Yvette Tomlinson, Susan Pratt, Susan Hood (Budget Committee), Jake Thompson, Thomas Otterman, Jim Bulger, Carl Hildebrandt (Select Board), Cynthia Flannigan (Town Clerk), John Hood (Listers), Elaine Smith (Auditor), Maureen Hurley (Energy Coordinator)

Absent: Janice Emerson (Budget Committee) and Bradford Calhoun (Select Board)

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.

Motion was made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jim Bulger to approve minutes for November 13, 2023. Approved unanimously.

Budget items Discussed:

General Government

Payroll

Listers $15,000.00

Auditors   $2,000.00 –decrease of $500.00

Animal Control     $700.00

Delinquent Tax Collector $0

Town Office

Supplies     $200.00 (Listers)

Delinquent Tax Collector Supplies               $0

Postage     $200.00 (Listers)

Equipment                                   $850.00 (Listers)

    $250.00 (Auditors)

Computer Software                     $110.00 (Listers MS Office)

      $235.00 (Listers APEX)

Training       $100.00 (Energy Coordinator)

    $250.00 (Auditors)

Mileage Reimbursement     $300.00 (Listers) –increase of $100.00

Lister’s Phone     $500.00

General Expenditures

Animal Control       $600.00

Select Board Appropriations $200.00 (Green Up VT $100+Dry Hydrant $100)-decrease of  $200.00

Dues         $50.00 (Listers)

        $50.00 (Energy Coordinator)

Legal Fees     $4,000.00

Professional Fees     $4,000.00 –increase of $2,000.00

Software Support         $500.00 (Listers)

Parcel Maps and Lister Cards online     $3,800.00 (Listers) –new

Tax Mapping $3,550.00 (Listers) –increase of $1550 for deferred payment of 2023 work 

Fire & Rescue

Tri-Village Fire Dept. $35,000.00 –increase of $5,000.00

CTERT     $7,500.00

Highway Payroll

Regular Employees $200,000.00 –increase of $30,000.00

Temporary Employees     $0

Road Commission     $0

Health Insurance   $36,000.00 –increase of $6,000.00

Uniforms     $3,500.00

Town Garage Expenses

Supplies   $1,200.00

Training       $400.00

Mileage       $450.00

Telephone       $800.00 –increase of $50.00

Heat   $5,000.00 –decrease of $2,500.00 due to switch to propane

Electricity   $3,000.00

Porta-Potty   $1,800.00

Garage Equipment   $2,000.00

Maintenance & Repairs   $2,500.00

General Hwy Expenses

Fuel $70,000.00

Supplies $10,000.00

Advertising       $250.00

Engineering/Technical Serv   $5,000.00

Permits   $2,500.00

Radio Contract   $1,000.00

Parcel map and online lister card new initiative has a cost of NEMRC upfront cost of $800.00 with an Annual fee of $500.00 thereafter. The CAI Technologies fee is $3,000.00 with an annual fee of $3,000.00 thereafter. 

Auditors Budget requests for printing costs and mailing town reports will be revisited at the next meeting. 

Barre Ambulance is working on their new contract numbers. Cindy anticipates receiving the costs by next meeting. 

Select Board Appropriations were reduced by $200.00 because $200 was not sent in 2022 and was rolled over to the 2023 budget. 

Professional fees were higher this year due to Environmental study done of the Town Hall and work by SEAMS Solutions. It is anticipated there will be increased need in 2024 and an increase is proposed.

Motion to adjourn meeting was made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Yvette Tomlinson. Approved Unanimously. 

Meeting adjourned at 6:52 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Hood, Secretary