Selectboard Meeting Notes: Revised FY15 Budget Moves To Town Meeting Representatives

The revised FY15 budget was adopted by the Selectboard, clearing the way for Representative Town Meeting members to weigh in next on June 2. Whether to take funds out of the reserve to further reduce municipal taxes was the only issue the board discussed in any great additional detail, and the decision was a happy surprise for John Allen.

Brattleboro is nearing the selection of a new Town Manager, with a candidate to be selected within the next two or three weeks if all goes as planned, new electric vehicle charging stations will be installed, a PAYT committee was initiated, liquor licenses were approved, and more.

Preliminaries

“It’s fair to say it’s been a very vibrant time,” Chair David Gartenstein said, for politics and municipal issues in Brattleboro. He thanked the hundreds of people he had heard from “talking about issues we are grappling with,” such as the budget.

Contrary to their previous decision, the Selectboard has now scheduled an informational meeting for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 at Academy School, complete with handouts.

Gartenstein said the search for a new Town Manager was going well. Interviews with six candidates of “solid experience” last Thursday and Friday led to a narrowing of the list to two final candidates. There will be interviews this week, and there is optimism that a new Town manager will be hired within the next few weeks. “An exciting time.”

Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland had no preliminary remarks.

For Selectboard comments and committee reports, David Schoales mentioned clean energy grants available, such as money for towns to fund heat pump retrofitting. He noted that Vermont was number one in solar employment per capita.

Public Participation

Terry Carter rose to support the idea of Patrick Moreland as a candidate for Town Manager, noting that he was an attentive listener, respectful to everyone, exercised good judgement, doesn’t impose a personal agenda, and is approachable. She hoped the board would consider him as a candidate and hoped the next Town Manager would take those qualities into account.

Dick Degray came to before the board with an appeal for money from the public to offset the costs he and his wife incur by adding flowers to locations outside of downtown. “It’s an expensive program, so I am soliciting donations.” Donations can be sent to him at 116 Main Street, Brattleboro, or through Chamber of Commerce. He said that if he had a huge endowment he could do more, “but I don’t.”

Kurt Daims offered some familiar advice to the Selectboard. If one has a hammer, all problems look like nails. Daims said that architect-engineers will always offer up solutions involving architecture, and that other solutions are not considered. As an example, he said an architectural engineer solves things by building buildings, but mold abatement could be accomplished with a wash down using a bleach solution. “I hope the board could instruct the committee to take a broader, non architectural-engineer’s look at how to reduce costs.”

Liquor Commissioners – Special Event and Festival Permits

Two more vendors were granted special event permits for June 6th, Strolling of the Heifers. Saxtons River Distillery and Vermont Distillers will be offering samples of their products at the event.

“We’ve now approved four” special event permits for this event, noted David Schoales. “Anyone coming in could get a quart of beer.” He wondered how many were granted in previous years. Moreland said he recalled two.

“We’ll see how it goes,” said Schoales.

Four Seasons Media (WTSA) was granted a festival permit for the Brattleboro Brewers Festival to be held on VABEC Field on Old Guilford Road on June 21 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m..  Kate O’Connor recused herself, as the Chamber of Commerce was involved in the event.

Kelli Corbeil said it would showcase New England microbrews and hard ciders, there will be shuttle busses to parking, a band will perform (Equinox, a cover band), and food vendors will vend food.

Monthly Finance Report with John O’Connor

Finance Director John O’Connor told the board that with 83.3% of the fiscal year complete as of April 30, 85.2% of the General Fund budget had been spent thus far. The Utilities Fund stood at 76.1% and the Parking Fund at 82.4% of their respective budgets.

$741,174 has been spent on the Police-Fire project.

Just over $4 million had been loaned out, and just over $440,000 remains to be loaned. There are 35 active grants and 14 grants in the application process.

O’Connor projects a year-end deficit of $578,495.09, which turns out to be a good thing.

“I looked more at individual line items and where would we end the year,” he told the board. The new estimate showed coming in not at $914,000 as budgeted.  “More like the range of $578,000.”

He said the Unassigned Fund Balance was at $1.7 million, and that “the forecast is that the Unassigned Fund will go up to $1.9 million and so, that’s good news. I wanted you to be aware of that.”

John Allen was thrilled.

David Gartenstein asked for clarification. “We’ll have enough of a surplus to pay our expenses and have additional $200,000?”

Yes, said O’Connor.

Allen was excited.

Gartenstein noted additional savings were identified in salaries, insurance, street lights, tipping fees, but that the Public Works budget could be over budget by $100,000 due to the harsh winter.

FY15 Budget Approval

The revised budget has no additional Police/Fire funding, a reduction in sidewalk capital, a reduction of a police cruiser, cuts to land records, the Town report, legal notices, postage, propane, cemetery maintenance, library cuts, benefit changes for Fire department staff, and cuts to the Police department payroll.

The cuts proposed total $402,759.

The new FY15 Municipal tax rate with these cuts alone would be $1.1890, up just over half a cent from last year’s $1.1389, an increase of 4.4% A $200,000 home would see an increase of $100.23.

But, the Selectboard added an option to take $200,000 from the Unassigned Fund balance (the reserve). This further reduces the tax increase to 2.87% over last year, setting the rate at $1.1716.

A $200,000 home, then, would see a tax increase of $65.45 if Town Meeting representatives agree with this budget.

Brattleboro Selectboard members weighed in with final thoughts on their budget.

Kate O’Connor said she was still not happy with it, and that “it’s going to hit the fan again when we start the process over.” She cautioned everyone that the pressures on the budget next year could increase.

John Allen said he shared her concerns, but the news of an increase in the reserves was too much. “Every year we end up with more money. It magically does.” He said the reserve was built up on the backs of taxpayers and was duly set to go back to them. “I’ll push for as much as I can,” he said. “The taxpayers deserve it.”

David Gartenstein said he also agreed with O’Connor that structural changes were needed. “We were lobbied hard by people who didn’t want service cuts, so we did little one percent cuts, then were taken to task for nickel and diming rather than making structural changes. We will be in the same boat going forward, and will face the same questions.”

Allen said that instead of layoffs the board could negotiate get-backs from union contracts. “It was a pain, but I’m glad we had to go through this. It was an eye-opener. We do have a lot of work.”

“We should not mislead ourselves about achieving get-backs from union contracts,” responded Gartenstein. “Don’t assume labor negotiations will lead to huge savings.”

“I didn’t say it would be easy,” said Allen.

Donna Macomber also appreciated the feedback from the public. “I invite people to stay in contact to discuss next year’s cuts.  We need to find some balance between a being a community and living with necessary losses.”

“Can we have a couple weeks off?” joked Allen.

“Cutting services is a sucker’s bet,” said David Schoales. “The only thing you get by cutting services is less services.”  He said the board should “get out of this room, meet in other venues, meet with a broader range of citizens, get facts about what we really need.” He said there were lots of opinions about the West Brattleboro fire station, for example, but the board needed facts.

“We need to have meetings all over town instead of sitting here,” he said. “Cut and have less each year, and gradually we don’t have a town anymore. We have to find more money.”

Patrick Moreland said the Fire Department staff could provide ample information about West Brattleboro for him if he desired.

“As I reflect on the last year, leading to today’s budget,” Moreland said, ‘this has been a really difficult year.” Not only for the board but for town staff. He took a moment to thank them for the additional work they put in to re-do budgets. “They’ve done a hell of a job this year.”

Terry Carter said she was happy to hear about the surplus and agreed with what Schoales had said about cuts to services compromising the quality of life in town. “We have amazing services and that’s what makes Brattleboro so special.”

Augusta Andrews suggested the town investigate a negative air scrubber to help with clean air for the police department as a way to save costs for life and safety issues at the station.

The conversation again turned to Allen and his desire to take from the surplus. “I vacillate on whether to do it or put let representatives at Town Meeting bring it up,” he said, but “after hearing the surplus went up. I’m tempted.” He said he wanted the support of the board, but wasn’t sure if he’d get it based on their past comments. 

“There is one way to find out,” teased Macomber. Allen wasn’t sure what figure to propose. He wanted to ask for $300,000 but also wanted to respect the rest of the board. He settled on $200,000 from the undesignated fund.

Kate O’Connor said she was concerned about future expenses, but that taking from the projected extra amount in the reserve would still leave more than the recommended 10%, “ I’m inclined to go with it so people can think about it in advance.”

Donna Macomber said that in light of the positive projections, she was now inclines to support Allen’s motion.

David Schoales said he would abstain and let the representatives “take responsibility.”

Gartenstein said that despite huge capital needs going forward, such as the required repairs to the Municipal Center, he would also support Allen’s motion.

Allen gasped. “Zoom in on my face. That’s a shock, a good shock.”

The vote was 4-0-1 to suggest taking $200,000 from the reserve. Schoales abstained.

The board voted 5-0 in favor of the budget. On to Representative Town Meeting…

Pay As You Throw (PAYT) Advisory Committee

Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland told them that the members of the PAYT Advisory Committee would include Peter Gaskill of TripleT, Bob Spencer of WSWMD, and Moss Kahler, a consultant, plus two members of the community. The Finance Director and Town Manager will also join the committee to develop a plan for unit-based pricing of solid waste conforming to Act 148.

“It’s a combination working group and advisory committee,” said Moreland.

Kate O’Connor thought it was open ended and wondered if a time frame should be added. Gartenstein suggested every 60 days to everyone’s satisfaction.

“You know how I feel about PAYT. I was going to stick to my guns,” he began, but admitted that the $200,000 had softened him up. “After the Chair made such a gracious gesture, I’ll support this.”

Dora Bouboulis warned them that a hand-chosen team wasn’t the same as a real citizen advisory committee, and their rush to get started could come back to bit them. She pointed to the budget and skatepark as examples.  “It could be problematic when the suggestion comes down, where work gets put in and at the other end there is objection and you have to go back to the drawing board.” She suggested they form a citizen’s committee.

The board voted 5-0 for the combination approach suggested by Moreland. Applications due by May 29.

Rental Housing Improvement Program Loan

The loan committee recommended and the Brattleboro Selectboard approved a $25,000 RHIP loan to construct an accessory one bedroom, solar paneled apartment at the home of Leslie Shaw, 749 Upper Dummerston Road. The 10 year loan will be repaid with 3% interest.

Kim Ellison sad it was a program to assist homeowners with creating or renovating rental properties in Brattleboro.

Shaw said she was excited that it would be a net zero, radiant heated, solar powered building.

LSTA Resources Sharing Supplemental Grant

The Brooks Memorial Library will receive and spend $2,212 from the LSTA Resources Sharing Supplemental Grant from the Vermont Department of Libraries. It helps cover the costs of interlibrary loans and improving collections.

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant

Brattleboro’s Planning Department will receive and spend $10,500 from the Downtown Program Grant of the ACCD, Department of Housing and Community Development. The grant will be used to purchase and install two Clipper Creek CS-100 electric charging stations in the Transportation Center. Total cost of the project is expected to be $14,000, with the balance from donations from town businesses.

Paul Cameron told the board that electric vehicle use was up 700% in Vermont in the last year.

Jason Cooper said the new charging stations would replace obsolete technology with fast charging units, which will be especially good for attracting tourists looking to stop and charge for a couple of hours. They will be monitored by their own meters to track electricity used. One idea is to charge a slight premium for parking in spaces with chargers, though Cooper noted that most places provide the charging for free. He said it typically costs two or three dollars to completely charge a vehicle, a cost many feel is worth assuming.

John Allen said he found it hard to believe charging stations would remain free if more people used electric vehicles.

Cooper said that because it brings people in, most who install them feel it is worth subsidizing. (Some charging stations are solar powered, too).

Cameron said this charger would be one of the first in the area, but work is being done to expand the network of stations. “Tesla has been looking at sites in the area. They have ultra-high speed chargers,” he said.

Interesting Departmental Notes

The Town Clerk suggests holding all non-Presidential elections in the Selectboard meeting room at the Municipal Center.

The Fire Department has added Narcan to their emergency kits to better respond to heroin overdose calls they have been receiving.