BC20110210revote Not Approved.mht

NOT APPROVED

TOWN OF PELHAM

BUDGET COMM= ITTEE /= MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, February 10, 2011=

CALL TO ORDER – 7:00pm

PRESENT:

Mr. Larry Hall, Mr. Dan= iel Guimond, Mr. Gregory Farris, Mr. Robert Sherman, Ms. Angèle Diack, Mr. John Lavallee, Mr. Ken Dunne, Selectmen Representative Edmund Gleason, School Board Representative Andy Ducharme

ABSENT:

Mr. Dennis Viger

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2011 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT(S) / RE-VOTE(S)

Mr. Hall stated that duri= ng the Deliberative Session, the Town amended the Town’s default budget and = also the Selectmen’s budget to be the same as the Budget Committee’s proposal. The Kindergarten wa= rrant article was amended to add $10,000 for parking. The School budget was amended to a= dd $150,000 for the modular library at Memorial School. Article 8, the money from the unre= served fund balance had incorrect dates.

It was explained that the= default budget needed to have $67,000 added (for the Fire Department) due to an inadvertent mistake made when budget sheets were being transferred from 201= 0 to 2011.

Mr. Hall told the Board t= hat the School’s budget currently didn’t say ‘recommended by Budg= et Committee’. He spoke wi= th the attorney after the Deliberative Session, who had the opinion that the budget discussed at the meeting was the Budget Committee’s budget. If the Board votes not to approve = the school’s new operating budget number, the warrant it will read ‘= ;not approved by the Budget Committee’.&n= bsp;

Town Default Budget – Mr. Hall read aloud Article 3. If the Budget Committee approves, = the Default will read $11,975,550; Operating Budget will read $12,339,320.

MOTION:

To approve the amendment – Default budget to read $11,975,550; Operating Budget to read $12,339,320. =

VOTE:

(9-0-0) The motion carried.

-------------------------= -------------------------------------------------

Pre-School / Kindergarten Bond – Mr. Hall read aloud the proposed Warrant Article – (in summary) To raise and appropriate $3,815,000 for constructing and equipping a new kindergarten and pre-school= building and to further raise and appropriate $64,685 for the first year’s interest payment on the bond.

Mr. Gleason felt that the= Town had an obligation to provide school to children, especially special needs children. He believed the nee= d was there and the Board should reconsider the article. He said rather than relying on tra= ilers, they should accept the proposed change.&nb= sp;

ROLL CALL:

To approve the= revised Warrant Article for the Pre-School / Kindergarten Bond.

VOTE:

(5-4-0) The mot= ion carried. Mr. Guimond, Mr. Lavallee, Mr. F= arris and Ms. Diack voted no. =

----------------------------------= ---------------------------------------

School Operating Budget – Mr. Hall read aloud the proposed Warrant Article. . If the Budget Committee approves, = the Default will read $24,569,216; Operating Budget will read $24,651,498.

Mr. Sherman asked for clarification of the money added. Mr. Hall said $150,000 was added to the budget for modular trailer to house the library at Memo= rial School. Mr. Sherman questioned (if the kindergarten building passed) if the modular (portable) housing the kindergarten could be moved to Memorial School. Mr. Ducharme said the school didn’t own the kindergarten portable. Mr. Sherman said the school had the option of purchasing the portable. Mr. Ducharme answered yes (purchase would cost approx. $567,000). The requested $150,000 was the cos= t for the first year’s rent and the installation. There was a population ‘bubble’ of 217 children coming into sixth grade (2011-2012); t= he modular for the library would be in place to open classroom space within Memorial School.

Mr. Lavallee confirmed th= at this was the only population ‘bubble’ the school had and that there = were no others coming up. Mr. Duch= arme stated it was a temporary situation, the school didn’t see any other ‘bubbles’ coming up. Mr. Lavallee commented that the school was not anticipating any population ‘bubbles’ for the next eight years. Ms. Diack wanted to know if the classroom space was only needed for the current fifth grade class that woul= d be entering sixth grade at M= emorial School in 2011. Mr. Ducharme said they were antici= pating 214 students entering into Memorial School, which was t= he largest class ever to go into the school.&= nbsp; The school needed extra room to place those students. Ms. Diack asked when the school wo= uld get rid of the modular. Mr. Ducharme said they would get rid of the modular as soon as those children l= eft the school. Ms. Diack questioned if the lease was for three years. Mr. Ducharme said it was a three-y= ear lease (beginning in 2011/2012). He reiterated it was a temporary solution.&nb= sp;

Mr. Dunne clarified that = the $150,000 was for installation and the first payment (of three) for the lease. He wanted to know the = figure for the second and third years lease. Mr. Ducharme believed the second year was approximately $120,000, depending on the contract. Mr. Dunne asked how many students were in forth grade. Mr. Ducharme said the forth grade numbers were significantly less. Mr. Dunne confirmed that the school would just wait until the fifth grade made it through Mem= orial School to get rid o= f the trailers. Mr. Ducharme said t= hat was correct.

Ms. Diack asked what the = current classroom sizes were for student/teacher ratio. Mr. Ducharme didn’t have tho= se figures, but could forward them to the Board.

ROLL CALL:

To approve the amendment – Default budget to read $24,569,216; Operating Budget to read $24,651,498.<= /u>

VOTE:

(5-4-0) The mot= ion carried. Mr. Hall, Mr. Guim= ond, Mr. Farris and Mr. Sherman voted no.

-------------------------= ------------------------------------------------

School District Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund- Mr. Hall read the article aloud. The dates incorrectly read 2010 and would be amended to read 2011.

MOTION:

To approve the amendment of dates within the Warrant Article for the School District Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund.

VOTE:

(9-0-0) The motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

(Lavallee/Diac= k) To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE:

(9-0-0) The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:15pm.

            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =          Respectfully submitted,

            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =          Charity A. Landry Willis

            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =          Recording Secretary

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2011 SCHOOL WARRANT ARTICLE

WARRANT ARTIC= LE: ____ _Pre-School / Kindergarten $3,815,000_________________

BOARD MEMBER=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

YES

Dan Guimond

NO

Dennis Viger

-----

-----

ABSENT

John Lavallee

NO

Greg Farris

NO

Bob Sherman

YES

Angèle Diack

NO

Ken Dunne

YES

Andy Ducharme (School Boa= rd Rep)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Re= p)

YES

Motion Carrie= d:        = (5-4-0)

WARRANT ARTIC= LE APPROVED

PELHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE

2011 SCHOOL WARRANT ARTICLE

WARRANT ARTIC= LE: ____ ___School Budget – increase $150,000 to read $24,651,498_<= /u>

BOARD MEMBER=

YES

NO

ABSTAIN

Larry Hall

NO

Dan Guimond

NO

Dennis Viger

-----

-----

ABSENT

John Lavallee

YES

Greg Farris

NO

Bob Sherman

NO

Angèle Diack

YES

Ken Dunne

YES

Andy Ducharme (School Boa= rd Rep)

YES

Ed Gleason (Selectmen Re= p)

YES

Motion Carrie= d:        = (5-4-0)

WARRANT ARTIC= LE APPROVED