Joint meeting with the Select Board
In attendance:
Budget Committee Members – Laurie Colburn (Chair), Justin Dohrn, Jen Richardson, Beth Downs (Select Board Rep), Kimberly Firth, Tim McKenna (arrived at 6:08)
Select Board Members – Marlene Freyler, Mel Pfeifle
Karen Hambleton, Town Administrator
Kathleen Bigford, Recording Secretary
Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm
Select Board Motions
Motion: Beth Downs moved to general budget total of $2,824,566.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Beth Downs moved to appropriate $20,000 by warrant article for the purpose of funding the 2021 New Police Vehicle Trust Fund.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjust the warrant article for the purpose of purchasing a new grader from $433,000 to $404,000.
Second: Mel Pfeifle
Decision: 3-0 in favor
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The Select Board shared their final Operating Budget figures with the Budget Committee, noting adjustments and differences in the following areas:
Planning and Zoning – The Select Board felt that with Matt Monahan carrying out most of the Planning Board tasks of the Recording Secretary, that the Part-Time wage line could be reduced by $2000. They have changed their budget to reflect that.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to reduce the Planning and Zoning budget line to $15,500.
Second: Jen Richardson
Decision: 5-0 in favor
Police Department – The Select Board felt that the Police Department could reduce their Overtime line by $5,248, effectively funding it at the level of the 2022 expense. They have changed their budget to reflect that. After discussion, the Budget Committee voted.
Motion: Kim Firth moved to reduce the Police Department budget line to $599,026.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 4-1 in favor
Highway Department – The Select Board felt that the Highway Department could reduce their Overtime line by $2,800, effectively funding it at the level of the 2022 expense. Also, given the consensus in the last joint Budget Committee/Select Board meeting that the Town should purchase, not produce, gravel this year, the Board removed the warrant article for $40,000 for gravel and blasting and “moved” $30,000 into the gravel line of the operating budget. The net effect of these two changes is an overall increase $27,200; the Select Board changed their budget to reflect as much. After lengthy discussion, the Budget Committee voted.
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjust the Highway Department budget to $735,836.
Second: None
Library – The Select Board felt that the Library could maintain their operations while keeping their budget at the 2022 level.
Motion: Kim Firth moved to reduce the Library budget line to $86,000.
Second: Beth Downs
Decision: 4-1 in favor
Motion: Kim Firth moved to recommend a total budget of $2,797,366.
Second: Jen Richardson
Decision: 4-1 in favor
Budget Committee Public Hearing
Thursday, February 9, 2023 opened at 6:50.
Laurie Colburn opened the hearing by recommending a total operating budget of $2,797,366. She explained that this is a roughly 13% increase year over year, with the major drivers of the increase being fuel, wages, and supplies.
Chris Frey asked if this kind of increase would happen every year. Laurie Colburn and Mel Pfeifle both commented that the only choice to bring down costs is to cut services.
Tim McKenna commented that at the end of the day, nothing was added. In general, department heads did a great job in limiting expenses as much as they did.
The committee then reviewed each budget category as follows:
| Category | Budget Committee | Select Board |
| Executive | 220,118 | 220,118 |
| Elections, Registrations, Vital Statistics | 4,100 | 4,100 |
| Financial Administration | 106,625 | 106,625 |
| Revaluation of Property | 28,600 | 28,600 |
| Legal | 26,000 | 26,000 |
| Employee Benefits | 1 | 1 |
| Planning & Zoning | 15,500 | 15,500 |
| General Government Building | 121,100 | 121,100 |
| Cemetery | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Insurances | 95,800 | 95,800 |
| Other General Government | 8,700 | 8,700 |
| Police Department | 599,026 | 599,026 |
| Fire Department | 167,000 | 167,000 |
| Rescue Squad | 10,150 | 10,150 |
| Rescue-Contract Services | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| Building Dept – Code Enforcement | 26,500 | 26,500 |
| Emergency Management | 1 | 1 |
| Highway Department | 708,186 | 735,386 |
| Bridges | 1 | 1 |
| Street Lighting | 2,300 | 2,300 |
| Solid Waste Collection | 94,600 | 94,600 |
| Solid Waste Disposal | 26,000 | 26,000 |
| Inoculations | 1 | 1 |
| Welfare | 7,468 | 7,468 |
| Welfare Payments | 30,270 | 30,270 |
| Parks & Recreation | 19,509 | 19,509 |
| Library | 82,560 | 82,560 |
| Patriotic Purposes | 19,400 | 19,400 |
| Community Center | 30,700 | 30,700 |
| Other Conservation | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Long Term Notes | 209,000 | 209,000 |
| Interest on TAN Notes | 2,100 | 2,100 |
| TOTAL GENERAL FUND | 2,797,366 | 2,797,366 |
Public Hearing closed: 7:22 pm
Warrant Article Recommendations
Budget Committee: Laurie Colburn, LC, Kimberly Firth, KF, Beth Downs, BD, Jen Richardson, JR, Tim McKenna, TM
Article: To see if the Town will vote to readopt the Optional Veterans’ Tax Credit in accordance with RSA 72:28, II, for an annual tax credit on residential property of $500.00. (Majority vote required.)
Moved JR, Second, KF Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to readopt the All Veterans’ Tax Credit in accordance with RSA 72:28-b, for an annual tax credit on residential property which shall be equal to the same amount as the Standard or Optional Veterans’ Tax Credit voted by the Town of Bradford under RSA 72:28. (Majority vote required.)
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the total sum of Four Hundred Four Thousand Dollars ($404,000.00) to purchase a new John Deere Grader with equipment. This appropriation will come from the 2020 Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), from the Additional Highway Block Grant Funds received in 2022 in the amount of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00), from trade-in in the amount of Fifty-Three Thousand Dollars ($53,000.00) with the balance of One Hundred Ninety-One Thousand Dollars ($191,000.00) to be raised by taxation. Further, this will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the total sum of Three Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($380,000.00) to fund road maintenance, preservation and paving. This appropriation will come from the 2019 Roads and Bridges Expendable Trust Fund in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), from the American Rescue Plan Act Funds in the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) with the balance of Two Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($205,000.00) to be raised by taxation. Further, this will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirty-Two Thousand Dollars ($32,000.00) to fund work for a Statistical Revaluation in 2023. Further to authorize the withdrawal of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) from the 2008 Revaluation Capital Reserve and to raise Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($17,000.00) by taxation. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second KF Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00) to fund Communications Equipment for the Fire Department. This appropriation will come from the 2010 Communication Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (for emergency services). This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) to fund Communications Equipment for the Police Department. This appropriation will come from the 2010 Communication Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (for emergency services). This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) to fund the 2019 Road and Bridge Expendable Trust Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) to fund the 2020 Highway Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Trust Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to fund the 2006 Fire Department Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 3-2-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to fund the 2020 Fire Equipment Expendable Trust Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 4-1-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to fund the 2010 Communication Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (for emergency services). (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to fund the 2015 Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) to fund the 2015 Town Equipment Repair Expendable Trust Fund. This appropriation will come from unassigned fund balance and represents the funds received from the auction of the Highway Department’s old roller. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved JR, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) to be placed in the 2021 Police Vehicle Capital Reserve Trust Fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) to fund the Conservation Fund overseen by the Conservation Commission. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to expand the purpose of the remaining/unspent funds raised in Article Seven at the 2022 Town Meeting ($24,000 for SCBA Bottle Replacement) to include the purchase of all components of SCBA apparatus. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second BD Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town will vote to establish a 2023 Bradford Town Scholarship Expendable Trust Fund under the provisions of RSA 31:19-a, for the purpose of accepting private donations to fund the award of scholarships to high school seniors. The scholarship recipients must be a resident of Bradford, NH and furthering their education in a university, college, school of nursing, technical institute, or pre-professional program. Further to name the Scholarship Committee as agent to expend from this fund. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen recommend.
Moved LC, Second JR Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town of Bradford will raise the sum of $50,000.00 for the purpose of razing the building known as the Masonic building at Map 16 Lot 87. By Petition. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen do not recommend.
Moved JR, Second LC, NOT Recommended 5-0
Article: To see if the Town of Bradford will vote to raise and appropriate the sum $25,000 for the purpose of implementing energy saving measures (ESM) to reduce the annual energy consumption of the Fire Station as outlined in the Energy Audit Report dated February 15, 2021 and subsequent update. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will continue until the money is spent or December 31, 2028. By Petition. (Majority vote required.) Selectmen do not recommend.
Moved LC, Second TM NOT Recommended 5-0
Motion: Beth Downs moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 pm.
Second: Jen Richardson
Decision: 5-0 in favor
Submitted by Kathleen Bigford