I see your name. Okay, we got you. >> Can you hear us, >> Bill? I'm going to get set up. >> You know what I'm saying? >> Okay, are we ready? >> Give me one second. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Hold on one second.
>> Trying to hook Bill in. Oh gosh. >> There you go. >> Okay. All right. >> Bill, can you hear us? >> I sure can. Yeah, I'm good. >> Hear you, >> Marcy? You good?
>> You ready? >> I'm good. Thank you. >> Like to call this meeting to order. Will the township clerk please read the statement? Adequate notice of this meeting has been posted on the Bernie Township website and was posted from Miss Instagram in
accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA 10 colon 4-7 subject is to discuss the 2026 township budget. >> Roll call. >> Council member Canino >> here. >> Council member Ols
>> here. >> Council member Rudo >> here. >> Council member Sparta >> present. Council President Higgins >> here to the flag United States of America to the republic
for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty justice for all. >> Okay. Mayor, do you have any comments? Would you >> not this evening? Uh upon introduction
of the budget, I will present uh findings and the budget process and all that good stuff. But right now, I'll leave it as that. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for your comment. I'd like to open this meeting for public comment.
>> I'll make that motion. I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Is there anybody from the audience that would like to speak? All in favor. >> All in favor. >> All in favor. I >> Sorry.
>> It's not on there. >> You're not working. >> Oh, >> I don't know if I have enough. Sure. I'll share I'll share with people >> and we'll give this one to the clerk. >> Yeah, I know the clerk.
>> Or she can have this when we're done. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Monica Nebach. I live on five Hickory Road and I've been a resident for 43 years. I watched part of last week's meeting
where the budget was introduced as being 200 plus dollars. I don't have any budget detail, but I just want to go through some facts that I do know. I handed out to you the 2026 tax duplicate. Right on there you will see
residential to the right I calculated the percents 79% residential 16% vacant land and 5% miscellaneous farm commercial industrial so the tax
burden is on the homeowners in in Vernon Township okay I also calculated for you you know the average home which I'm sure Patty's already done and also So the tax point for anybody who wants that information. So
we're just talking about uh I mention it was mentioned over a 200 mm municipal increase and this excludes the county and the board event. So for an average home which is at 320,000
you're talking wow maybe four $500. We don't know. I don't know what the county is. I'm sure you don't or the board event. All right. So, with the rising prices of gas, food, and electric, I think it's up to you to trim the budget.
Okay. At the end of the year, either the auditor or the CFO prepares an AFS. It's an annual financial statement that is a picture of what your finances are as of 12:3125. Okay. on the township website. It is
published in February which is required by state law. You go to government codes and documents annual audit and financials. You'll find the annual financial statement. All right. What I'm curious of and I sincerely hope each one
of you looks at is the so-called reserves that are in the annual financial statement. Last meeting on 323 resolution 26 143 called for gum dales to do a sale of
assets. Right. We have on AFS sheet 3A reserve for sale of municipal assets. It's over $211,000. I sincerely hope I haven't looked at the budget, but you've brought that 211,000
in as a line of revenue. When you have your sale this year, your finance department is going to debit cash and credit this reserve for whatever proceeds you get for an old truck or an old backup. So, let's use that money to help our budget. Also, there's a reserve
for road repair and maintenance of 41,000 and change on sheet 3A. I don't know what that was put there for or what its purpose is, but it's certainly something maybe one can look up as an item of revenue. All right. On sheet 62
of the annual financial statement, there's a trust storm recovery reserve. It is now at a million 110. There's a local finance notice that came out in 2026 with all the snowstorms, especially since the short got hit with the snow.
All right. Um page three, it tells you exactly how you can use your trust fund monies to help your budget process. I would hope that you will all look at that. Also, at the end end of your working budget, if you all have your working budget with you, you look at
either the last page or the next to the last page. It has a general capital section that is funded up through fund monies from your taxes. Okay. So in prior years gone by, if there's money
less than these capital line items, by and CFO can move that into the general capital fund by the trust reserve. All right. On sheet 81 of the AFS, there's a fire reserve of 247,000,
DPW reserve of 433,000, EMS of 37,500, and acquisition of municipal trucks FPVS of 54,000. I would sincerely look at these monies. You're talking almost
$700,000 of old taxpayers money that is sitting in the banks. Okay. A debit to cash and a credit to these reserves general capitals. And the last thing I just wanted to mention,
>> you're going to wrap it. >> I don't have an opinion. One by Arizona. I know there's a separate line item for garbage. Um I sincerely think and I was a former municipal CFO. I'm retired. I sincerely feel if you want to do this
endeavor that it should be a utility. It should stand on its own. Revenues are whatever the users are going to pay. We'll offset the appropriations paid for it. That's a utility by itself. in the
current fund budget. I don't know if DPW's time and attendance system can cover the adequate accounting that is needed for this garbage. All right. If a de if the garbage guy is overflowing at the
dumpster and says, "I need help." He calls over to DPW. Ma'am, >> sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but I think you she's wrapping it up. I just wanted to say I sincerely hope you know if they call for help DPW can block out the DPW
and climb into garbage. I'm not against it, Mr. Mayor. I'm not for it. I just feel that as a taxpaying citizen so the current fund budget doesn't get caught with any um municipal >> expenditures that they really shouldn't have to pay. That's all. Thank you for
your time. >> Thank you for your comments. Thank you. Anybody else from the public would like to make speak? >> No. I'd like to make a motion to close public comment. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. Items for discussion. 2026 proposed month municipal budgets. Oh, how do you guys I have to make a
motion to talk to you? >> No, you you've you've brought it to to the table. So now I guess a number of department heads here. Um so you just I'd call them up. >> Okay. So tax assessor Christine >> Kristen
>> I'm sorry. Let me just get to that area there. I just hold up one minute. I just want to There he is. ready? >> Yep. Thank you. >> Um I just wanted to make myself available in case any questions about my
budget. Overall, the budget for my department as a whole is going down um a little over 6%. Um there's no real significant changes other than we are I the line item I reduce the most is for our apprais
appraiser for tax appeals. Um right now appeals are light. Um we have some coming in for 2026 but I don't foresee us needing more than $13,000 this year. Um, so I did reduce that line item and that's where the savings is coming from
for the most part. Um, there is an small increase in my materials and supplies. That's where um, that line of my budget is used mostly for the assistant postcards that everyone here receives. And then also for our mod 4 and camera
software. Those two costs combined, which we have not been invoiced for yet. um should be around $15,000, but I just saw a little bit of wiggle room, so I'd increase it to 16,000 just in case
something increases um there slightly. Um and then the other increase was under computer services and that's because um the spatial data logic software increase last year and and that actually caused us to overspend in that line last
year um because we didn't budget for the increase. So, um, we've budgeted for that now and that's really it as far as my department goes. We have, you know, union contractual employees in my department, so there are salary
increases in line with their contracts, but overall as a whole, it is down a little over 6%. >> How many people are in your department? Great. Great. All >> fulltime. So do you know the percentage of increase for each person?
>> I don't I do not when I go into admins for the budgeting the salaries is not something I see. I only can see the um OE lines. >> So it's increased by 10,000 >> in roughly. >> Yeah.
>> Anybody have any questions? Do you handle the mailing of the of the tax bills? Does it is your department? No, >> that's in the collection department. Okay. By the way, just as a matter of note, uh
I don't know if you're aware, there's been a recent uh publication that's started up in town. I think it's called Vernon Living. >> Yes. >> And I I cut out the the the sales and uh
for the homes in Vernon and uh based upon the sales I just rate them either, you know, at quoted, below, or above. And interestingly, we're still coming in
at above by about oh easily I would say 40 to 50% of the homes are being sold above above the asking price. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I >> but but the other part of it is that
there's still a good number of homes probably in the area of about 10 15% that are being sold at the asking price. So, you know, between those two, there isn't much of a drop and uh it still reflects the inventory that's available.
>> Yeah. I mean, as of today, there's 94 available homes for sale in >> um seven of those are in attorney review. We have like 50 something under contract. We're averaging just shy of 30 closings a month through the MLS. um
residential, you know, residential sales in general coming in in the mid to upper 80s as a far as a ratio sale price to assessment. Um there's a few areas of town that are
coming in higher than that. Coming in quite a bit higher than that, but on average, I would say like mid to upper 80s as far as the ratio of sale price to assessment. And then I'd say on average probably selling when you look at everything um selling about one to
two% over asking maybe around that. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you so much. Thank you for speaking to us. >> Okay. Police Chief Dan Young and
Captain David Hall, >> you mind if I just move this down? Seats up here. >> Thank you for coming. >> I want to get too comfortable. >> I got to get to the police section. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Thank you for
having us tonight. Um wanted to make ourselves available if you had any questions regarding the police budget. Um I think to jump into a couple of important topics uh just to make sure everybody's in the loop if this is the first year doing your budget in a little while. Uh we do have a couple shared service agreements. Those are
initiatives that we take on as the police department because extra revenue uh to help offset our budget. So, one of those uh shared service agreements is our uh tower rental to Wanish Township. That brings in $15,000.
That helps us offset our dispatch budget uh by 15,000. Um we also have six towns that we service for animal control. Uh in 2026, that's going to generate the revenue of
$88,420. It's a pretty sizable amount of income that helps us offset our our animal control. Uh in regards to our police budget, um you know, salary and wages, that's all contractual items. Um everything is
under contract pretty much in that area. And then as we move into operating expenses, you know, one of the biggest changes that we had uh was for uh service contracts this year. And if I could explain that a little bit. So New Jersey, New New Jersey, state of New
Jersey mandated license licensing for all police officers. Uh that happened a few years ago now. So with that came a litany of requirements for training. Uh it's a pretty heavy lift for us. So we found that we were sending a lot of our officers, we have 33 sworn officers, we're sending them out for constant
trainings constantly just to get all the certifications that they need so we can get approved for their uh PTC reading. So we were looking at other options, you know, what else could we do uh to make it more cost-effective and obviously hiring another officer isn't necessarily in the cards, right, to help us offset
training uh the amount of training we have to do. So in accordance with our accreditation process that we're currently going for for a police department, they offer a training platform. That training platform is a training one training per month and it hits a lot of the hot button topics that
we have to do. So if you you could see that our training budget did go up our education conference and seminars last year. We were trying to account for some of those trainings that we were doing. Uh but effective this year we were able to then purchase that training platform
which now falls under service contracts. So as you could see our education and conference and seminars went down about $8800. So that's part of the service contract that's going up. So just so you understand where some of that money got reallocated. That's why
um was there any specific questions in in regards to budget? >> That was the only question I had was about the conferences and the education because I noticed it was budgeted at 30,000 last year, 15,000 the year before. Then this year you're proposing 21,000. So I was wondering why it went
down, but that explains it. >> Yeah, we were just trying to just just think a little smarter about how to do the training. And if we can have officers do it in house, um a lot of times it'll be a midnight shift, we can just adjust our staffing a little bit. They could come in, they could spend four hours through domestic violence in house. That's in lie of sending them out
to a police academy, an hour driving time, four hours of training, another hour back. I mean, and that's out of the office. So here, they could just put the pause button on. Hey, a crash just happened. They need another guy out on the road. They could just hit the pause, they can run out. So, it just made sense for us uh to get that training platform.
It really has been freaking well. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> So, just one question. In tuition reimbursement, historically it's been pretty low around 6,000, but you always budget for 15,000. >> 15,00 going back to school or
>> 15,000 is the contractual amount on the contract. >> So at any given time, you might have one, two guys, two officers going, but if you had three or four decided they want to go, we have to budget what's in the contract. Okay, >> to pay up to because otherwise we're >> just trying to figure out how we're
going to pay for them to go if if it's not there. Okay, >> that's why it's in there. >> Okay, thank you. >> I have a question for you. Even though I >> um radio communications, >> sure, >> salary and wages uh up budgeted
up 11.03% from uh year-to- date last year actual. So, that's contractual as well, correct? >> Everything is contractual for them. Uh the the police salary in wages was 5.81. Just wondering why the radio
communication salary wages was basically double the percentage of the police salary and wages. >> Patty, can you speak to that? I think that was adjusted down after I >> um >> so yeah, one of the things um we looked
at is the chief came into my office and we went over a couple of things. So, we are reducing the radio communication salaries down to four four uh 445,000. We're taking 10,000 off that. >> I have it at 509, too.
>> Radios. >> Oh, that's total. That's your total. I think she was talking about salary. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. I say Okay. I'm sorry. Yes. We'll be taking 10,000. So, we'll be down. Yeah. I was We were just looking at the base salaries. >> Oh, you got you have everything. Yeah. You have the overtime area.
>> Yeah. If you look at if you look at your um dispatch sheet on sheet >> uh under Yes. Yes. I'm talking about just uh the regular salaries we're going to reduce. So that number that you're looking at will be reduced $10,000. >> Okay.
>> All that makes a difference. Also, did you want to mention Pat Patty that um we moved the uh uniform that uniform allowance got moved up in the salary and wages because it became actual >> Yeah. So, apparently over the year they
moved the salary the clothing allowance up to salary and wages and I had it in salary and wages and down below. So radio uh O and E, we're going to be reducing the O and E from 9,000 by $4,500 because it's um double dipping on
the uniform allowance. >> And then we we have a a shared service agreement with Sussex County for radios. Correct. >> No. >> No. So we But aren't we a dispatch center for some of Sussex County? >> We used to
>> on the 9 We're not anymore. several years ago. We were until they took them from us. >> Okay. So, we're >> we're strictly just Okay. All right. Because I didn't think >> Sorry. >> No. Go. No. Go. >> Hence the $15,000 shared agreement for
the radio tower. That was kind of lumped in with the shared service that we to have um with Sussex Orange. >> Gotcha. >> We didn't charge them for the radio service till they pulled out from us and went there. Then, well, you're have a tower rental now because you have your stuff on our tower.
And that that's how that happened. >> Okay. >> There any other questions? >> I had two I had two quick questions. >> Sure. >> Was there was strange >> one was on overtime. Any the 160,000 of
overtime. Is any of that chargeable to say a uh Mountain Creek or people that need services over and above fireworks, whatever extra activities are taking place? >> No. So, they hire us as an outside service vendor whenever we work at
Mountain Creek or any utility job. That's not accounted for in that line item. >> That is if they hire you as an outside, does that show anywhere in here as revenue? >> Not in the current budget. No,
>> not in the current budget. Can it be added? Is it Is it income? >> No. >> So, >> uh I mean there's a small admin fee that's charged per hour, but that covers social security, um insurance, I think it >> and it's very minimal. Yeah, very minimal. Yeah,
>> I wouldn't say there's any there's any profit from it. >> Is No. Okay. >> Is >> Bill. I'm just going to jump in one second on that. brought up um that that overtime because it's an outside service. Is that overtime then become pensionable or No,
>> it's not p. Okay. >> Thank you. >> My second question was on longevity. So if an officer reaches the maximum level of pay, how many years you hit the top,
does does longevity mean they get a an amount of an increase in salary that's different from those that are still climbing the ladder in the various steps? >> So yeah, it goes by number of years and uh that changed couple contracts ago. It went from a
percentage to a flat number. So as people achieve that now they they don't receive a percentage of their salary. They just receive a flat number >> flat amount. Okay. >> And I I think one other one other comment I will make um just just so you
guys understand. So probably about four contracts ago the PBA when they negotiated with the town they did add several steps to top. So now it's nine steps to top pay as opposed to it used to be five steps to top pay. They did that obviously to spread out and help
obviously reduce the the budget impact. So, you know, one of the one of the reasons I bring that up is because a lot of the times if we were under that old uh contract of 5 years to top pay, obviously the budget would be at a much higher rate with those officers at this point. So, those were cost-saving measures put in several contracts ago
and we still see the benefits of that now. It's it's a little slower to get to the top. >> I just want to switch over to revenue on your side. Um, is that strictly from ticketing or what's that revenue line in
front from? There's budgeted 12,000. >> You don't have that. >> Okay. I guess it's Patty. >> No, no, it would be a question. It's the what? Like anything that you bring up for your deposits, revenue that you bring up for your deposit. >> Oh, that would be for our firearms permits. >> Okay. >> Things like that.
>> So, where does where does um you know traffic violations and fines like that, where does that fall? court. >> Municipal court. They get all that. We don't Well, municipal court gets it. Nothing through you. >> Yeah, we don't. >> Okay. >> Any more questions? Anybody have more
questions? >> None here. >> Thank you so much for coming. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate what you guys do. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me. Yeah, >> I had some relatives come down and they were asking about what's happening in
town and you know they were seeing stuff on TV and and they were talking about uh taxes via the uh what's happening and they uh couldn't help but just uh speak with pride when I
said well you know you got to pay something for having the the safest town in in New Jersey and they said, "Really?" And I said, "Oh, yeah. It's nice to be able to say that." Great job, guys. And pass it on to your men. >> Yeah. >> So, also one last thing before you
leave. Um the chief and I went over the uh animal control. So, the animal control will be going down $1,500 uh overall from the 21700. Um we just think when the advertising got put in, we think an extra zero
somehow got put in there. So, we it did go over a little bit. So, we're going to raise it from 200 to 500, not 200 to 2,000. So, we're going to reduce that by $1,500. That was the other one about >> the the animal control uh shared service
agreements. They were stepped right there. There was an increase in each one of those years, wasn't there? >> There was. Yes. This is actually a renewal year for animal control. We're going to start renegotiating in July. >> Okay. >> And and have we have that with three towns? Six pounds.
>> Six pounds. >> Uh, Mu, Lafayette, Franklin >> and other uh, except recently. I know we had 50 dogs that were dropped off in Wanage area, but it's been pretty
>> Well, we cover Lafayette, so some dogs dropped off in Lafayette. >> But, you know, we we help other municipalities to stay away. They help us. you have a major dog case where we found that one kind everybody just kind of steps in in the county and helps each
other out. It's really important to do that especially if we have empty runs and we can help take care of some animals and get those animals adopted. I mean that's important stuff. So >> So the towns are Oxenburg, Lafayette, Hardest, Hamburg, Franklin and Monu. >> Yes
status is working well control do a really nice job. >> Yeah. And in the uh tri balance in the uh
annual financial statement >> where we're where you there's what $5,000. Uh not the donations, but uh Oh, yeah. That there there's about 27,000
in that. Can any of that be used for >> animal control? >> Yeah. >> So, we're using 65,000. Um we're going to be using pulling $65,000 from the trust to help offset this. All right. Uh, >> on the animal control page, if you look
at the very top, again, I think that's still section 18. They are the very top, it says animal money going to be used from trust. It says 65,000. >> Okay. any way of increasing that a little bit simply simply because I think budgets
are incremental in nature maybe 2,000 or something doesn't really seem like much but when you begin to add it to the total >> so I looked at when I was doing the budget what the balance was in the account and it's just under 70,000 so I
don't want yeah 70 so I don't want to >> assume assume more. I want to just be on the safe side and assume what we have now. Hopefully, we'll get more for the through the out the year, but um >> we normally used throughout the year. >> Prior years you used last year used
70,000 year before that 70,000 65,000 I'm sorry, 2025 used 70, 2024 used 65 and in 2023 use 65. So, it's about the amount you're using. Okay. Anybody
else? Oh, we're good. >> Thank you all. Thank you. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Better. >> There's more questions, right? >> Recreation. >> So, for recreation, does that include? >> Yes.
>> Thank you. But yes, I am recreation and the senior center. So both departments uh they produce services don't produce revenue. I am very proud of the amount of services we are able to put out through both departments with such a
minimal budget overall. We have a shared service with the county that offsets the senior center budget by $27,700. And we do charge minimal fees when applicable for different things we
basically aim to little to no cost services because everybody's already paying their taxes. So they don't want to pay more to be. Does anyone have specific questions? I do have. So
>> I do. Um so on the R budget here it you have on two columns 2025 year to date and the next column is 2025 year to date. I'm assuming one is budget and one is actual. >> Um Patty could answer that better.
>> No, I think uh there's a I think that second 2025 year date should be 2024 budget. >> Okay. So that's 20 24. >> Mhm. >> So I look at the senior center and for salary and wages it's going from 885 to
135,000 >> proposed. So that's an increase of 465 or so. Um is that all for salary and wages for senior center? >> That is all for salaries. Correct. We
had an employee in the senior center who became full-time in 2019 and through errors amongst many people was never put into the union contract. So that was corrected last year and the increase is
reflective of that contract amount. >> Okay. So senior center has how many employees? >> Four part-time, one full-time. So, are these that increase? I mean, that's a a big increase. >> It is. >> Um, so that one person is going to get
that increase. >> Well, it's spread out amongst the four part- timerrs as well. The salary line item, but the contractual amount for the union employee was a a a big increase. It was >> Do you know the percentage? I don't know
the percentage exactly that. >> So you have one then >> one full-time employee in the senior center that is a new again. >> Okay. >> The four part-time people are part-time people are not in. >> So this one full-time in the union possibly be getting that increase.
>> Well, as I said, that increase is in there plus the hours of the four parttime people. >> They're all built in. And the increases for the part- timerrs, too. >> And increases for the part-timers, too. >> So, now Oh, go finish. I'm sorry. >> No, no, that's okay. Go ahead.
>> So, for recreation, how many employees have to recreation? >> One full-time, one part-time. >> So, the increase is 20,000. So Sandy, I'm sorry if I can just um back up on that >> on what the senior centers >> just on the salaries on overall. So
in our payroll system, the salaries get hit um allocated. So Michelle's salary is allocated to I believe 6040. So 60% of her salary gets charged to recreation, 40% of her salary gets
charged to seniors. So, um, with looking at it, I noticed that last year her amount was not allocated correctly. So, I did adjust it. So, that could be another part of the seniors going up a lot in the the recreation not going up as much
because I did reset off the allocations to um Yeah. So, she's 60% for recreation and 40% going to seniors. So, um, just trying to find >> the wreck, the recreation is from what's
actual of 25 to what's budgeted in 25 is going up 25.52%. There was 81,264 year to date in 25 and it's budgeted 102 and 26. That's 25.52%.
>> I I have one question on that >> amount for the 2025 year to date, Patty. Does that include the final payroll numbers from 2025 or did they get on the January? >> No, no, they would be would charge you back. >> Okay, that was just a question if that
would have altered that number. >> Is it possible you didn't make the adjustment on the rec side? >> No, I have it. You have You said 40 or 60 goes 40 or 60 of Michelle's goes to senior. I
>> think I'm 60 >> 60 senior then part-time person is 100% I mean, I just just off the top of my head, the 60% of her salary to Wreck and then the senior see 102 seems like it's
an awful lot if it's only if it's one part-time and then 60% of Michelle's salary that 102 seems high. So the increases to the part- timerrs you have increased to
>> correct they so minimum wage went up again as of January 1st so that's an automatic increase in there and then we have the percentage increase um that follows along with the will come into play once the budget is approved. So the part-time people
receiving center have two increases per se, but one's mandated by state law. The minimum wage and then >> so the union contract is tied to minimum wage plus an increment on top of that is basically what you're saying.
>> Right. >> Well, right. So they have to be above >> minimum wage, right? >> And then they get then they get X percent on top. >> Correct. Correct. And I also um adding in a little bit more hours because our
constant goal is to services. So last year I fell into quite a pickle at the end of the year because I had multiple people out sick. So their sick time was accumulating and backup. We've
added another person to be a more fill in but it's eight hours a week. So it's because without staff can't function. And these four part- timerrs, what average hours do they work? >> So, I have two main people that are 20
to 25 hours a week and then two support people that work up to eight hours. Two were eight and the other two were >> 20 to 25. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> I'm just I'm a little confused about the
salaries for the senior center because I understand what you're saying about the employee who became full-time and then became union. Um but in 2024 the budget amount was 68,000. five when that person became part of the
union it went up is that when it went up to 88,000 or are we seeing that change now last year person put into the union and the salary was corrected so now that union person has contractual increases
so this year's budget proposed has those contractual increases built in >> but I Carl, I think in 2025 they they got that increase maybe halfway through the year, >> right? The budget the budgeted number was without the union increase, but your
actual number is going to show basically 50% of that increase because it was only like half the year. >> That's why it goes from 68 to 90 then to 135. >> Correct. >> That's a lot. And I if if I recall I think and I don't know Pat you might be
able to jog my memory or not but I I think that increase was a 50% annual increase on their salary. Wasn't that about >> Yeah. >> I don't really recall but I know that was it was an issue that was quite thorny.
>> Yeah. And I I think it could have been as a result of some type of agreement between, you know, the the the person as well as the uh the representation. >> Right. Right. >> This this position once it became a
full-time position back in 2019 should have been put into the union at that time >> and it wasn't. >> It wasn't. So, we corrected it um last year as we should have. to uh go to a something with a
has a bit more mulch to it. Um yeah, there was quite a bit to it, but I was the one leading the parade. I guess >> this was a 27,000 a year person who grew for taking on extra responsibility
and then eventually with the union is now at $60,000 a year. And uh it's it's it's it's really a a sample of the questions that you guys are all asking because part- timerrs become
full-timers. There's uh at some cases there's no civil service postings. There's internal promotions. So it it really does add to the overall payroll costs. And this was just brought up as one of those examples
of how things did get out of hand. So now we're seeing it. So now we have a $60,000 a year person. >> Well, true. Except that that $60,000 a year person is was really, you know, if if you were just to remove the
difference, we'd be back to where we were. we'd still have the problem. So I don't know, you know, it's it's it's difficult to resolve. Hence the you know that's why I said it's it was a thorny issue
>> and I think if you remember significant outcry but doesn't really resolve the fact that it had occurred and um and we had to resolve it. So, but one the reason why I brought it up
the way I did is I was looking at in the uh in the capital plan that there's a plan to use $27,000 uh to provide mulch
>> in the uh for Maple Graange Park. Um why would you want to capitalize mulch? To me that's it's going to be gone the next year. >> I believe that's the rubber mulch. >> Yes. >> Rubber mulch. Playground mulch.
>> Going to do it at one playground. Okay. >> You see >> the difference? Because we spent a lot of money in mulch every single year. So under capital, if this rubber mulch works out the way it's proposed and the way it should over time, we would actually be saving well
versus having to replenish it every single year because there's safety standards for play mulch. >> So you really think there's a 10year life at least for mulch? >> That is what they say >> for rubber mulch. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And I'll say it's funny. I received
letters one day from from school players last year and one of the biggest complaints was was mulch and they were actually requesting rubber mulch. That's why I brought it to your attention. We actually it's been on the radar for a while. We look into it but it is a big
plus and then the other type of playground surfacing that is required in some situations is just a flat piece of rubber because then it's ADA accessible. Mulch in general isn't real trail friendly
>> or walker or cane or anything. >> And the second thing would be the stairs >> at Maple Graange Park. >> A Maple Graange Park that you >> to connect the great lawn up to the pavilion because um people don't use the permanent restrooms. They claim they're
too far, too hard to get to if they're down on the lower part of the park. So we keep adding more portaotties to the needs of the people using the park, but we have permanent restrooms. So putting these stairs in could hopefully offset some of that issue.
>> That's a I just look at this as a way of you're looking at $40,000 in a year where we're all saying, "How can we save some money?" I just wonder if this is something maybe we could either defay time. They also have an application in a
grant county trail system to help offset replacing all of the wooden guard rails at Maple Graange. So that would save that out of our capital as a safety issue that we can't any longer. >> So hopefully $5,000 will be awarded
through a grant to offset that cost. >> You guys question. Um, yeah. So, Michelle, I know you guys do many events throughout the year >> that you charge >> I don't want to call them an entrance fee or you know what >> participation >> participation fee is a good good term
for um >> does that show that doesn't show up in the budget any place >> you deposited the direct trust right >> they go into my recreation trust >> that goes that money gets used to offset the program in a future year >> okay
okay >> now one Last question for me. Any of these part- timerrs, are you considering any of them to go full-time? >> I'm not at this. Thankfully, we have very good group of volunteers using any of that
>> depend on and do what we do without and so they come through and we're able to actually keep growing. >> Volunteer. So, we're good where we're at right now. >> Sure. would bring hope or can we keep >> Michelle um I was just asked by um
Councilman Sparta he asked about if we could bring any money over from the trust can you explain to them how the trust is have to be used >> so the on the car show we charge a very small admission fee for people who are showing
their cars that money gets put into a trust summer trust that I have >> and then when I'm purchasing trophies The check gets issued out of that trust versus out of my program account >> and it cannot be used for salaries.
>> No, trust money can't be used for salaries. >> So in essence, any participation fee that you charge has to go into that event. It can't you basically can't have a revenue generating event then. >> We really don't have any revenue
generating. >> But that but that's that's my point though. So, let's say your car show, you charge $20 for somebody to show a car, right? You have a 100 cars come in. That's $2,000. >> So, basically, that $2,000 has to go to purchasing trophies for that event. And
really nothing else for that event. >> Well, no, it could go to that was just an example. So, anything I do for that event, that money would go to it. And then if I don't use it all in one year, that money is there for the next year to start off. >> Okay. So the only time program budget money gets used on any new event is
exactly that when it's new and I don't So we're starting something out. >> Okay. So now that same car event, same 100 cars, if you charge $50 for it per car, that extra $30 has to go to the event. You can't you cannot have
anything that makes money that can help offset any of your department departmental >> goes into >> that's I think I think that's the >> Yeah, but does it goes into the recreation trust but the car money you
can't use that for a baking >> because you would have to >> it could be similar type >> right it has to be something that falls within the recreation programs. But it can't go to offset the operating budget. Um, but that's I mean to me my operating
budget is actually quite minimal. >> But it does go it offsets your operating budget because because >> that's correct. You're not you're not budgeting for those trophies because you're utilizing the >> Well, I mean participation >> technically. No, because I mean her her
operational budget is one, but I I just don't understand why we can't have events that are revenue generating that could be used to offset salaries. I mean, that's just if there if our ordinance is written that way, then maybe we need to look at our ordinance
to where we can have revenue generating events. Let's say if it was, you know, concerts in the park, right? I mean, why can't we have a a concert down in Maple Graange that can generate, you know, a few thousand dollars of profit that could be used to offset,
you know, some of these increases that we're seeing in in salaries and stuff. I just don't I I don't I don't understand that. >> Can't use the rec trust for that, though. >> I I know that's my point. >> Actually, I know the whole history of the rec trust. I went down to the DCA
and spoke to them. So they explained it's it has morphed into something else the towns the way they use it but it was only developed so they could take money in and give a refund if they must. That's what the whole origin of the
recck trust fund is for. But as they said, it has morphed and people are using it right for other things, right? >> So for example, you couldn't do a tennis court. This is the example they gave me >> and you can't do a tennis court, but you could buy the balls from the recck
trust. >> That's my understanding as well. >> Pardon me. >> That was my understanding as well. >> Yes. So, but why couldn't you open another account, Mr. Sparta, like you just said, that wouldn't be a rec trust. It would be some other kind of >> Yeah.
>> My question was going to be and I guess I can Michelle and I can maybe look into this I if if it goes into the rec trust, it has to be that way, but I'm wondering if there's and then we would have a fee ordinance or whatever, but let's say we do something that it would be um if you
you do it, it goes into the current fund. >> So if it's something that goes into the current fund, >> right? And again, I don't know the whole fine line with direct trust, which we'd have to look into. But maybe if there is something that we could say, okay, fine, >> let's use the car show just as, you
know, maybe we can say $100, whatever. But we realize revenue of recreation. >> I haven't seen it in other towns, but I mean, I guess we could look into it to see, but I just know once it goes in the rec trust, we can't use it. But if there's a way of maybe trying to >> else
>> Yeah. I mean not only >> recreation like the ball for tennis or things like that. >> Um it can't be used for anything else and if >> again we can look in we >> see how >> we definitely can look into it. Um, so
just the thing to keep in mind with anything is that the more money I try to charge, you know, yeah, less the participation because people, you know, they already paid their taxes to use a park or to listen to music or whichever.
So that's why participating >> and Michelle, I agree with that. But you also like and I'll just use concert in the parks for instance, right? My parents go over to Sussex Wanage. They aren't paying taxes in Sussex Vonnage. >> Right. >> Right. And it's so to me if we're have
if if we were to embark on something like that, it should be something that generates revenue that maybe there's a discount for Vernon residents, but anybody else that's coming is not a discount for you. Makes >> sense. You know, you and I understand what you're saying about, you know,
residents already pay their taxes and and I I get all that. >> Back by gap. >> Yeah. No, and and I I totally understand that, but I just, you know, I think you're we're at a point where we need to look at things that can
potentially bring in other revenues along the line that could help offset some of these increases that are by no means you're doing. They're they're I'm talking about the increases in insuranceances and so on and so forth, >> right? No, I understand completely.
Absolutely. >> You don't have to tell Michelle twice. She'll she'll uh she'll know. >> Oh, I know. I know. I absolutely >> been working together a long time. >> Yeah. So, >> but no, it all it does make sense, but we would have to look into it as far as
the law, what we can and can't do and then >> test it out and come up with some kind of compromise and see what kind of difference it actually would make and >> our participation levels if they were right. So like nothing really offsets
the salaries, but some events are completely self-funded, >> which then keeps my operating budget at the minimal that it's at. So >> no, your your operation budget is I there's no qualms there, >> right? >> So it's it's just that and it's it's not
>> Yeah, it's not so much this the uh you know what what goes on in the rec department. I'm just talking about in general. >> Absolutely. >> We need to just look at revenue. That's all. look at everything. So, it it makes total sense. >> Okay. Any more questions?
>> I had one question. Yeah, I had one question on the actual uh youth sports programs in town. Who's responsible for running those? >> So, each youth sport league is its own
individual entity? It's its own 501c3. So, they run their own things. They do their own fundraising. We supply the facilities for them. >> Is what what role does a PAL play? >> The PAL for youth sports, they run
lacrosse as far as sports that use the fields. Is that what you're asking? >> The PAL runs lacrosse. They run the basketball program, >> right? But the basketball program doesn't use the township facilities. They use the PAL facility and the school
facilities. >> Yeah, I'm getting confused here. You were it we have youth sports in town and it sounds like we have multiple groups running those programs. Would it my question would be would it benefit the town
to have it under one one control? So, I don't know the best way to answer your question, but we have football, lacrosse, baseball, softball, um, and soccer. Those are our youth sports that go through the township
facilities. And each of those are individually run by they have their own board of trustees, their own bank accounts. Um, they're all nonprofits, and I just oversee the scheduling of the use of the fields for them.
But I don't micromanage their registration. I don't have anything to do with their fundraising. Um, are they covered under our insurance equipment? Nothing like that. >> Is there any charge or any uh anything on your budget line to do that overseeing?
>> Um, there's nothing on our budget line right now for that. No. For the recck department to take over running all the sports. >> No, I think he needs your time to schedule. I think that's what he means. >> You have independent leagues and you
said you oversee the scheduling of the use of the fields. >> Oh, the scheduling. Yeah. So, that that's one of my jobs. I oversee the scheduling of all the fields um in all of the parks and the school fields as well. It's all under one master schedule. >> I I think his question was, do you get a
compensated from these charitable entities to do that? >> Oh, no. We don't get compensated from youth sports. That's a service we provide to our town. Okay. And then in the budget it says PL contract $45,000.
>> Correct. >> What is that? >> We have a shared service with the PL and they oversee many programs and activities that um through that contract
such as Vernon day they do um yoga they do their summer camp they do. The PIL is also a nonprofit and they are able to get many more grants that help offset those programs and they have the staffing that we don't that also helps
offset those programs actually makes them happen. >> So we have a cost of $45,000 for that shared service. >> Correct. might be something to take a look at. >> Our contract with them is up for renewal
next year. Um, and we do renew review it every time before we renew it. But it's been in effect. Um, I'm the third director of recreation in the history of Vernon. And that PIL shared service goes back to when the recreation department
was run out of the PAL building. It's just always been there. and we work very well together to bring the best services to the town with the least amount of budget increases. >> Hey, Bill, I can um probably put you
with uh may maybe the captain >> um who I don't know if he's still is he still running? No, he just stepped out, right? >> Yeah, SteveO is >> Steve Roto. Yeah. Well, the captain will always be there. >> Yes. >> He's been around for a while. This way
they can just go over a lot of the services um that is done uh so you get a better understanding um between the PL and and recreation. So >> yeah, I will history. >> Yeah, we'll set that up.
>> Okay. Anybody else? >> Thank you so much. >> Thanks, Michelle. >> You were in the hot seat for a while. Thank you. >> What was that? Sorry. >> I said you were in the hot seat for quite a while. though it's all good. We bring the fun to town. So if you have questions that keep us
>> Yeah. And I and I tell you I I I the value for the recreation department and I and I said this today too is probably one of one of the most important um departments we have. >> Great. Thank you. >> In in the town because again you you bring a community together.
>> Where's the fun? >> Yeah. >> People they say we pay this much in taxes. What do we get for it? That's where I come in. >> All right. so much evening. Thank you. >> Okay, so next up is Howard Laser, the director of DPW
>> and Craig Ledwig, assistant supervisor. >> Thank you for joining us. >> Thank you for taking your time. So, we're here to discuss our uh our budget and answer some questions. And I think we have quite a few questions that could be answered.
So Judy, >> well, I do want to start with and I believe I mentioned it at the last council meeting um that last year there was a note to break out snow and ice out of the rough um road department, which I
did do. And when I did do that, I did not account I put $100,000 in overtime for snow removal, but I did not remove enough of it. I left it in up above. So, um I did reduce it not by the whole 100,000 because the overtime kind of
went up. I wanted to leave the overtime around 45. So, overall I did reduce that line item overtime for roads by $95,000. So, that is now reduced >> 901. >> So, it went from 290 to 291.
>> Okay. build your account numbers. We're talking >> and then the other one that you moved you're talking about was the very saw. >> Say that again. >> The other one the removal that we removed. >> Right. And we removed Right. So I took
out of uh you had a snow and snow and ice line item that you had 435,000 in last year. We moved three 350,000 of it down below into um to the new account
and $40,000 in for repairs for a total of 390. Um and again with the storms that we're having, if we have to hit the reserve, the snow reserve, um storm reserve, I should say, don't call it snow anymore, storm reserve, um then we will be hitting that should we this is
not uh should this not be enough money. Thank you. >> Can you tell me Patty, I know you haven't gotten received the last month's number yet, but for the first quarter of
this year, what would we have spent or estimated to have spent for grit and and uh material? >> Well, grit, we don't we haven't used grit if >> Well, whatever. >> We haven't bought it at all. >> Whatever you call it. >> So, we're using we went to pretty much
straight salt. Okay, >> this year except for a few of those ice storms, we did put a little grit out, but we have not purchased any grit. >> Okay, >> but salt we did purchase could put emergency. What were we using on that one?
Maybe maybe 80,000. We had to hit the reserve on that one. That was the emergency one that we had to >> I don't have the exact >> I don't know how many times you hit it this year. So >> So you figure that that about 80,070
and 26 >> probably that yeah >> okay >> that's for slaw >> and that's we're going to be able to recover that from out of our storm recovery. >> So what it is is we will deplete the 350,000 first and then anything over
that it will hit the reserve. So the whole the reserve is to be used once you deplete your budget amount. >> Right. Correct. We are on seven ton from last year. We're at 87
ton. >> So the storm recovery we have about a million plus a million one in there. So we'll deplete whatever we have from that million one and then we can use we can move into the uh >> No. So we deplete the budget first. This
budget the 350,000 that I'm talking about. Yes. >> Yes. I'm sorry. Yeah. >> Okay. Then we go Yes. Then we would go to the reserve. All right. Yes. >> You want to talk about new line item? >> No, the uh ship and seal.
>> Well, it's not new, >> but it's on >> wasn't budgeted in the We I guess we made it its own line item this year. >> Are you talking about >> the chip and seal? >> Yes. What is that? >> Yeah. oil and sell them. >> Okay. So, >> we've been away from it for two years,
but I think we're going to have to preserve some of our roads by using this a cheaper way this year. I know a lot of people don't like it, but it does preserve the roads and it does help us out with cost of it, but again, like I said, cost
efficient. We're going to have to >> So I have a question. So this debris removal, it was actual spent $1,163. Now we have 15,000 budgeted. A lot of trees.
And then >> the rule that's that's not just trees. That's actually asphalt with the concrete that we take in and get rid of. >> And why is there going to be more this year? That's a big jump. >> I have it to 10,000. I don't know if it's up. >> Yeah, here it's 15. >> 15.
>> And again, this probably was done. Um, so I'm looking to Oh, I don't have it broken down. >> The I mean, it looks like you put 50 budget for >> Yeah. I'm just looking at the >> 2024,
>> but we never spend it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You keep on carrying it over, but we never use it. That's a lot of debris clean up. >> It is. And then you go down to tree removal. It's going from 15 to 20. Now I
thought we sent people to school to take down trees and you bought that bucket truck. >> It went from 55 to 20. >> Well, that was the budget actual actually spent was 154. So now this year it's going to 20. And I'm just saying it
seems like people went to school to learn how to I saw that on the bill list. Did you guys go to Ruckers? Somebody to take down a tree. >> Sent 12 guys down to Ruckers to get trained. >> 12 >> 12 people you sent. Wow. >> Yep. >> So, and now you have the bucket truck. So, why is it costing us anything other
than gas for that bucket truck? >> Well, one, we can't work around wires. >> Okay. So, then that's out. All right. But our bucket truck is actually beneficial for us for safety reason wise because myself I've been up in a bucket loader front end loader cutting trees
with a harness and not the safest way but >> OSHA would love that. >> So you're taking down with it. So but yes why is it called what's what's the 200 just for if we have to use emergency trees? >> Wait again. I'm sorry. >> For emergency trees. >> So you have to call somebody else to do
it. Yes. >> Okay. How often do you call other people in to do these >> when it's necessary for emergency trees? >> Like offh hand like for the year. How how much you think you needed to do? >> I'm going to say probably close to 20.
>> So 20 people had 20 times you had to call for emergency. So somebody else had to take the trees down. >> Probably about that. Yeah. >> And how many did you guys do? >> A lot. Probably I want to say probably a 100 trees. >> Oh, okay. >> If not more. >> All right.
Yeah. >> Okay. Very good then. >> No, it is good. And like I said, uh we do things here. Well, I changed it up a little bit to where if we can take care of it, we take care of it. And again, this bucket truck, I know a lot of
people has asked about it. It's something we've needed for years and we finally got the approval and the okay to do it and get it. It will be a lifesaver for us. So, how much did you guys spend in the past before you got this truck?
Because I'm seeing here >> what you spend your number,000. No, no, there's a decrease that >> Yeah, of the cost. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, there's it's a decrease there. >> Anybody else have any questions?
>> So, essentially that's just for if there's a tree that falls in a power line and you can't go near it because that would be a >> Yeah. If it's up in the air. Yeah. Most of the time when there is a tree in a power line, we wait for Sussex wreck or JP to come and then we go. But no, this
is for the bunker trucks for trimming down a developments or main roads if we have to something where it's not damaging our plow or our vehicles. >> Yeah. Well, just the tree removal. So, the 20,000 that's budgeted there is just for if you can't do that. Makes sense. >> Yep.
>> Thank you. >> And the GPS I see went up. You guys spent 8,000 last year, but now it's up to 30. That four. >> That's Well, I do believe we have a renewal for the uh service. >> We pay for the contract for our unit.
Yeah. >> It's going up that high. >> Yes. >> 30,000. >> Well, the problem is I think that last year was down because I think we're on to our renewal year for it to pay the subscription again. >> There's a subscription fee and then every so many years you got to renew the
license. Man, it looks like it's 8,000 every year >> and this year it's 30. >> Wow. They got a different company. >> We can, but if you look out there right now, they're all the same pricing and
everybody's offering it. >> So, you're just saying that the onetime fee for this year until the next renewal, then it'll be hit again. Yes. >> So, next year it could probably go down based on the yearly service. So, it's it's just it's like because it's just the onetime fee for three years or how
many years it contracts for, >> but you pay every year, >> right? You have to pay at least the 8,000 or give or take. I don't know if it's a new amount, but the 8,000 would probably be about you pay every year if not a little bit more. >> The program and then we pay for each
vehicle to have it. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Harry. I got a couple questions if you don't mind. um buildings and grounds, building repairs. It's about the only thing that's really kind of throwing that number out. It's like uh uh last 2025
spent about 66,000 bucks and we have budgeted 90 this year. You do foresee something happen. >> Yes, I have the answer to that one. Okay. Our elevator broke. >> Forget how Oh, that's right. Elevator broke. So, it's just putting in that that will get reduced by that dollar
amount next year. The other one was um maintenance of parks on E uh spent 40 about 41,000 going up to 50 this year. Any the year before that you spent 36,000 anything that you perceive that
why that's jumping that extra? >> Well, our parts will probably go down because I did move one employee off of that. >> I'm sorry. moved one employee all back to the >> this is this is O and A not salaries >> and there's just no breakout of it just
says maintenance parks maintenance there's no breakout like on the building the grounds you had different category different uh accounts >> right >> I don't I don't have an answer for that one >> and uh for the most part all your salaries you know I obviously because
they're contractual were, you know, right on right on the numbers. Uh the only one I had was >> I don't even have a number on so I can't even >> Which one? >> 31020. Is that what you're
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I just >> said power >> uh for the maintenance parks. >> It's 375 >> 37552. Got it. Because >> saying that extra money is >> um No, but all all your I thought even
you know your fleet manager OE I I I mean I have it going up um what was spent last year to budget this year only 7% with what's going on with parts. I I think that's >> exceptional. >> I think but I I mean I I know what parts
are doing. So the 7% good good luck with 7%. >> Yes. >> Before they leave, you guys just want to look at their capital. >> Yeah. I have a question. >> There you go. Um you're looking at a
capital plan that's uh for a number of items u including a uh replacing the tilt deck trailer and uh
paver track pad p track pads pa and replace the heat system in the garage and the uh sand blasting cabinet and the pole hole digger and the mini splits got about 114,000
there I guess on that or close to it. Uh why why um why would we want to put that on for uh financing? You know, >> why not take it out of our reserve?
You've got almost four to 450 450. >> So, all the items that are blue. >> Yeah, >> I believe. Um, yeah. Okay. I didn't know if I gave you a copy. Blue. Those are they are funded in the budget. >> They are part of the uh capital improvements. So, the only things that
were going out for debt for DPW is the vehicle blowout equipment, uh, buildout equipment, uh, the one-way snow plow for tandem and the four rims for the 87th loader. >> That's the point. If are we funding it out of the budget or are we funding
couldn't we fund it from the reserve? No, because my my understanding is that that reserve is the can cannabis money and that can only be used for paving of roads >> if that again I've been >> been trying to catch up with this. I
understand but I thought cannabis was I remember the you know the the issue >> said for paving of roads >> paving of roads but um in looking what we're hearing you know replacing a heat system
uh sand blasting um that is that the one that's for DPW yeah that's not replacing that's actually adding a whole system to bay four five and six that's actually putting another unit
into that because bay five four five and six have force and it's does basically nothing so the guys that are working over there >> I don't I'm not saying whether it's not necessary or not okay >> my question is do are we able to
separate what is generated from cannabis for roads >> I would have to do a deeper dive into that reserve account Yeah, because I don't know why we would want to take money that we could take, you know, out of a an account that's, you know, over
close to a half a million dollars and and not be able to use it >> and and and reduce our reduce the uh taxation on it. >> We just had this conversation today about about maybe that ordinance about looking into,
>> you know, it I I remember the distinctly the the issue when Mr. Lynch brought it up and said, you know, we ought to dedicate this. At least we know we're going to have some type of money coming in. >> I would have to look into the reserves and see how it's broken down. If it
shows what the cannabis money is versus just stuff thrown into the reserve, I have to look at that. >> We I I guess if we look at how much is being journaled from those particular entities, we should be able to pick up
on that, I would think. I know 54 of it was from last year's cannabis. I would have to see what the prior year's cannabis was. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's and that's just a quick update. That's looking good. Yep. >> For this year, >> can we can we uh make sure that we get a
res, you know, go back on that, a circle back? I hate that. >> Absolutely. But uh at least maybe we we might be able to save a couple hundred 300,000 you know and based upon the current number we're almost looking at a full tax point there. >> Yes. Yep.
>> Thank you. >> No problem. >> Anybody else have questions? >> No. Well, thank you so much. Oh, Bill. Mr. Higgins, do you have any questions? Yeah, I had uh one question for Howie on
the uh potential of the garbage collection program. You and I spoke and we were trying to come up with a a point where it made sense and I believe your calculations that that said no extra
cost had to do with providing your service two days a week. Is that correct? feel that it would be better and more controllable with two days. >> Okay. I just I just wanted to to make sure we're we're talk we were talking
four or five days. you were talking to. It could be either way, but there there's money in the budget right now that the goal of the tipping fees, the solar waste equipment, and all the rest of the costs that went with it was to
cover all that upfront by having enough people signed up. If we had enough people signed up, then there would be no cost. There's a cost there now, but we want to cover that with the number of people. That was the goal. So, we can continue to talk about that in the next
couple days and uh see what the mayor wants to do and see if the council wants to give them the go-ahhead to try to get people signed up. It's a potential revenue for us and it's also costs that are in here that can be removed.
That was just my point. >> I agree. Thanks, Bill. >> Any more questions? No. Well, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you >> coming in tonight. Thank you.
>> Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. >> Okay. So, how long do you guys want to go till? >> Well, I have some other general questions. >> Oh, yeah. I have quite a bit, too. I mean, there's a lot more to go through. >> Want to go too? How about eight?
>> Okay, that's good. So, I'd like to start with the revenue. From what I'm looking here, I see a lot of things that look a little shortchanged on the revenue. First thing I want to ask is pilot payment, not on our revenue.
>> So, speaking with the auditors, because it's the first year, we're not 100% sure how much we're going to get. Um, so we are not putting it on for revenue for this year. You have to be able though to use the
normal taxation, meaning the method of normal taxation would then supersede any pilot payment. >> But that wouldn't be a separate line item. That would just be part of your revenue for your taxes. >> Right. But if you're if you're not are
you not including that in with your payment the amount of money from that particular parcel. >> So >> we we know we're guaranteed 10% of the normal taxation. Right. >> That would be in your amount to be
raised for taxes. So that wouldn't be a separate line item. >> Right. So I think what Pat's asking is that in the tax >> you're going to get money for that particular parcel. It can't be a zero. >> Oh. $900. >> Huh? >> $900.
>> No, I No, I think it changes, doesn't it? >> $17,000. >> Would you change to a an improved lot? Not necessarily a function of uh how the lot how much the lot is producing or the
the parcel is producing. >> I believe you're right. Yeah. No, you know, I I would and I think the person I would call I'd call Matt and say, you know, looks like we're going to be shy here. So, what are we going to
get on the other side? But, you know, there's no way I don't think any of us would have gone for it and and gone what we went through, you know, without having some type of >> So, talking to Matt and the auditor, I
was talking to him about this is that because they're not fully uh rented out yet and it's a whole calculation. So, March of next year, they have to give us an accounting and they become whole at that point. So next year by
>> all four whatever. So they have to give us all their accounting on how many they had rented out what they collected and then they will calculate the pilot based off of the actual. So in March of next year we'll find out what they should
have paid for next this year. Starting next year the pilot should be in full swing. It's just that it's the first year and they're not fully >> but but we're guaranteed 10% of the normal taxation regardless if the place sat empty. We are supposed to get 10% of the normal
taxation. >> So that I have to check out. I don't know if that would if they're calculating that through just our regular taxes. I have to check on that, but I will look into that. >> I mean I I think it should show up on that pilot line item as because that's that's I understand that you cannot
budget on anticipation. I understand that but that's not anticipation because that is an agreement of the pilot. >> I will I will look into that. >> Yeah, >> I will I had a question about that. I also had a question um
>> that goes up 10 here. >> 12. >> So the clean clean community we get that every year. Are we not going to get it this year? So they always here did it as a um chapter 159. So when we get it, they get the
because we don't know the exact amount yet. So what happens is if it doesn't come in before the budgets adopt it, when I get it in, say the budget's adopted, we do what's called one chapter 159 and that will get added to the budget after the adoption as a chapter
159. So as soon as we get it, find out how much it is and we will add it to the budget. >> Okay? And what we do is we we set it whatever the amount is we put in for an revenue and an appropriation for the same exact amount. >> Okay. So now I have another question. So
the sale of assets last year that should show up this year in our budget. You had sold a lot off I found the award uh resolution and I don't see it anywhere. Like where did that money go that you brought in from the auction last year?
>> So I will look into it. Different towns do it different ways and I will look into bringing that in. Other towns a lot of times when they do a sale of an asset, they usually leave it as a reserve to do like a one-time purchase of something to because you don't really want to.
Again, you're not going to get that every year. So, they usually other towns what they do a lot of times is keep it for like say you need to purchase something and put it towards a purchase, a one-time purchase instead of helping offset the revenues. But again, if you guys normally put it in your revenues, I can look into that.
>> But it's got to go into the budget. And I was thought by statute it has to sit for a year and then it can go into the following year's budget. By statute, I thought >> Okay. And again, like I said, in the other towns I was in, they literally have it just sitting there just in case
they ever want to purchase a piece of property or something like that, they leave it in there. Again, I will look into it and if we can move that in if that's an item that needs to be moved in. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you do these auctions every year and it's zero every year. So, like, where'd that money go? >> I would look into it.
>> What was it total? Do you know off hand? >> That I do not know that. >> Yeah, there was quite a bit on that. >> Um, oh, I'm sorry. I'm hogging up the time. >> Um, so I noticed short-term rental permits. Last year, we brought in 93,000.
>> Okay. So, I just want to clarify on that. So, um, and maybe before you go on, if you don't mind, I did increase some of the, uh, revenues after I spoke with, uh, Councilman Spartan. So, I will go through the ones that I up, but I do want to emphasize that short-term rental
I found is a mis um, misprinted. That is really, what did I tell you? >> Street permits. >> Street permits, not short-term rentals. >> Oh, okay. So, >> so street permits. >> Street permit. >> Um, I that's a very good question. And I
just found out today when I was doing research for Councilman Sparta, um I don't know there there's road openings and street permits and I would have to look into what is uh classified as a street permit. So after speaking with
council uh Councilman Smart last um meeting because he was asking me to look at the revenues, I did I got to get my little thing here. I did up zoning planning and zoning to 16,000 to be anticipated. Uh road openings, I did
anticipate 25,000. Short-term rentals, which we now know it's street permits, I up to 75,000. Uh cannabis licensing, I up to 55,000. >> Yeah. I want to ask you, so how many license are there?
>> Because here you have it as 60 last year, now down to 20. Did people lose a license or >> said she's >> Oh, it gets renewed every year. >> How many cannabis license? We have three class fives. Did you say in the and >> three retail and one
>> one um >> cultivation is it >> manufacturing? Okay. >> But it certainly should be no less than the ex than than the right year that than the year that we're in. >> Right. >> So it should you're saying it should should be 60 still instead of the 20
>> whatever is there. Yeah. Yeah. 60 instead of 20. >> I can up it to the 60. If you want to max it out at the 60, I can. >> That's what it's absolutely. Yeah. >> Again, any revenues that you collect over it helps go towards your surplus. So, you usually don't want to max out all your revenues, you want to leave a
little, so you can kind of reg generate. So, again, I can up that to 60. It's not a problem. Interest on uh and cost of taxes, I up that to 420,000. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Interest on >> and cost on taxes. >> Oh, to how much? 420
>> uh invest uh interest on investments. I increased that to 485. >> Can you send us a revision on that, please? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> To 485. >> Yep. >> From 200,000. >> Is that what I >> That's at 70 right now. >> Yeah.
>> Interest on investments. >> So the revenue last year was 687. So the 485 would be So, >> yeah, because we realized N 490, so I'm going up to 485 on that one.
>> Sorry, I'm just making a note to send the revised revenue. Um, vacant property list, I changed that to 65,000. Uniform safety, I upped that to 40,000.
Cannabis tax, I've upped that to 50,000. Hotel fees I up to 385,000 lot development plan I up to 6,500 >> and the um that's it. >> Um I had another
>> I will leave I will get Marcy the revised um and I'll leave it red so you know which ones were the ones that changed. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I had another question about interlocal agreement financial services with MUA. Um, last year there was 101.5,000
budgeted 98938, but then this year we're budgeting only 48. What's that about? >> So, prior to me being here, the prior CFO was also the MUA. >> Yeah. >> So, they were paying for part of her salary. So now that she's a split, they're only giving us a portion for um
the one finance person off because the uh they are paying the CFO directly. Oh, >> okay. That makes sense. And then the last thing I wanted to ask and sorry if I'm taking a lot of time. Um I noticed that there's a lot of grants like uh Sandy mentioned the clean communities
grant. There's also nothing for national opioid settlement where last year that was 60,000. Um, there's nothing recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Last year that was $12,000. There's nothing. >> So, I'm only showing the grants that we
have award letters or have been received as of today. Any grants that we get after the budget would go with again back to the chapter 159. Uh Michelle is expecting the uh roid grant to come in. That's that recreational
um I'm sorry, opportunities for she is expecting some type of money, but we don't know what. So instead of me just making up a number when the grants come in, we put them in as chapter 159 and we put them in at the full amount that we are awarded. >> That makes sense. And >> it's basically in and out anyway, right?
>> In and out. Yep. We put 10,000 in. We put 10,000 on the revenue side and 10,000 in on the appropriation side for it to be spent. Okay. So, it nets out to zero. >> Regarding fire department,
>> uh you're back to the the purchases. Okay. You're off the revenues. >> Um well, it can be a revenue. >> Okay. All >> right. Uh there are a number of items that are listed in blue and uh basically
with the exception of the fire truck, the ladder truck, you're looking at a co a total of uh believe $284,000. Um can we use you know the bulk of that from the reserve that they have?
>> I'm going to be looking into those reserves. I'm I'll be looking into all those reserves. >> Okay. Yes, I will. >> So these are not set numbers. This is basically what there is. >> These are set numbers in respect of how much they want to spend, >> right? >> I will look into the funding of them.
>> Well, I mean certainly if if there's I believe in the uh in the fire in the trust, not in the trust, but in the uh uh I have 284,000 there. And uh I think the total of what
we're looking at with what was brought was uh you know almost near that. So uh I I don't know why we would be carrying such a heavy reserve on a situation like that especially when this year it's
going to be very tight for all of us. >> So I agree I will look into these and thank you. >> But that will not affect though the overall um these are out of well I guess no it does. I'm sorry. take these are outside cap but it still does affect your overall budget. So I will look into
them. >> Thank you. And um I think uh oh and cannabis I think did we just bring that up >> about the tax >> and
Okay. If I need to come back again, we can we'll be doing this again. >> Yeah. >> Can I Sandy, can I jump in? >> Yeah. Okay. Sorry, I stepped out the bathroom, so I don't know we were done with uh appropriations yet. So, I do have a couple appropriations comments. Go for it.
um land use. >> Okay, >> there. Now, it's a little skewed because I understand we had an employee leave last year, so it kind of throws the numbers off a little bit. Um it looks like it's a very large jump in salaries,
but when you compare 24 to 26, uh over those two years, it's gone up 9.93%. So, it's actually pretty much in line. But with that being said, the uh operational end of it is jumping up
113%. Is spent last year 232 and budgeted 495 this year. What's the reason? Yeah. Um, one of the things that we originally
were >> section 15 >> Yeah. we're discussing um we have one uh one person on land use and one one zoning and I think um
seven there's always been from what I understand there's always been like three people in that office. Um we >> talk a little louder. We can't hear you down here. >> Um from what I understand there's always been say three people in that department area. Um we were starting to look um one
of the employees is is again looking to retire soon. Um so we were hoping to uh bring another employee in to well this they're already an employee um but try to bring them up to speed and you know maybe to help out in that
department. Um so there could be some kind of transition there. Um like I said it's it's land use is a lot of stuff to know. I'm not zoning. But Anthony, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. I'm not talking about salaries. I'm talking about operation. >> You know, operations at 232 year to date
on 25 and we're budgeting 495. >> Yeah. Look at that. >> I mean, that doesn't look like the line items really changed that much from uh what was budgeted in 25 to what was budgeted in 26, but your actuals are way down. So, like I said before, the
salaries actually are kind of in line because of, you know, the >> they look a little skewed, but they're not when you can't take into account somebody wasn't there for part of the year last year. But the operational, I just don't understand why we're budgeting more than twice what was
actually spent in uh 25. >> So, big jump. So by as of last Friday that the O and is at 31,000 spent
>> still you're looking at 50% more than still skewed, you know, especially when you look at look at their, you know, um their line items. There's nothing in there that is like,
you know, a uh an inflationary item that is it's not driven by something, you know, you talk about office supplies, you talk about seminars, you talk about, you know, advertising, you know, nothing in there is
throwing anything off. So, if we can look into that and um we don't have the we don't have the head of finance here, do we? >> You're funny. >> Um the the uh oh the salaries I fully
understand the uh operational that's going up 52.63% 63% also spent 31,025 budgeting 474. Any rationale for that?
>> I will look into it. >> Thank you. >> And just one thing on one thing on the revenue side um and it has nothing to do with what you have budgeted or anything. uh last year, mid year or so, and now that we have two count two new council
members, I'd like to revisit it again. Um Mr. King, I I asked him to provide us uh an ordinance on uh doing a local tax on on rooms and and that we can keep here, not the hotel occupancy tax. You
know, I go to conferences uh in many different cities around the country and every time when I check out a hotel, there's 18 different taxes that are on there and you know, some of them are for, you know, going to trusts and so on and so forth. Atlantic City is a perfect
example of having, you know, a room night tax. And um I I think we need to revisit because we're some of these some of these increases that we're seeing are unfortunately uh not controlled here. You know,
they're controlled by the insurance markets and stuff like that. So, we have to start looking at other ways to increase our revenues. It's why I was asking miss down thinking about, you know, potentially doing some some events that are revenue generating as well. So, that's something I' I think we I'd like
to discuss with with you guys as well to see if it we can generate, you know, some money out of that as well to to help start offset. Obviously, we can't budget anything for it now. We don't have anything in place. But >> that hotel tax, right, that's collected now um >> goes to the state, right?
No, it's um it gets >> I thought it goes to the state and then we get then some of it gets sent back. Not all of it gets sent back. >> I think we were talking about a merkantile license. >> Yes, a merkantile license. Thank you. I forgot the >> work. >> Yeah, >> but that's directly paid by say the tourist.
>> Yeah, exactly. And that that's the thing, you know, you know, as I said back last summer, I'm trying to find ways that we can generate some revenue where we're not going after people live in the town. So, you know, we have Minerals Hotel, we have the Appalachian Hotel, we have I
think it's in down there. We have a lot of short-term rentals. If we had just put, you know, I don't know, a $7 or a $10 a night room tax on it, you're talking about hotel rooms that are being rented out for between $2 and $300 a night. I don't think seven and a half or
$10 is going to make a difference to somebody renting those rooms or not. So, uh, those people are coming here. They're using our services. they're they're using our roads, sometimes they're using our emergency medical services and you know the hotel occupancy tax goes to the state and then
we don't get 100% of it back. So, it's something that we can do locally that hopefully only touches the the tourists that come to town and we get to keep 100% of it. So, um
Council M the uh a lot of these these events, right? Um, and I'm all for it by all means. I I would love to have concerts and they require a lot of people. Um, >> the would the board um if there was a
plan in place that could be revenue if we can >> run gra some revenue from that if it's if it's financially feasible because I think we're going to need people to help with that, right? Um,
so like I said, I I've always said that it takes it takes money to make money. >> Absolutely. >> Right. Same thing with same thing with the garden. Um, and and anything else that poets have to be willing to do that. I also think there's a lot of
people in this town that are um I don't want to keep on going back to concerts in the park or anything like that are very invested in in the um in the uh arts and entertainment industry that could probably lend a very good helping hand that would help out as well. So, I
just think that you know we we need to >> we need to get away from constantly looking at um you know uh cutting our appropriations, which I I do think need cutting here, don't get me wrong, but we can only cut so much before we start
really decreasing what we have to offer. So, if we're not going to be looking at, you know, cutting appropriations to a significant amount to where it helps out our taxpayer, then we have to start looking at revenue, uh, more revenue generating things in our budget to help
offset. That's all. >> I agree. >> Sorry. >> Okay. So, question finance department, that's the next area. I see salary and wages up 165,000.
>> So >> the original amount budgeted last year was 265,000, but they transferred money out of the line item uh to offset the cost to Phoenix Advisors for your temporary CFO
because the CFO um was being paid through um when did she leave? >> October. September. September. So they took money out of salary and wages and moved it to offset paying her because has to be paid out of OD, not at a
salary line. >> I still don't still don't get it. >> Okay. So last year they budgeted $265,000. Okay. The number you're looking at is after the transfers that came out. So what happens is is because you didn't
have a CFO on payroll, you can't pay for the the uh consultant firm out of salary and wages. So they had to move the money out of the top out of salary and wages and move it into the O budget.
So if she had stayed, that would still have been $265,000. >> That makes sense. But still it went to 375 this year. >> Yeah. >> Contracts and with the that is the obligation.
Let me look at one thing. How many people do you have in finance anyway? >> Four total. >> Four full-time. >> Yes. So how much is going to increase
for each employee roughly? >> Whatever the union contract all union. >> Yes. >> All union >> except for the CFO. >> Okay. Do you know what that percentage is? >> 3%. >> 3%. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you.
I'm just confused because last year if you're saying it was 265, the year before that it was 252. Before that it was 242. Like those are all reasonable increases. But then this year it's 375. >> Well, with the hiring of the new CFO
>> and the loss in revenue with us not being compensated by the MUA because that money used to also go towards. So >> that makes sense because the the MUA she Okay, that makes sense. Sorry.
>> That's okay. >> Okay. So, how do you guys want to lead this? We're >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. >> I was going through the the financial statement. There are a lot of
uh issue or items that still remain as positive balance uh by the end of the year 12 3125 the 65
I'll get there soon at uh at you know 25 and uh the I mean I just look at you know what we're carrying. Uh but there's nothing against it. We're looking at the municipal alliance on alcoholism and
abuse. Alcoholism and abuse. We got a total there of from carryovers that we're looking at about 33 I'm sorry, $23,000. One is 97 cents. >> Are you looking at grants? >> Yeah. Why is that 97 cents? Yeah.
>> Yeah. I I if that's the one I was looking at, that was a curious thing. I it's I want to I need to do a deeper dive into the grants. >> Same thing with the uh for the police for the uh uh body ar body armor, you
know, if >> so usually body armor and again I I new to this town but usually they don't need to get them every year. So the body armor sits until they have to do it uh to order them. And usually they get a couple of grants and then when they get whatever they decide see how many So
>> I don't know how old they are. >> How old are they? >> Uh >> have a year on it. >> Uh 2025. >> Yeah, >> we had uh >> if they don't need partic if they don't need body armor this year, they may just be putting it towards the next time they
need to purchase. And then right now there's a we're carrying a still a positive balance of $1,14 and change. And then >> body armor is good for five years. Every five years they have to change it. Um and I don't know how they work
downstairs. They could be on a >> you know rotating basic where like 10 officers are like every year or something. >> It's on a rotating basis. Yeah. So you're not hit with one year. >> Right. And the the we have a storm water
assistance grant from 2025. Is it 2025? >> Is that for >> 20 2025 for 50,000? Uh and then I I'll whisper it because I don't want
to get people all upset, but we got 20,000 for spotted lantern flies. And you know, we ought to find some way of killing those butters. Again, I will have to look into these grants. I I didn't get to deep dive into grants um
and just see if um to see what's left on see if it's some money that expired that just has to be cleaned up officially. I don't know um because some grants do expire. So, I would have to look into all that. >> I didn't see anything for gypsy moth. Are we >> There is There's something in there.
>> I didn't question. Why are we paying for the Lake Conway dam? Doesn't each lake community have to pay for their own rep? >> No, that's um that's ours. >> We we guarantee we kind of guarantee the
payment if there's a problem. >> Yeah, but do we budget for that then? >> I mean, >> no, we're doing it now. >> We only put a little bit not even would put five 600,000 in. >> So, we put 600,000 in this year and then the balance will go in next year of
approximately like 7 to $800,000 more. Well, we have to pay. We are they paying an assessment with that, Dan? >> Not that I'm aware. I mean, not that I'm aware of. >> Was done through an assessment to their
community. So, Lake Conway, you're saying we own the town owns Lake. >> Again, I just >> just that was basically a situation where the state came in said if that that dam needs to be fixed, right? It needs to be brought up to standards. But
every other town, every other community paid for their own dam repair. >> I think there was a private I don't know if they did. They all did. They had a charge an assessment for their lake their dam. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But then we also provide they I believe there is provided
a a way that we we kind of we back it. Exactly. >> So we have to budget for that backing. Are you saying and then next year or whenever it's done we get that money back? I don't have the information on me or >> Yeah, that's something that you got to look into. That's a big expense.
>> I don't know if we we think this is a a numbers situation. I don't know if we actually hand them a check because they have to come up with the amount of money to to >> I I have emails from >> Yeah. Well, I sat on all the meetings
for I guess it was Barry Lakes dam up there and I don't think their community paid for that dam repair. >> Yeah, people >> and they had made an assessment >> assessment. I think Yeah. So, >> I think the town owns it, but let me
I'll I'll get you. >> Yeah, that's a big big assense that we could save if that's not our obligation. According to Corey, it's been pushed off for many, many, many years and it can't be pushed off anymore. Um, >> well, find out because it wouldn't be
right that all those communities of course their own and now town is paying for Lake Conway. So, that's a big thing that needs to be investigated. Um, do you want to call it quits? And well, I think I want to forget about Bill. I don't know if he get the TV to go. Hey,
Bill. Okay. >> What you got for me? No, I'm just taking all the notes. Good questions. And uh I I'm good for right now. >> So, we still have to look at the
commissions and the boards. Um what we're going to do with that. I can see we can make some big cuts there. >> Mhm. >> And there's some other things, but that's next Monday. >> But you want to go through that real quick? >> No, let's wait till next Monday. >> I think we need next Monday.
>> Yeah. So, if um Patty um if we could get all these new numbers. >> Yep. I'll get you the new revenue sheet. And uh that's the main sheet you're looking. >> And how does that affect the percentage now since we making some changes?
Because the overall tax increases, how much? >> Um >> 13.3. Yeah, but I was I had some I did some I have a new number for you because I did do some reductions and increasing the
revenues helped. So, we're at >> uh believe it's 12 like 12 and a half. >> I mean, we got to get this down. that this is crazy. So, we're going to have to make some cuts. In my opinion, we're really going to have to tear this apart.
>> The other thing is we need to also hear how we can use some of these reserves that are that were sitting there. I mean, I'm looking at >> yeah, we can't have >> substantial numbers between the fire and
um department and DPW and not to get rid of services, but you know, the money's been given to us by the taxpayer to use and we were able to get by without using it. And but you know, when I look at some of these numbers that are still at
the end and I wonder when are we going to use it, how are we going to use it? And uh it is what it is. But >> so then I guess next week when we meet we'll hopefully get what you're going to cut so we can introduce because as long
as we introduce on April >> well >> 13th we're depends how much we can get. This has to come down. We can't have a 12.5 tax increase. That's insane. I mean does everybody agree
>> that we have to make cuts cuts. >> All right. But glad we're all in agreement on that. >> Well, I think I think the issue, like I said, there's a lot of um of our obligations. Um >> Well, I think that's that's where we're going to >> I mean, I get it. Insurance has gone up,
but we cannot have a 12.5 tax increase. >> Problem is, we had three years of 0% increase. I think that's that's hurting us. >> It's been 0% last year. >> Last year, she was seven. Three years before that. Oh, three years before
that, but not last year. >> No. >> And the year before that? >> Yes. >> Three years ago. >> No, for three years. >> Three consecutive years we did zero and then we did seven. >> Last year was seven and then the three years before that was was zero. >> Okay. Well, still 12.5 is too high. I
mean, I'm sure we're all in agreement with that. >> Yeah, we are. >> That's why we brought to you guys better than >> Patty, you'll give us an update on the amount of surplus you figured to use 1.6. 6 million in this budget and then
you'll let us you'll let us know what's left after all the numbers are calculated and like Pat said if there's surplus unspent, what's the real surplus after you recalculate? >> Okay. So, I'm still basing it off the 1.65, right?
>> Yeah. If you use the 1.65, then you'll have you'll have an updated number on what's left. So, um, I can, again, it gets confusing, but let me know. I can send you the revenue sheets with the red on it saying what's changed and then all the
department sheets that changed with the red on it. So, you know, the red just means they're numbers that weren't originally given to you, >> but also the ones that we said were in consideration, i.e. the steps at the with Maple Graange and also uh um you
know is there any >> yes next Monday >> what's the play on the on the uh >> on the what >> on the rubber >> beads or rubber mulch the rubber mulch >> again it was requested by the department
council you know I I don't know what to you know that's that's why I had >> I think maybe you know now's not the time to maintain it I think there's some other items that I think we have to look very >> we'll have to sit really hash this out next next meeting
>> would it be possible for us to put for the um agenda at the next meeting action may be taken so that we can vote on changing these things at the next meeting >> well there will be a draft so I don't know we have to vote >> you once it gets once you approve it
>> it'll take action >> yeah the workshop >> so we're working on a draft I don't I think you have to still vote. >> No. >> Well, can I take >> Unless we just stand still. >> Yeah, you probably want to come up. >> There's no action >> the next meeting.
>> There's no So my my just question to Marcy was is they gave me recommendation. If they give me recommendation, they want to reduce this one. That's >> not an action like is that part? This is part Yeah. I don't think we need to take action. And you could just say this the
uh we're reducing this by this or whatever and then that'll be part of the um >> and we would just decide what to change by like a simple majority straw poll that's not considered action. >> No, >> it's a working budget >> straw. >> Yeah, because it's still I know I know
>> welcome the government. So yeah, what I'm confused by though is how would you know then whether the majority stands with what you're changing? >> Wouldn't blame me. Well, you you guys would come to a consensus. >> I think everyone wants to reduce this budget. I don't see anyone saying this is a good budget.
>> I guess if anybody was strong about it, they'd argue that >> No, I think everyone here said that anything >> when you introduce it, we just won't vote for it if you still don't like it, >> right? Yeah. And again that's >> you can introduce it action you know to
reduce or to add you know by vote but you can still introduce it and then you can you can absolutely vote before you adopt it. You don't have to adopt that introduced budget. >> No but you but you want to do these workshops. >> I'm just telling you doesn't matter
>> can be done. I've believe me I've seen it done. So for example with the utilizing the uh the uh the reserve for fire departments which was quite substantial. If we did that took it out the item is still there
but we're just using the reserve you know how would that affect the you know your capital uh situation. So any items that were blue is um if you go to the capital sheet
uh tab number it's the last tab I did it 26 any items that are blue if you look fire department the blue totals at 284280 the blue under emergency services the EMS is 175 the blue under the public
works is the 114,500 00 um recreation the 40,000 and the department the building department is 15. Those are all highlighted blue. Those are the ones that were going to be uh funded through the budget. >> Yeah. I like like the rug for here. I'm
looking I was just looking at the rugs. You know, is it necessary to do the rest of the building to car, you know, to to correspond with this? Could we hold that off for another year? of the um the the only issue like with that was that we've
actually had an employer to actually trip on that carpeting. As you see, it's it's torn up. I think it's probably the original carpeting. >> No. >> Um can can we >> No, it wasn't the original carpet. >> Oh, well, close to it. >> Close to it. >> But what we could do on something like
that is maybe repair it for a while >> and see what we could do. You get somebody in there from a carpet repair place. It'll save us the opportunity for doing it for, you know, for at least one more year or two more years. >> What's the total on that carpet?
>> The carpet? >> Well, I mean, these are carpet squares. It should have been,000. >> We don't need carpets. >> This is the only This is the only floor that was replaced. We're talking about not replacing the courtroom. We're talking about replacing >> always the you know where the office
I've always got that >> All right. And they're not they're not >> they're not carpass wares. >> And again, that would be debt. So any item that in your capital that's not blue is what would be going out for debt. >> Okay.
Well, we got plenty of room there. Happy to say with, you know, less than a 1% debt asset ratio, it's uh you're we're in damn good shape. >> Yeah. Even if like >> All right. So are we meeting next Monday?
I I'm good at six. >> I'm good at six. Yes, same here. Six o'clock. Bill, >> are you still away or are you back? >> I'm away. I'll be gone, but I'll be available on Zoom. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Right. 6 o'clock next Monday. Be here.
>> He has to post that, right? >> Will I make a motion to adjourn the meeting? >> Moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I keep on forgetting about that part. Thank you. Thank you everybody.