The budget meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on September 29, 2014 at 6:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Gary Ketcham, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilwoman Janet Sutherland, Councilman Dominick Cambareri and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Highway Supt. Hassenmayer.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 6:30PM.
Supervisor Volpe began with explaining the budget to the board members. Right now there is a 2.69% increase over last year’s budget. A lot of departments were very conservative in their requests. He further explained that if there is a 0% increase in the budget this year that the residents would get a rebate check ranging from $350-$700. It has to be 0%.
He added that $21,198 needs to be cut from the “A” portion of the budget and $28,561 needs to be cut from the “D” portion of the budget.
Supervisor Volpe started with the General A part of the budget and went through each department. He would like for next year to go to a base salary for the town board members. He suggested a 1 ½ % increase for the board members.
7:00PM the highway guys came in for their meeting with the board. Mr. Jashembowski stated that the guys are leery about switching health plans but they are willing to try it for a year. Health insurance coverage is something all the guys concerned with. He further went through the remainder of their requests. They would like the handbook to be a legally binding contract. Supervisor Volpe will speak with the attorney on this matter. H’way Supt. Hassenmayer added that the guys take good care of the shop and the highway vehicles. They are well maintained. Councilwoman Sutherland added that no one could argue that. She agreed. Supervisor Volpe stated he would run the numbers tomorrow and let the guys know. He will also speak with the attorney about the handbook. He added that #2-5 (request list) are strictly numbers and that #1 & #6 is something he wanted to do anyway. Mr. Jashembowski stated that they would like to meet with the board again and thanked the board for their time.
7:30PM H’way Supt. Hassenmayer met with the board. He stated that basically the snow line was increased. Supervisor Volpe added that the budget was cut by $5,000. Supt. Hassenmayer further explained that the flood & erosion control portion was something that the state started but has since slacked off with. It was created to educate the public. He stated that this budget line could be cut in half. He didn’t use any of it last year nor any this year to date. He added that the snow account will be close this year. He spoke about the gas/diesel coming out of 1 account. Sales have gone up as the town now sells gas/diesel to the fire departments, the village and Cornell.
Supt. Hassenmayer spoke about the garage doors in the back of the building needing to be upgraded. If PESH comes, we could get fined. He has enough in the budget this year to get 2 fixed and would like to do the other 2 next year. His wish list would be to do the parking lot over out front. 2 years ago he got estimates from a big company for around $100,000. This year he received a verbal rough estimate for $60,000. He thanked the board for his time.
The board discussed the highway guys’ requests. Supervisor Volpe will run the numbers tomorrow. The board discussed more of the remainder of the budget.
RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland seconded by Councilman Cambareri to adjourn the meeting at 9:00pm. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, Town Clerk
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