Jul 7

7/7/2008

APPROVED
Town of Johnson
Selectboard Work Session

Monday, July 7, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
Upstairs, Johnson Municipal Building

MINUTES

Selectboard members present: Eric Osgood - Chair, Howard Romero, Franklin Hooper, Margo Warden, Brad Reed.

Others Present: Duncan Hastings - Municipal Administrator, Rosemary Audibert – Town Clerk, Susan McGovern.

Eric called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

The purpose of this special meeting was to set the tax rate; review year-end budget status and deal with reserve fund allocations, if necessary; ratify action of members to approve Liquor and Tobacco License of Vermont Plus Life (DJ’s); and any other business.

2) Set tax rate.
A motion was made by Howard to accept the 0.8140 tax rate, which was seconded by Rocky. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. All members will sign.

3) Review year-end budget status and adjust reserve fund transfers, if necessary.
Rosemary estimates a $55,000 deficit if all reserve funds are transferred as approved in the budget. A deficit has to be retired in the next budget year. The current year budget anticipated a budget surplus with that surplus being applied to various reserve funds. That surplus does not exist, so the Board needs to decide if they want to reduce the deficit by not putting money into those reserves as per the approved budget. It was noted that if the Town is in a deficit funding, the Selectboard has the authority to make a decision not to fund the reserve funds as proposed in the budget.

The Recreation, Equipment, Buildings and Grounds, Pearl St Bridge, Reappraisal Reserve funds were considered to determine if budgeted transfers should actually be made in light of the financial situation. Given the smaller available dollars, there was general consensus to transfer money into the Reappraisal Fund and the Pearl St Bridge Fund, and to apply the $30,000.00 budgeted to reduce the amount to be raised by taxes.

Eric wanted to know what could be bare bone funded or not funded at all.

Duncan suggested transferring the $9,000 into the reappraisal fund and that the other funds could probably sustain a one year cut. The Pearl St Bridge Fund is already below anticipated construction costs, so if there is money available that would be a good investment.


Duncan advised the Board that there are outstanding issues regarding a easement needed from Stacey Manosh (Johnson Woolen Mill). The Town needs an easement to a small triangle of land by the Woolen Mill for the bridge project. She is upset with the town for some reason and she would not sign the easement. The issue may be the Main Street Committee plan to put parking spaces in front of the Woolen Mill and move the sidewalk back toward the Woolen Mill building. She doesn’t want that. Duncan stated that this easement is critical to the project and if not granted may hold the project for another year. He would try to find out what the issues were and resolve them.

Pearl Street Bridge– this will be a 1-year project once the contract gets started. When the State gets invoiced, the State will then invoice the Town of Johnson. Right now, there is app $164,000.00 in this fund. Rosemary said that $18,000 of that has already been paid out. She will look at the budget.

Eric stated that he would feel most comfortable with putting $15,000 into the Pearl Street fund, and not funding any capital reserve funds, except the reappraisal fund.

Howard made a motion to transfer $9000.00 into the Reappraisal Fund and $15,000.00 in the Pearl St Bridge Fund as year-end budget adjustments, which was seconded by Rocky. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed.

4) Ratify action of members to approve Liquor and Tobacco License of Vermont Plus Life (DJ’s).
A motion was made by Howard to approve the Liquor and Tobacco License of Vermont Plus Life (DJ’s), which was seconded by Margo. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed.

Other business:

Kim Dunkley stopped by and dropped off a note pertaining to the speed limit by Nadeau’s gravel pit in connection with a possible hearing. Kim wanted to know if a Selectboard member could be there. There is currently another study being conducted and the Town is supposed to receive the results of that study in the near future. No action was being taken by the Board at this time.

A motion was made by Howard to adjourn, which was seconded by Brad. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Y. McGovern

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