OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
Town of Halifax, Vermont
SELECTBOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
December 3, 2016
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:06 a.m. Selectboard members Lewis Sumner, Mitchell Green, and Bradley Rafus were present, as was Robbin Gabriel. Patty Dow joined the meeting shortly after 9:00 a.m.
Changes and/or Additions to Agenda
None.
New Business
FY18 Budget Preparation (Selectboard Budget)
The Board reviewed each line item in the Selectboard budget for FY18, which begins July 1, 2017. No salary increases were proposed, and the EMD stipend was reduced, with the expectation that a small VY funding grant will offset both that expenditure and most of the cost of upgrading the emergency generator at the town garage. A $2,000 amount was included under office expenses in anticipation of the need to replace an aging computer and copier. Other basic office and town expenses were held at FY17 levels, and the Board discussed the possibility of printing fewer town reports and eliminating the postcard mailing as a way of reducing town meeting costs. The town report is now available on the web site in advance of town meeting.
Budget numbers for dispatching fees, county tax, WSWMD, and VLCT insurances were estimated; these figures will be updated when the actual numbers are available. The Board budgeted $30,000 less than in FY17 for bridge construction, and added a tentative $7,000 under environmental expenses for state-mandated PFC testing. The final cost of that procedure cannot yet be determined, and at present there is no state financial assistance available.
The Selectboard will meet again on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. to continue working on the budget.
Hearing of Visitors
None.
Old Business
None.
Other Business
None.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robbin Gabriel
Selectboard Secretary