001Uh, welcome to the town of Bolton Board of Selectmen budget workshop number four, Thursday, February 5th, 2026, 6 p.m. at the town hall in Zoom. And we are first up is the building and land use. So I see Rich there. Uh everybody's seen his budget. Does anybody have any questions or would Rich like to first comment? >> I can go through it if you'd like. >> Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea. >> Okay, >> please. >> All right. So hello everyone. I will go through. So for I'll start with building. As some of you know, um, we all we cover with the building department four other towns. We do building official services for Asheford, Willington, Andover, and Marorrow as well as Bolton. And for that, we have two full-time inspectors and two part-time.
002And along with our admin is the first line of payroll. And that I put in for just the increase for the pay increases, which is also offset by the contracts we have with the other towns. And then for the other payroll is just overtime if anybody needs to work overtime because it's only in for the other inspectors if they need it because mine's just comp time if there's overtime. And then professional and educational training is for the training that we have to do keep up our CUS for all the inspectors. The professional and technical services is everybody else in Bolton. So that's the town planner, zoning officer and wetlands agent. And then the line below that is supplies. And the reason there's an increase there is because every three years we have to resubscribe to
003the code. And so we have to it cost every town partakes in it. And it costs about $1,000 to get the digital code and then another $300 for the electrical code which is only an expense we have to recruit uh do every once every three years. And then after that is just office expenditure, dues and fees. And then on page two, we have a breakdown of the contracts with the other towns, what they bring in. And then at the end for the building department, it costs our department about $80,000, which is more than covered by the permits that come into our office. >> Well, let's see. Just Oh, go ahead. >> I was just going to say, is there any questions? >> No, that's what I was going to say, too. Go ahead, Gwen. >>
004Yes, I have one. So, I just want to understand on page two the um what's brought in, what's covered by fees and what's covered by um so the other the other towns. So, we is it that we are is it that we pay the big lumpsum and then the other towns reimburse us? >> So, we we bill them quarterly. >> Okay. So the so the the bottom line that the request the 486906 some a portion of that will be reimbursed or will be paid by those other towns. It's I mean we between between what gets paid by other towns and what we get in permit revenue in the town of Bolton um we are pretty much at a break even point but the revenue shows up in a different part of the budget. >> I
005see. So we can't it would be nice if we could just directly take it out of the land use budget and you see what the net result is but it it comes in and it's accounted for in the revenues portion of the bo budget. So you don't get to see that and that's why you know Rich and his team put together this paid for you. So it would help. >> So So you're saying that what comes what we're paying out is is equal to what comes in through other towns and pretty usually our permit fees are slightly above the 80,129 that's not covered by what we bring in. We're usually between 85 and $90,000. Correct. >> Correct. >> fees in in Bolton. And so, you know, pretty much our our our labor is at a
006at a break even point. >> Go ahead. >> I was just going to ask on that note. So then why can't we account for the revenue here but we can for let's say recreation last week. >> So wreck was the revenue and the income were in the same spot. So then we had zero. >> Yeah. Recreation is is is very different because it's kind of a standalone thing and the money goes in and out of the recreation round fund. >> Okay. Our chief financial officer could probably give you a more clear and technical answer, but that is my understanding of why it can't be shown here. >> Then the other question is what caused the disparity between the the five towns? Like Marbor is paying three times what Ashford's paying >> because they're a lot
007larger and they demand more time. >> Yeah. So so a Ashford I think is 13 hours a week. Uh, Marorrow was 27 hours a week plus management time for the chief building official and time from our plans examiner. >> So, so then to build off that too, there are set hours that are not to be exceeded then that that sets that budget. So it is so we could back into it like what our hourly would be off those you know if we were to if we were to take that 126 from our burl divide that by 52 and come out of 27 hours of that we could see >> yeah that would get you pretty close but there's a little more that's gone into it than that because you've also got workers compensation you know
008partial helps cover partial insurance benefits and that sort of thing. So, >> so is fringe a standard like I would consider this fringe expenses but are this fringe like a standard well chased off the contract? Well, it mean it changes depending on who's assigned there and what their value as a you know hourly rate is as an employee. >> But that's in the administrative budget, isn't it? >> What the uh the fringe >> insurance the fringe the insurance >> Yeah. I mean that that's that's in another part of the budget. That's correct. But but we're we're covering that in the labor cost. You can't you can't figure out the hourly rate, but you can figure out the hourly rate that they're compensating us. That that leave us with expenses that are similar hourly rate to
009what they're seeing as well. Like are we paying for for the amount of time that we're getting out of the the building's um officer, are we paying attention hourly rate? >> Yeah. Yes. If you were to add all of that together, it's it's we're not we're not making a profit. >> Sure. >> But you're also not losing. >> So like 19 hours a week then. >> What's that? We'd be like 19 hours a week for Bolton. just kind of looking at if it's 27 hours and just kind of you know throwing a percentage off that 126 from Arbor looking at the $80,000 from Molton it would be like so it's it it I mean if you were trying to do it in purest math it probably would account to something around 20 hours a week
010but the reality is we've got this set up so that the work other than the actual boots on the ground inspections the work for any town can be done from any place and so you know our our people are spending more time in the Bolton office than they're spending in other offices if that helps answer your question >> in a way. Yeah, thank you. It's just helpful and I think it's it's a benefit that there is a cost recovery model out of it too and it does >> it's last last year was really the first year that we kind of hit that break even point and this is something that we're hoping to continue and you know there's there's other benefits. I'm sorry, Rich. I don't mean to be taking your your platform, but you
011know, the other benefits and I'm familiar with this because I built this program, right? And Rich is taking it to the next level and run with it. But, you know, the idea behind this also is by by covering these towns in Eastern Connecticut with the same inspectors, contractors can come to expect the same level of service in each town. they're not getting inspectors that are inspecting different things every time. So, the level of consistency is tremendous. And, you know, our we've been able to attract and keep talent that we couldn't otherwise attract and keep based on what we're able to do here. We we have some of the best talent available uh in our building department that you'll find in any building department on this side of the river and and many on the other
012side of the river. We are a model that a lot look up to. Prague reaches out to us, you know, for how we're doing shared services. Other communities reach out to us and ask us about our shared services. So, it's it's been an extraordinary payment. Uh, do I see any other questions for Rich? >> Go ahead. >> Yes. One. Yep. >> Oh, no. Tim Tim's got one. >> Oh, did not see him down there. Sorry, Tim. >> No worries. Just curious on the because we do have to increase on the payroll for the 3%. >> Is there any room in the professional the the training uh professional technical services? I didn't get to do the math, but I did notice it was a bit lower in 2425. Is there a reason that it increased from
0132425 to 2526? >> Their contracts that when I get their updated contracts because they go up all the time, they didn't have a drastic increase this year, but last year they had some increases in that department. >> Technical services as a contract. >> Correct. Professional and technical services. There are the planner, the zoning agent, and the wetlands agent are all private contractors. >> Okay, got it. >> And >> thank you. I I was looking at Bronco. >> And did you say that the engineer the town engineering fee is in this? >> It is not. That comes out the administration budget. >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, this is the technical professional technical coverage for the planner. >> What was the second one you mention? planning, zoning, and wetlands. >> Inland, wetlands agent and the zoning enforcement
014agent. >> So all three of those agents would also split with these other boards. >> No, >> the those are so the um the the planner is contracted directly. the the ZEO is contracted through TYKI and that's a month-to-month agreement and the U inland wetlands agent is through the North Central Conservation District and we we pay an annual fee to belong to that and Bob Ditro and Bob Moira represent the town of Bolton on their board. Um, and so we pay an annual fee, I believe, of $779 plus a monthly fee for the agent services to the wetlands for for our wetlands agent. And prior to that, it was uh, you know, we had Cam Larson and prior to Cam, we had for got to be 15 years, 17 years. >> Harbor Kelly. >> Yeah.
015Yeah. Yeah, I'd say that's about right. and you know they their their base fee has not changed in all the years I've been doing this and there's only been nominal increases in their labor costs. >> Okay. Do we have any further questions? >> I actually have two more questions. uh between looking at the unodudited actual expenditures from 2024 and 2025 to uh 2025 2026 or the adopted expenditures there's like a 75 or so difference $75,000 difference was there additional staff brought on during that time >> correct when we took on Marbor we had to hire another full-time inspector >> thank you and then my only other question is the services contract that for the five towns. Is that available anywhere? >> They're all office. >> They're all separate contracts. >> Yep. >> And is that
016>> Yeah, he just said office. >> All right. Thank you. >> So, how long is Crog still involved in this? >> One more year in Marboro. >> Okay. >> All all of all of this fiscal year and one more fiscal year. >> Correct. >> Okay. Prague is doing a lot of subsidizing or >> well Prague is managing the regional performance incentive grant. So >> there we don't necessarily see a difference in what we're receiving but the grant helps Marro ease into this over a period of time and they cover some of our costs as well but very minimally. So then will the cost increase and when the grant is over >> our cost will increase slightly but Marorrow over the period of time is picking up their >> difference the difference in their fees. So
017it's significant for them not so significant for us. >> Thank you. >> Very good. >> Bob Ditro, you got a question? Only question I have is should we anticip anticipate something might change in the year coming up where we'll be more responsible for more of the cost? Will we be responsible for more of the cost? Should we anticipate that we could possibly be more responsible for some of the cost? >> Yeah. >> As the contracts go, they wouldn't because we have increases built into the contracts. >> So, as our uh wage increases go up, their contracts have to go up as well. >> Okay. >> So, it's a win-win. >> Is there any further questions or can we release Rich? Thank you, Rich. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you, Rich. Have a good
018evening. >> You, too. >> Appreciate it. >> And now, next up on our list is the uh library board and we have uh I know we have Liz and um Do you have somebody else with you? I don't know who they are. >> Yeah. So, I'm Liz Horn, director of the library. Okay. So, this is Rebecca. She's chair of our library board. We have Claire and we have Cal. Some of you >> Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming, ladies. >> Great. Thank you. >> So, for the library budget, would you like me to go through the line items as well as you did for the last >> Yes, >> please do. >> All right. So, the library budget's pretty straightforward, fairly self-explanatory. Um, so under payrolls, the library has four part-time
019union employees at 25 hours a week. Um, there's me. I'm the only full-time person there. And then we have two pages which are high school students. Um they share a 13-our week. And then we have um three substitutes that we can call upon if staff is out. We're down to one person. We can call a substitute in. So payroll covers all those folks. Um, professional educational training, self-explanatory. It's if we take a workshop or a conference. Fortunately, for the library, the state library often supplies continuing ed for free. So, the 500 basically would take care of like if we wanted to go to the Connecticut Library Association conference, that is a charge. So it it basically covers that type of thing. But for the general training, most is free. So that's very nice. And the
020500 would basically just about allow two staff to go to the Connecticut Library Association conference, usually a couple days. One of them go one day, one would go another day to represent um other professional services. That is when we hire outside program leaders or say we we hire the Lux Museum to come in or some other um institution to provide programs for the library and the 2000 seems to, you know, work well with the number. Um a lot of the the ones that we get could be $125, but occasionally it might be $325. It just depends on what we're offering. Um the bulk of the programs though are done by in-house staff. Um other contracts, you know, that's the second biggest number um that we have in there and that most of that covers the
021Biblomation membership. The Biblomation is our total operating vendor for us. They do they provide everything all the services for circulation, cataloging, maintaining patron records, um the gamut of what the library business has to handle online. And so our membership we it went up a little bit. So they're estimating um for the operating assessment be $21,322 for next fiscal year. And then the other would be the copier contract with BDS that has been increasingly high over the past year or two. A lot of it is the color copy is very expensive. Um and it's an unknown factor. We don't know what patrons are going to need. And we do take money in for that. Um we charge 10 cents for black and white and 50 cents for color but we don't keep that money. It gets
022turned over to the general fund. So all the copier costs are coming out of the library budget. So we're not getting any, you know, direct reimbursement for that. So that's the other bulk of that. Um, we pay quarterly for the overage and it was getting up there even like $900, but I mean it was very expensive last year. So I don't know what it will be coming up because we do have a new copier that's been installed. John takes care of that upgrading. It's a very similar copier, but our understanding is because it's a new model, more efficient, that costs would come down. I don't know yet. So, to be safe, we're putting in what we think we need to cover. >> Um, >> Liz, I don't need that exact number. I'm just curious, is
023your gut that the charging for the copies covers that cost? Is >> it? >> I believe it should >> because But I don't know. Understood. I just curious if you got >> what what do we charge for a copy? >> 10 cents for black and white cents for color. >> And I think we're paying significantly less than that. So as long as as long as you're generally capturing most of the copies, I think >> Yeah, >> that's not forget too. That's not an issue. >> The library staff is making copies, >> right? >> Yeah. >> I mean, we're printing newsletters and flyers and brochures, so that is not being included in the cost. So that, you know, makes it a little uneven, too. How would you guess that like percentage of use? >> I couldn't
024even because we don't really keep track of that. Um, but we use a fair amount for sure. Um, probably not as much as patron use. I would say 30 70 something like that percentage. >> Well, thank you for letting us know that because I know the copier issue has come up for us. Right. Right. Right. Towards the end of the budget season, we're transferring money to cover copier costs and yet >> you know the funds are coming in in the general fund. So it's good context. >> Right. Now was that for copier maintenance though or some of that? Yeah. >> So maybe >> I think it was the copier maintenance was in the um AP and then there was quite a transfers over to different funds that were covered separate. >> Copier maintenance comes out
025of uh the buildings and grounds budget. Oh, okay. Well, I did think it was a library item. >> Yeah, but he still he he still covers the copier maintenance for all of the copers, you know, whe whether that's at finance at the library here at town hall, the one at the fire department. I think that's all of them on the town side, but but those the maintenance is covered out of the buildings and grounds budget. So where our bill is is overage like the contract allows for certain >> and also the contract pays for the toner. >> So we don't pay extra for the toner that's in the contract. Our bill is the overage. So you know if an exceptional amount of color or whatever copies are made that's the bill we're getting >> that's
026the difference. Um and also our copier you know does everything. I mean it faxes it scans it. You can use flash drive. I mean, it's a fabulous copier. It does really well. Um, but we'll see. I'm hoping that this year with a new one that their price will come down. >> See, less overages. >> We'll have to wait and see on the term overages. >> The contract that you're talking about is the contract with the >> BDS. >> Okay. And and do you think because there were overages, do you think that that number in the contract needs to be >> I don't handle that. That's John. totally is the direct contact with BDS for that. >> Okay. >> Yep. And so when I contacted John about, you know, the copier prices are the use is
027getting to be ridiculous. It's going so high. He talked with BDS and the conversation with the two of them was with a newer copier if the price should come down. But we just got the copier. So I have no idea. >> We don't have the history. >> I don't have a history with it yet. So I'm airing on the side of caution. And of course, if we don't use it, we'll turn it back. It gets turned back, you know, at the end of the year. So, we're just trying to be safe and not have to switch around looking for money at the end. So, but it was pretty shocking last year. I'll have to say it was I was like, whoa, that's a lot. >> So, as far as your printing requirements for your staff
028goes, you print a lot of stuff, which is pamphlets and stuff that get handed out to patrons. Correct. >> Our brochures, our posters, newsletters, everything. >> Most of those are all They're all color. I take it. >> They're all what? Not a lot of it. We're trying not to do color. Oh, >> okay. >> Like newsletters and different variety of things, we're we're not using color. >> Okay. Have you ever >> Have you ever advertisement kind of things as color of course, >> right? So, don't we have an involvement with CCM on their printing? >> I don't know. I see a lot of flyers on them. Is Is that anything that would make up the difference in the cost of the color printing anyways? >> So, but it would have to be something that Liz
029is aware of well in advance because we usually it usually takes about 10 business days to get back stuff back from CCM. But you know, we have we have shifted a lot of our like stationary and envelopes and business cards to printing from CCM because it's significantly cheaper than other vendors that we've had over the years. >> Just just a thought thrown out there. So >> yeah, if we had a big project to do, I would definitely, you know, speak to Jim about that. But we're talking about daily things. you know, every flyer for every program, everything we do, we we couldn't be sending it out like that. It would be >> impossible. But if we were doing a big project, they like, you know, bulk mailing or something we wanted to do, we would
030definitely could talk to Jim about that. >> I guess I'm just planting that little seed, make sure it's still growing. So, >> that would other questions for the library staff? Bob, you're good. I didn't get through I didn't get through all the line items. So >> Oh, okay. Yep. >> Um the office operation expenditures. Um that's pretty self-explanatory. It's all the supplies that the library needs needs that are unique pockets, book covers, labels, barcodes, you know, unique to the library. So that's what that is. Um library materials self-explanatory. It's everything we put on the shelf. um books, periodicals, audio books on CD, music CDs, magazines of various nature, newspapers, um is everything that's on the shelf and it doesn't include electronic >> download. It also includes that as well. And that number, you know, is
031pretty um consistent how much we spend and we go accordingly, you know, balance out what the public is asking for. Um respond to that. So that's what comes out of that one. Equipment, again, self-explanatory. Um, it would be a lot like if we needed a new label maker, receipt printer or typewriter or something like that. Furniture and fixtures, self-explanatory. And there I added chairs. We were looking to buy a few more chairs. Um, but and dues and fees. Um, it's our membership to the professional organizations. Connecticut Library Association, American Library Association, um Connecticut Library Consortium, that's the one that does all the contracts for all the things that we buy. They go out for do state bids. So, um that's a really important one. ACL is the association for Connecticut library board memberships. So, the
032library is the member, not the individual. So, well, that sums up >> the library budget. So, I don't know if anybody has >> Oh, sure. Yeah, >> I had it kind of messed up on my screen. So, >> that's okay. >> Um, so Bob had a question. >> Oh, wow. >> Two things. one I want to give a shout because I think the library is an excellent excellent source of satisfaction for my wife and for people. I love the job you do there. I love it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. one thing. The other thing I wanted to ask was, do you have any long-term plans for how you're going to use use the paleo in the back? >> Yeah, it's a good question. >> Yeah. >> Yes, for sure. Um, as a matter of
033fact, um, Jim and I were speaking a couple months ago that we want to add to that, um, an awning so that we'd be able to use it a little bit more than we can at this point. And we're we purchased additional um, furniture for there aderondac chairs, making kind of a seating area. We have several picnic tables with umbrellas. But on our list is definitely to do um, the awning. And yes, as much as we can do outside, we definitely will in the good weather. Yeah. And we encourage, you know, any group to use it if they want to. Um, fantastic that the connectivity trail hooks up to the patio. We have people doing that. Um, walking their dog. That trail is used all the time. Was fantastic addition. Used all the time. People
034walking their dogs. They come up on the patio, can relax. We have a back door. They can come in and out because we keep it unlocked. in good weather, in the you know, warmer weather. Um, so yes, we want to do as many programs as possible out there. Um, also the bike walk group, they want to do programs there and they're perfect for the bike walk group, >> you know, um, demonstrations with their with bicycles. >> They did they did one this year, did they not? >> Yes, they did. Yeah. Poetry night, you know, lots of different plans that we have for it. For sure. Yeah. Thanks for asking, Matt. >> Appreciate that. Yep. Uh, next. Any additional questions? >> I have a couple things to um just hand out for you. So, >> can
035you make sure you leave one for me, please? >> Absolutely. Will, Rodney. >> Absolutely. So, just our February um activity bookmarks that you can have that. We try to do these are very handy for folks. And let me just I'm gonna leave this with you, Jim, so the rest who want it can take that. >> And then um in case anybody doesn't have an updated library card, you can fill this up, give it to Kathy, and we will take care of getting that for you. Do they need to be renewed? Everyone's every 3 years. Um okay. >> Most libraries do have a renewal of every three years. So if you have any updates that you want to do on that, give it to Kathy. I'll take care of it. That's for the rest. >> And
036um this is really cool. You know, we do an annual report for the state, all the statistics. It's it's a huge document. So, I gleaned out some of the more interesting statistics for you. So, um just from last year's activity, I thought you might find that there's two there. >> Oops. You're welcome. >> And is that three-year renewal to um ensure residency? >> Exactly. ensures residency. Um, you know, people move around a lot. They change their cell phone, change their email. So, it lets us update all that information in the system. >> Yep. I'll leave this for you too, Jim. Okay, great. >> You can hand that out to the I'll take one in case you have any questions. >> So, like I said, the state requires us to compile all this information and then
037I do use a lot of it for the town annual report as well. Um, but the state is big on collecting numbers. So, Anyway, so you can look through it. If you have any questions, you can let me know later. >> Great. Thank you. So, >> thank you. >> I have one more >> for you guys. Okay. You come in and get yours. >> I have one more question. I sure you can leave it. Uh, I know last year we were discussing that the number of downloads people could get for free was six a six a month was it? >> Yep. >> Did Did we change that? >> Nope. That's still the same right now. Um, >> it hasn't evolved. Okay. >> Kind of leveled off in terms of use, >> but very successful program.
038People are loving the downloads. Are are you >> are you making people aware that those downloads cost the town money? >> As a matter of fact, in the last newsletter, we put a whole information in there about how much we spend, how much was downloaded. >> Um, yes, >> because I know you and I had a con a conversation about this and you know, my research shows that the state average is around four books per month, >> right? Um and I'm you know just and I know there are members of our staff here that download books on a regular basis because they talk about them. >> Sure. >> And um >> that's good. >> And they didn't know that there was a cost associated with >> downloading the books to the library or the town.
039And so one of the things I found in my conversations with them is that if they could download five books, they'd download five books even if they only read two or three. And that's been my that's been my overarching concern is that >> you know with with the cost you know >> if if people are aware that it costs hopefully they're a little more responsible but I know that >> you know the staff here that use ebooks on a regular basis were not aware >> right >> so we did for our conversation about that we did put it in the latest the February newsletter what the cost is how many download downloads are happening um to make people more aware. We'll continue to do that. Um, you know, as far as people downloading and not
040using it. I mean, there's really not much >> it's no different than people coming in and checking out a dozen items that we've paid for and they're not looking at it. I mean, we can't control what people are doing at home, but um, it's important to make them aware. >> Well, I just, you know, my my concern is wastefulness. If they're not if they're not aware, you know, like like the staff that I talked to here, they weren't aware. So, they they could download five books when they were browsing, they would just download five books. If they didn't read them, >> right, >> that's okay because it's not costing them anything. >> But everything is costing. So, everything we buy and put on the shelves cost money, too. You You just can't. But if if
041it starts to get, you know, too much that way, you have to we'll have to reook at it. And that's something we do keep an eye on for sure. >> Yeah. We appreciate you. We appreciate you keeping an eye on it. And I kind of brought it up because of our new members that they weren't aware of. Maybe they were aware. I shouldn't say that, but they maybe weren't aware of the cost was uh in the on the town budget. So, >> and everything that a person downloads has a different cost. >> That's correct. Well, because >> Yeah. >> Not every book is the same download price. Not every movie, not every music, not every magazine. So, you know, that can vary with everything that's um >> No, it's it's I would say as long
042as it doesn't get out of hand, we just provide it. >> People are really really enjoying that. So, um >> and it doesn't necessarily only pertain to town residents, correct? You don't have to be a resident of Bolton to >> You have to be a member of Biblimation, >> right? Okay. >> Well, that goes for all the towns. They have to be a member of >> right. >> Do you have an idea of this of the 32,400 line item library materials of how much that's downloading? Well, the statistic sheet there does tell you how much how many things are downloaded. So, the electronic circulation for this past fiscal year was 11,958 and the physical circulated items was 26,372. That gives you a little perspective on >> versus the download number. >> Yep. What do you
043think the average cost of a download is? I know you said there's a bunch of >> There is no cost $2. It could be $5. >> Aren't you spending around $1,800 a month >> there? It's about 1,200 a month. >> About 1,200. Okay. That that that I think helps. I was going to say that was get my recollection from AP that we approve. >> It's about 1,200 approximately 1,200 a month um for Hoopla. People like Hoopla because there's no weight. Um, the other one that we subscribe to is Libby and that's about 1,600 a year and it's a huge collection. U Biblomation provides that collection. So it's like our contribution is like about 1,600 to that. >> So that's about half your budget. >> Yep. >> For that. >> Good. Well, >> so don't like
044periodicals. We spend a couple thousand a year. 144 >> periodicals. >> Okay. >> Are they just the 1600 >> I just wanted to make everybody aware. So >> yeah, thank you Rodney. That's good. It's important. And of course every library, >> you know, not unique to us. >> I guess it's just to keep track of it. >> Yes. Very good. >> It is very challenging because patrons want things in all different kinds of formats. So, one book title, you might have to buy it in a half a dozen different ways. Large print, paperback, hard cover, audio book on CD, downloadable, it's all the same title. People want them in all these different formats. So, you're you're, you know, accommodating your patron's needs and that's what we're there to do. >> So, I you know, we're
045not asking for extra money out of that lab material if it's the same amount. We're just juggling how we're allocating that amount of money as to what patron demands are. >> Absolutely. >> That's our role. So, >> great explanation. Any other questions for the library staff? >> Well, you're off the hook. Thank you very much for your presentation. >> Great to see you. >> Thanks for coming. Uh, and next on the agenda is the Conservation Commission. Do we have anybody representing the Conservation Commission? >> No, there's nobody here. >> Um, do you want to just run through it quick, Jim? >> I mean, it's a it's a flat budget. It's exactly the same budget as it was last year. Payroll covers the board clerk. Uh, professional education and training, they belong to a couple of
046organizations. I'll be honest, I don't know what other professional services for for that particular group is. Uh, general supplies is supplies and dues and fees is for their their professional organizations. I believe they belong to khaki work >> professional services about like bringing in speakers that kind of thing. >> Yeah. I don't I I'm not sure honestly. >> Do you think I wonder if they do they contribute at all to the lake water testing? >> No. >> Okay. >> We pay for that out of the administration budget. >> Okay. >> So volunteers, you know, from friends of Molton Lake actually do the sampling >> on our behalf. But they've actually gotten some great training >> and through the Hartford Foundation from giving they've gotten some good equipment. Patrice, did you have your hand up? >>
047Yeah, I'm thinking it might be if they have to hire an expert. >> Uhhuh. >> That would I I just I don't I just don't remember that they've hired anybody in the recent past. Right. >> Well, there's no expendit. Yeah. >> So, okay. So, shall we move on to boards and commissions starting with the planning and zoning? >> Uh, do we have representation there for that or is there >> Manning couldn't make it. Um, and I don't know if Quan is on the call because I can't see everybody. >> He's here. Here. >> Okay. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions regarding the budget. it is um less than it's been in years past. Uh basically the savings comes um in the area of advertising because just looking over from basically 2018 and 19 to
048current year we've never spent the the 1,500 that we've asked for in the past. So we backed it down a few hundred. Other than that it's pretty level >> spending. Is this Yeah. Did this get updated? >> We only had >> we sees the same amount from basically from 23 24 25 and I don't think this is the right one based on what she just said and advertising going down. Advertising flat here. >> Mhm. >> If so, I don't think we have the right sheet. >> Yeah, we're not looking at a 2025. >> Yeah, the the sheet is not correct in terms of the year uh coverage spread. >> Could we get that into an action to get that via email or an updated packet? Do you want me to share my screen if I
049can find? >> Um, let me see if I can find it. >> Thank you, Warford. Go for it. >> I know. I'm sorry. >> This looks like a small clerical error. >> Only someone had pointed that out earlier this week. >> Yeah, Jim, if only you got a heads up on this on Tuesday. Jam come. That's >> right. >> I've had my head b so buried in budget this week. >> Is the recreate done? We'll judge you on this. >> No. >> Okay. >> I still did not get it sent out today. >> We were in budget meetings with the finance chair, the director of finance for two and a half hours today. And >> can we come bodyguard's office tomorrow? >> Make sure you just uh >> I clear my work schedule. I just
050I need 20 minutes. 20 minutes is what I need. Go ahead, Patrice. Whenever you're ready. >> Yeah, I had to read. Oh, >> we've seen it twice. >> Can you force me one of the Patrice? >> I wonder if I mute you. >> Y that again. >> Yeah, mute me. >> There we go. Okay. Okay. Stud. >> Is that okay? >> Patrice, can you make it any bigger? That's better. Thank you. >> Thank you, Patrice. >> I'm echoing on my end. I don't know if I'm echoing on your end. >> Not as bad as you were before. >> Just a tiny bit. >> Okay. So, you can see adopted expenditures and 2425 was 4,000. 2526 was 4,000. We're requesting 3,700 for 2627 and that comes right here from a lack of uh 300 less. >>
051Very good. That's a good decision. >> So looking at your payroll expenditures, it drops to zero, but in 2024 25 it was double than what was budgeted. It's hard to see what that number actually is. >> Yeah. How do you propose to get to zero? >> Don't you have to carry the clerks? >> Because the payroll now is in official administrative services. They've just switched the finance >> uh finance created that account like that. Yeah. >> Do you have an instate or out of state clerk? >> Currently, I think she's instate. >> So, that probably needs to move back to payroll. I can't tell you who our clerk will be in a month. It seems to jump every month, but I I just do what finance tells me and where it comes out of. So,
052I Whatever you think. Yeah, I mean that that's so that that's really what the difference is. The payroll amount just moved from one line item to the other because payroll is when we have an instate clerk that's being paid with a direct deposit. The other line item is for when we have a 1099 person doing the the payroll the uh insurance >> and then is fringe carried for payroll but not for >> there's no there's no fringe for these rules. >> Okay. other than work workers comp. >> So as a payroll they're not paid they're paid 1099 both. >> So no if you if you are an instate individual and you are doing minutes for a border commission then you are an employee and you're getting a paycheck but they are part-time jobs with no
053benefits. >> Got it. So I think the only thing that we have to cover for them aside from their actually payroll and social security, Medicare costs, workers comp. >> It does. It does add up. So I suspect that you're going to have an instate clerk at the moment. So, I guess we got to put that back in. >> Well, it's just a matter of moving it from one line to the other. And, you know, it can be it can be moved between line items during the course of the year if it's necessary. I'm wondering if maybe it makes sense to split it or not. >> That's what I was just thinking. >> Yeah. >> So, make the request like 550 in one and 550 in the other. >> Yeah, that makes sense to me. >>
054That's fine. Yeah. >> Thank you, Patrice. As long as we don't forget about that for two weeks. >> Do you want me to stop sharing? >> Uh, I'm good. >> Thank you. >> Everybody else all set? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Trace. Whichever one you are. >> Um, two of you. >> Thank and Kan. Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Good night. Thank you. Well, peace be with you. Uh, so now we're going to the zoning board of appeals. Is there any questions on that? >> That's pretty standard booking. If if there's not >> and we'll move on to uh there is more inlands wetlands. >> Ross isn't here. This might be advertising. >> I don't know if he's on it anymore. Ross. >> Yeah, he's the chair. >> Oh, he is.
055>> Yeah. Submitted by is the chair. >> Jim Lir is here though. >> Yep. Jim is here. Anybody have any questions about it? First of all, >> it's a flat budget. >> Yeah. And they got the same thing everybody else has. Advertising in the newspaper, payroll clerks and some training for the most part. Uh, so moving down. >> Economic development. >> I'm not there yet, but go ahead. Economic development, Steve. Um, >> that's we should have kept the trees for a minute in case you guys had questions, but that's okay. >> It looks like the budget that's being requested is being used. So, >> is being used? Yes. >> And what is that? So see that typically what it's been doing is that has been funding our uh economic development activities through the four town
056>> Oh yeah >> group. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Countrywide >> countryside. Yes. I couldn't remember the name. Thank you Rodney. >> I just I didn't either but I got you on your way. >> Nobody can remember if it's a bad name. Uh if there's no questions there then we'll move on to our next one. >> Well I guess I do have a question other payroll. >> We already flipped it. It already it got so the other payroll to do the shared services then is that the >> So once once upon a time we had an economic development commission but it got disbanded and so there was an other payroll for a board clerk when they actually had a committee and had meetings. It's still there, but it's it's it's done with with staff and contractor
057time. Patrice being the contractor. >> Thank you. >> Staff that contribute or myself when I'm available. Um the recreation director regularly attends and contributes. Um and staff from the three other towns which are Coventry, Taland, and Mansfield. Thank you, J. Uh, is that it for questions on that? Let's move on to Veterans Commission. The Veterans Services, is that what they're calling it? It's not a commission or committee services. >> We We could reabel it if the board chooses. >> I think the town website called it when we were doing applications, it was a committee. >> Yeah. to check that out a little. >> I'm assuming payroll is board clerk. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Why the 400% jump? >> Because they're actually meeting now. I'm assuming whereas I don't think there were members previously, at least
058based on the town website. >> Okay. >> So meeting. >> Yeah. Yeah. We just >> elected a whole slate. the last meeting minutes I think on the town halls that were from a couple years ago. >> Okay. >> And they just started meeting again. Yeah, I've seen I I do I did notice that we nominated lots of people onto it and I wasn't sure if >> I went to check the town website when we did that and I noticed that there was a bunch of blanks. >> Okay. Wonderful. Thank you. >> And they've had a couple meetings already. >> Yeah. Two, I think. >> Good. >> Yeah. Uh, and I'm sure the postage is what it is. I'm sure you're going to see more activity out of them in the >> So, the other the
059other thing I think is important to understand is that the veterans committee actually does a lot of work for the parade. They they help a lot with the parade as a group of volunteers. Actually, I think somebody said they were going to take it over. Uh because last year, didn't um Stephanie do it? >> Yeah, it was it was Stephanie and the selectman's office that did it last year because we didn't have anybody. I don't know that they're taking it back over, but they're certainly going to be heavy contributors. >> Right. Okay. >> And so that'll ultimately be cheaper on the town in terms of the administration. Well, it just means that we can do other things with our time. I don't know that it makes it cheaper, but it means that we're able to
060>> time is expended elsewhere. >> You're right. >> There you go. >> Yep. Uh all right. Any other questions on the veterans services commission? >> And I think that brings us to the last of them. Uh is there that's all that's on the agenda? >> That was Yeah, that was the last one. >> Not that it's a formal meeting that needs a >> we we did we do have in in case Ross came and wanted to discuss it, we do have the auditing services budget here, but he was not able to make it tonight, I guess. So, >> oh, you mean >> for the ROV? No, it was for the the finance committee as part of part of the finance committee's budget, but it wasn't in the package when he came to present the finance
061committee budget. >> Oh, okay. >> I don't I don't know if you want to do that under boards and commissions without him here. >> Um, not really. >> Has questions look and see what we might have. >> Fairly simple. Oh, look. One line item. Oh, >> the contract for this is that although in the selecting office, >> um, yes, I think so. >> That might be helpful. Let's see. So I I think if Ross were here, he would tell you that, you know, this is more money than our current contract, but that, you know, contract will expire and we will go out to bid again and we may get somebody that's more costly. >> My understanding is that our we use our auditor fairly well based on the value that they provide. So for instance,
062you know, today I met with our finance director and we were talking about budgets and you know we talked about the dog fund. Yep. >> Okay. So, we have money in a dog fund, about $31,000 in a dog fund. And you know, the money that we collect for dog licenses goes into the dog fund. And you would say, well, what comes out of that dog fund? If we pick up a dog that gets hit by a car, we don't know the owner. It goes to Bolton Vet. It covers vet bills. It takes care of, you know, if we pick up a stray animal that has to be euthanized, it covers those costs. Um, one thing that we have never taken out of that account is the cost for the the dog warden, right? So, we
063we talked about that today. Can we take is that a legitimate expense to come out of there? She said, I think so. So, there's $31,000 in that account. We collect about $3,000 a year in income from dog licenses. Whatever we don't expend out of those monies, we have to turn over to the state. >> Whoa. >> So the question was, well, can we take that out of there? And she said, well, I think so. I think it's a legitimate expense out of there. And I then I said, "Well, it looks like looks to me like we should because we have about $3,000 that we're turning back to the state every year. We should probably take $3,000 a year and use that toward toward the dog catcher expenses or the dog warden expenses." And she's like,
064"I don't know if we can do that. We may have to take the whole thing out of that line item." I said, "Well, if we do that in about four or five years, we're going to deplete the account, >> which is not I don't want to do that. I want to have the money for other things." So, she was going to check with the auditor. It was it was a it was a long explanation of how to get there. No, I I think we had been talking about the auditor at a previous finance committee meeting and it was just like a the value that we feel like we get out of the auditor is more than like we think we get more value than what we pay because they're just so willing to help us
065when we >> he is yes >> he he's very willing and that was an example of yeah a question that we're just going to ask him and we're not going to get build for >> and it also seems to me Ross said the auditor wish we used them more like we already think we get a fair amount of value out of it but be there for questions and things like that. >> He's very he's very helpful. You know, we have to be careful when we get to end of year expenses. If we if we order something now and it doesn't come until August, you know, we got to be careful on how that information gets accounted for. >> So that he's not saying, well, it's not a this year expense, it's a next year expense.
066So, we always reach out to him and get his guidance on those things. uh if we know he's going to be our auditor for the following year. >> So why is the I don't know if it's coming from the finance committee or not uh but why it looks like it's there there's been a higher amount carried for a couple of years in case we lose our current auditor or select another. So has there been conversations with the current auditor that he or she might not want to continue? >> So whenever whenever whenever his contract is up we have to go out to bid. Okay. And when is that? >> I don't off the top of my head, I don't remember. I think I think it's at least one more year. >> Okay. >> But he
067could raise his rates. >> His rates are what his rates are for the duration of the contract. >> Right. Right. >> I'll make I'll make a note to look at. >> Yeah. Yeah. We should look at what that that cost. I mean, understand that some of that might be, hey, if it expires at the end of the 27 fiscal year, then we may need to go off the bid and some of that may need to be expenses that we spend on like going out for bids, but that may not be 15, 20, what, however many thousands of dollars difference between the contractor >> and and we know that there's extra work this coming year because we expense the ARPA fonts. So, that's going to that's going to that triggers what they what they believe they
068call a federal single audit. >> Okay. So there will be extra expense. So it won't be the normal, you know, $25,000. So there'll be additional costs on top of that. >> Okay. >> For that federal single. >> Make sure this gets into the updated packet that goes out. >> Yes. >> And should we just leave these somewhere on the front? >> Yeah. If you just leave them with your books, we'll make sure they get into your books. >> Okay. >> Are you all set, Bob? Any questions? >> Yeah. I just want to ask Jim, what did you say triggered that single federal audit this year? >> The the uh the million dollars in ARPA funds that we expended. >> Oh. Oh, okay. >> Well, if there's no other comments, questions, or suggestions, uh I'd say
069we're at the end of the meeting.