Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Present: Joyce Fisk (School Board Member), Jerry Greene (Selectmen Representative), Cary Hughes (Chair), William Keefe, Donald McGettigan, David Tierney

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

2. Jerry Greene informed the committee that the Recycling Center will not be able to continue the practice of burning brush and scrap wood in the future. In order to deal with such material the Center will need to invest in a chipper expected to cost between $50,000.00 and $75,000.00. This money will be drawn from the Recycling center Sinking Fund to keep it from being raised and paid on the tax rate.

3. Issues about the contracts with Mac Base may impact the Wilton Ambulance Service and its relationship with the Town of Wilton.

4. A new Fire Station proposal may be brought to the Budget Committee for the 2005 Budget.

5. The Committee discussed possible funding recommendations for departmental salary budgets. In view of such standards as the CPI reports and the projections for inflation from the Federal Reserve the committee approved a motion that we advise department heads to plan on salary budget increase of 3% for 2005. The Budget Committee does not instruct department heads how to distribute that increase among individual employees. If a department head needs to request an increase above the 3% level the department can meet with the Budget Committee to present the situation and discuss it with the committee.

6. Our meeting schedule of Meeting Tuesday nights starting in November was approved. The dates are on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 on the following dates: November 9th, November 16th, November 30th, and December 7th   in 2004. In 2005 we will continue our meetings on Tuesday evenings as follows: January 4th, January 11th, January 18th, January 25th, and February 1st. The Public Hearing could possibly be on February 1st or perhaps February 8th, the date to be determined in early January.

7.  The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
 

Cary A. Hughes
Chair, Wilton Budget Committee