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NOTES
In
attendance were: Barbara N. Lyons, Chairman; E. Thomas
Scarborough, Jr, Vice Chairman; Barbara Eisenhardt. Cynthia
Philo, and Jeffrey Bennett. Also in attendance Stephanie J.
Mason, Township Manager, William Wightman, Finance Officer;
Richard John, Director of Operations; and Karen Sweeney,
Director of Parks and Recreation.
Mr.
Wightman indicated that at the last budget work session we had a
$232,000 shortfall in operations with $900,000 in the
unrestricted reserve. He reviewed a spreadsheet that shows all
the items that have been taken out, added in, which assisted in
getting rid of the $232,000 shortfall. There were some capital
items that need to be completed in 2008 and have been
incorporated into the revised 2008 budget.
The
ambulance $50,000 in revenue is offset by expenditures, now that
the millage passed the $50,000 can be added back into
operations.
Salaries were reduced from 4% to 3.5% which was a saving of
$9,217. We reduced part-time administrative assistant to an
intern level, saved $25,000. Reduced the TAB video
communications by $6,434. The Senior Task Force by $200. Public
Water & Sewer Advisory Committees request reduced by $25,000.
Reimbursing BW&SA for the fly over study by $30,000. Contracted
tree trimming by $10,000. Worker’s Comp Insurance by $8,516. One
salary in Code Enforcement by $62,791 including Social Security
and health insurance number at $8,000 is also going need to be
taken out.
Increased items for fixed asset in accounting was increase by
$7,000 for 2009.
Reduction in Park and Recreation for the master plan by $15,000
was reduced. In the capital fund raising $135,000 was reduced
from Oktoberfest as well as the projected revenue.
Ms.
Lyons indicated that the reason for not doing Oktoberfest is not
based on funding but because the proposed Rt. 202 Parkway will
affect the property and the Park Board and Oktoberfest Committee
should make a recommendation as to an alternative event.
Mr.
Bennett indicated that it looks like we’ve reached zero and have
balanced the budget. He thanked everyone for their hard work.
Mr.
Wightman indicated that the capital expenditures have not
changed. He also indicated that the goal was to have $800,000 in
restricted reserve and pleased to say that is over $1 M dollars
that is going to be left in the unrestricted reserve.
Ms.
Philo indicated that it was a good job done on part of the
department heads and Ways & Means to bring the budget to this
point but she was wondering if anything further could be done to
cut conferences, specifically PSATS and the tax collector.
Ms.
Eisenhardt indicated that the tax collectors should be paying
for themselves. She indicated that she spoke to someone in
Doylestown Borough and they do not compensate the tax collector
to attend training. We have budgeted $1,500.
Ms.
Philo indicated she thought that was a lot of money and perhaps
we should look at that further. She also indicated that the
Board could pay to go to PSATS as well.
Mr.
Bennett said he was okay with that especially depending on what
the variables for revenues would be in early 2009. He believes
we should keep looking at the revenues monthly on an on going
bases and cutting expenses if we feel we are falling short on
revenues. He said that if operating deficit is at zero and we
watch the revenues and do better than expected than we should
leave things in. If it is worse than expected then those item
can start to be cut as well. But he thinks it should be left in
the budget because he expressed concern that if its taken out it
would need to come out of the reserve to go back in. He said it
would probably be better to show the PSATS number.
Ms.
Eisenhardt indicated that we should have mandatory training
only. It would be nice to go to everything but we need to cut
out certain things unless its mandatory. It’s a sacrifice that
we all need to make.
Ms.
Lyons indicated that conferences help people grow professionally
and nurture the employee or the Board member. We shouldn’t micro
manage. The employees should check with the Manager regarding
the training they’re attending. She expressed that PSATS has
value. She indicated that she doesn’t disagree that if we don’t
have the money then PSATS has to be cut.
Mr.
Scarborough agreed as did Mr. Bennett agreed that we need to
look at educational opportunities and the values that they
bring and have to justify it in order to pay for it or pay for
it ourselves.
Ms.
Sweeney indicated that she recently attended the Park and
Recreation National Conference and found classes to be
beneficial as well.
Mr.
Bennett suggested that the registration fee should remain in the
budget for PSATS.
Ms.
Eisenhardt suggested that employees express what they’ve learned
at the conferences, since we make a point to send them to
conferences. We should know if they have attended.
Ms.
Lyons indicated that we need to be more positive towards our
professionals. They attend conferences and training sessions to
help them do their job better. It is offensive and demoralizing
to treat them like children.
Mr.
Bennett indicated that he disagreed with Ms. Eisenhardt. It goes
to the will of the manager to decide if the employees need to
attend the conference or obtain training. He said it should be
the will of the Supervisors to set policy and give direction.
Ms.
Eisenhardt said she is not sure if things are just protocol or
habit at the Township and whether or not there is really a worth
to the Township for certain conferences or training.
Ms.
Philo commented that it is our own conference that she is
referring to that the Board attends, PSATS.
Mr.
Wightman indicated that we don’t attend conferences unless there
is a value. Sometimes people won’t go although things may be
budgeted because there is not a particular course that would be
beneficial that year, but its good to have the money available
when there is a class that is beneficial.
Ms.
Eisenhardt suggested that we should pursue looking into it and
the benefits when budgeting for conferences for the Township.
Mr.
Bennett again indicated that he believes registration fee for
PSATS should be budgeted and we should not be moving from the
surplus later in the year to fund the registration fees.
There was discussion about cost reimbursement from CLE’s and CE
requirement for various staff members and Board.
There was a question on changing policy and that the tax
collector has to come to the Board for approval prior to
attending conferences.
It
was suggested that since we are at zero things could be left as
they are and continue further discussion prior to preliminary
adoption on Tuesday night, but that with the items that already
been cut, adjusted.
Ms.
Philo wanted to make sure that Ways and Means would be looking
at the long term goals. She thanked everyone for their help.
Being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:53 AM
Respectfully submitted by
Stephanie J. Mason |
Authored by Development Solutions