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City council passes 2020 budget with no tax increase

By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
CLAREMONT – The city council passed the budget for fiscal year 2020 with no significant tax increase on Wednesday. Mayor Charlene Lovett noted that county taxes are expected to rise, as are school taxes, which added urgency to keeping the city budget flat.

“This does take $500,000 from the unreserved fund balance to reduce the tax rate,” Lovett said.

The council discussed a number of line items in depth. These were items requested by city departments on top of the city manager’s proposed budget.

“Why are we adding a part-time maintenance position at the community center when we’re already using a contracted maintenance company?” asked Councilor Andrew O’Hearne. The budget added $27,294 to hire someone for this position.

Mark Brislin, head of parks and recreation, said that contractor strictly does cleaning, and only at night. “As soon as that first person comes in in the morning, it’s getting dirty again. Six years old isn’t that old, but we’re starting to see wear and tear on the building.”

The line item was approved with O’Hearne and Councilor Jon Stone voting against it.

An additional $500 for the cemetery was examined minutely. Councilor Abigail Kier fought hard for this and several other small expenditures to improve maintenance of city infrastructure. “We don’t do a great job of maintaining, until it’s falling apart and then it costs us more,” said Kier.

This item passed with Stone, Assistant Mayor Allan Damren and Lovett opposed.

Another $500 was slated to minimize heat loss by lowering the ceiling in the public works department. Lovett suggested this expenditure and other small items might be paid for out of capital funds coming from the state.

Kier also tried for $1,000 for vehicle equipment maintenance for the cemetery; only Councilor Claire Lessard voted with her, and it was defeated.

Five thousand dollars to help Southwestern Community Services upgrade its transportation system was approved; this item came out of the fund balance.

Public Works Director Victor St. Pierre requested $5,600 to buy a flashing yellow light to mark the crosswalk in front of city hall. The DPW is already buying one, but it would save $600 on the price of a second one. The first one will be placed at the crosswalk by Stevens High School to Monadnock Park.

Finance Director Mary Walter said several city staffers have been hit in the crosswalk by city hall. “We’ve all had almosts,” she said. “I started this because the husband of a staff member was hit in the crosswalk.”

“As a person who’s new to this city, you have a lot of crosswalks and half the year you can’t see any of them,” said Kier.

The sign would be installed before school starts again; this item was voted in with Councilors Jon Stone, O’Hearne, and Nick Koloski opposed.

Interim City Manager John MacLean’s move to plow the money previously slated for hydrant rentals — $161,000 — back into the fire department’s capital equipment reserve and operating expenses was preserved.

Fire Chief Bryan Burr agreed with the change. While Koloski said he was concerned with the effect of selling Engine 1 on the city’s insurance rating, Burr said he would rather focus on other changes to improve that rating.

“We have a 2.72 in water flow and we could earn a 9,” said Burr. “In training we have a 3 out of a possible 9. I’d like to improve on those areas and see where we’re at.”

Burr noted that from 2018-2021 there was a $39,000 increase in hydrant rental fees.

Finally, O’Hearne asked about the police department budget request for a prosecutor.

“Every arrest we make has to go to court,” said Chief Chase. Last year the department lost its prosecutor, so the county attorney’s office is currently supplying a prosecutor for the Claremont Police Department.

O’Hearne also asked why the part-time budget for the police department was greater than ($88,000) the overtime budget.

“It covers four people,” said Chase. Those four are highly experienced, while the department as a whole is “a very young department,” he said.

“The part time people are very valuable for the effectiveness of Claremont PD. I’ve budgeted for these people because I believe we need them.”

The police department is down by two positions. “We’re testing every 90 days,” said Chase. “It’s not a Claremont problem; there are fewer people wanting to go into law enforcement.”

The council approved a final budget of $17,037,612. Last year’s budget (FY2019) as adopted by the council was $17,332,188.

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