1.      Call Meeting to Order / Roll Call

Selectboard: Nadine Scibek, Chair; Tom Mulcahy, Herbert Downing, Jeffrey Bartley, and Jacki Murphy

Staff: Dawn H. Francis, Town Manager; Aaron Frank, Deputy Town Manager/CFO; Robert Vickery, Assessor; Michael Moffatt, Finance Officer; Lara Alemy, Finance Officer

2.      Special Business Items – D. Francis and A. Frank

a. Review of FY 2019 Proposed Revenue Projections and Budget

Dawn Francis reminded the Board they had previously received the proposed expenses budgeted for FY 2019 and that the proposed revenues were the other side of the budget in need of Board review. She also emphasized that these were preliminary projections based upon our being only four months into the fiscal year and that the elected Listers would be developing the grand list in June of 2018.

Aaron Frank presented revenue projections for FY 19 and emphasized that property tax dollars were considered the “last dollars in” for projections in order to make the budget affordable to our taxpayers. The revenues projected include:

1) Non-tax revenues such as fees

2) Use of the fund balance and prior year’s tax revenues; and

3) Property tax based upon a grand list increase of 1.29%.

It is anticipated taxpayers will see a projected property tax rate of 0.5370 cents per $100 of value or a one cent increase. This would mean that for the owner of a $300,000 home, the FY2019 property tax would increase by $29.94 per year, or $0.58 per week, which is a 1.89% increase in the tax rate.

The Board seemed amenable to the expense and revenue proposals with the exception of Herb Downing, who supported the use of more of the fund balance to reduce the tax rate. Staff noted they are proposing to increase the use of the fund balance and that we would be just below the Board’s policy of maintaining a recommended level of 13% in fund balance based upon generally accepted accounting principles.

3.      Future Agenda Items (Subject to Change)

December 12, 2017

•        Public Hearing and Possible Adoption of Amendments to Chapter 12, Traffic

•        Budget Presentation and Warn Budget Public Hearing for January 9, 2018

•        Warn Public Vote on Creation of Union Municipal District for Regional Public Safety Dispatch

•        Student/Youth Engagement update

December 26, 2017

•        Meeting Cancelled

January 9, 2018

•        Executive Session – Personnel Contracts

•        Public Hearing for FY 2019 Budget

•        First Public Hearing for Charter Amendment

•        Public Hearing for FY 2019 Capital Budget and Adoption of Capital Budget

•        Review Town Meeting Articles/Warning

January 23, 2018

•        2^nd Public Hearing for Charter Change

•        Public Hearing on Planning and Zoning Supplement 41

•        Public Hearing on Amendment to Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6-1/2. (Recreation Impact Fees)

•        Adopt Town Meeting Articles/Warning (to include Clerk/Treasurer charter change and Union Municipal District for Regional Public Safety Dispatch)

4.      Executive Session

At 7:04 PM MOTION was made by Herbert Downing and SECONDED by Jeffrey Bartley to find that premature general public knowledge of the Selectboard’s discussion of civil litigation would clearly place this Selectboard at a substantial disadvantage, because the Selectboard risks disclosing its negotiation strategy if it discusses the litigation in public.

The MOTION carried 5-0.

MOTION was made by Herbert Downing and SECONDED by Jeffrey Bartley to enter into executive session to discuss civil litigation under the provisions of Title 1, Section 313(a)(1)(A), Executive Sessions, of the Vermont Statutes.

The MOTION carried 5-0.

At 7:15 PM MOTION was made by Herbert Downing and SECONDED by Jeffrey Bartley to exit executive session.

The MOTION carried 5-0.

5.      Adjournment

At 7:16 PM MOTION was made by Jacki Murphy and SECONDED by Tom Mulcahy  to adjourn the meeting.

The MOTION carried 5-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 PM.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Linda Gustainis, Recording Secretary.