MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 6, 2021
Pursuant to Executive Orders executed and extended by Governor Daniel McKee as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this meeting was conducted as a hybrid meeting; i.e., the Council, Town Solicitor, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and Council Assistant met physically in Council Chambers, Exeter Town Clerk’s Office, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island. Other staff and the Public attended virtually via Zoom teleconference.
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 2021.
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 (JULY 1, 2021, TO JUNE 30, 2022); QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS; PUBLIC COMMENT:
MOTION made by Mr. Maher to open the Public Hearing; seconded by Mr. Lefebvre; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Ms. Lawler and Mr. Findlay presented the proposed budget by section as follows:
ANTICIPATED REVENUE:
Total Revenue (state aid, zoning & planning board fees, cell tower rental, meal tax, etc.): $1,977,045.00 (19.06% increase over last year or $316,489.00)
Property Tax: $14,602,708.00 (1.21% increase over last year or $174,218.00)
Property Tax Abatements: level funded, $50,000.00
Net Property Tax: $14,552,708 (1.21% increase over last year or $174,218.00)
Transfer from Fund Balance: $475,628.00 (137.81% increase over last year or
$200.000.00 from Fund Balance plus $275,628.00 from American Recovery Plan)
PROPOSED TOWN GOVERNMENT:
Salaries and Wages:
Two percent increases across the board except:
Town Council: $15,530.00 (0.00% increase over last year), per Town Charter an
increase cannot be made except in election year
Public Works Overtime: $38,000.00 (4.45% increase over last year or $1,618.00)
Library Director: $64,000.00 (3.04% decrease over last year or $2,005.00)
Library Assistant Director/Youth Services Librarian: new position, $41,769.00
(23.10% increase to Youth Services Librarian salary or $7,839.00)
Library Staff: $45,348.00 (3.07% decrease over last year or $1,435.00)
Elections Administrator/Clerical: new position, $17,116.00 (233.97% increase
to Board of Canvassers Clerk salary or $11,991.00)
Employee Benfits:
Social Security/Medicare: $108,372.00 (2.96% increase over last year as required or $3,114.00)
Health and Dental: $407,927.00 (4.71% increase over last year as required or $18,352.00)
Pension Contribution: level funded, $98,463.00
Longevity: level funded, $20,000.00
Group Life Insurance: level funded, $1,317.00
Department Budgets:
All department budgets level funded except:
Tax Collector: $12,935.00 (7.18% decrease over last year or $1,000.00)
Town Treasurer: $27,550.00 (7.86% decrease over last year or $2,350.00)
Public Works: $308,558.00 (3% increase over last year or $8,987.00)
Library: $70,552.00 (1.76% increase over last year or $1,220.00)
Transfer Station: $185,933.00 (16.46% increase over last year or $26,283.00)
Social Services: $10,200.00 (36.00% increase over last year or $2,700.00)
Board of Canvassers: $8,900.00 (42.58% decrease over last year or $6,600.00)
Library Board of Trustees: new line item, $200.00 (100% increase over last year)
General Government:
Computer Support: $53,852.00 (0.59% decrease over last year or $322.00)
Website: new website launched, no longer needed (100% decrease or $300.00)
Mileage Reimbursement: level funded, $3,500.00
Postage: $11,000.00 (8.33% decrease over last year or $1,000.00)
Advertising: $6,000.00 (14.29% decrease over last year or $1,000.00)
Legal: $105,000.00 (5.00% increase over last year or $5,000.00)
Insurance Expense: $141,327.00 (0.22% decrease over last year or $316.00)
Contingency Fund: $130,000.00 (12.49% decrease over last year or $18,558.00)
Municipal Fuel Cost: level funded, $5,000.00
Community Services:
Community Youth Programs: level funded, $5,000.00
Memorial Day Parade: level funded, $2,000.00
Veterans’ Graves: level funded, $800.00
Capital Program Funds:
Town Hall Renovation: unfunded
Library/Chelsea Park: level funded, $2,000.00
Road Improvements: $375,472.00 (4% increase over last year or $14,441.00)
Public Works Equipment: $137,729.00 (4% increase over last year or $5,297.00)
Office Equipment: level funded, $5,000.00
Property Revaluation: level funded, $15,000.00
Historic Preservation; level funded, $5,000.00
Transfer Station Fund: unfunded
Comprehensive Plan Fund: level funded, $5,000.00
New Town Hall Fund: unfunded
Animal Shelter: level funded, $5,500.00
Transfer Station: level funded, $10,000.00
Economic Development Fund: level funded, $1,500.00
Website Development Fund: unfunded
Library Fund: new fund, $5,000.00 (100% increase over last year)
Spill Control & Countermeasures Plan Update (DPW): new fund, $15,000.00
(100% increase over last year)
Debt Service:
Library Bond: $24,544.00, 66.67% decrease or $49,089.00, ending September 16, 2021
Schartner Farm Development Rights: level funded, $49,931.00, ending May 18, 2023
TOTAL TOWN GOVERNMENT: $3,999,492.00 (1.56% increase or $61,272.00) +
TOTAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: $13,005,889.00 (5.74% increase or $705,563.00) =
TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET: $17,005,381.00 (4.72% increase or, $766.835.00)
Council did not have any comments but thanked Ms. Lawler and Mr. Findlay for preparing the budget. It takes weeks of budget preparation and many meetings to bring a proposed budget to public hearing. Six drafts led up to tonight’s draft (No. 7). The budget has been thoroughly scrutinized and analyzed and intensely reviewed.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Asa Davis of 146 Beechwood Hill Trail commented that he likes the new website and queried:
1) He understands $5,000.00 is being proposed for the comprehensive plan, but where is the $70,000.00 and $32,750.00 coming from for a total of approximately $102,000.00?
Currently, there is $27,750.00 set aside for the update, $5000.00 is being proposed, and $70,000.00 will be taken from the fund balance.
2) Will the Spill Control and Countermeasures Plan Update bring the Town’s storm water plan into compliance?
The plan has not been updated since 2003 and needs to be to keep the Town in compliance.
3) Does the Department of Public Works budget include allocations for the Department of Environmental Management (“DEM”) remediation at the Town Garage?
There was no allocation put in the budget for the DEM remediation.
Ted Nataly of 34 Nelson Drive queried about the 4.7% increase. Is the Town applying to the State for permission to go over 4%?
The actual increase is 2.99% based on residential, commercial, and tangible property. The 4.7% includes motor vehicles but is not the actual increase as motor vehicles are being phased out.
MOTION made by Mr. Maher to close the Public Hearing; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to adopt the Proposed Municipal Budget and Capital Program for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022) as presented this evening; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco.
Discussion: An increase in the minimum wage will go into effect January 1, 2022. One staff member, a Library staff member, who currently makes $11.00/hour, would have to be brought up to the new minimum wage. It will add $107.00 to the Library Staff line item.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to amend the budget by increasing Line Item No. 1P by $107.00 to cover the expected and anticipated increase in minimum wage for a member of the Library staff; seconded by Mr. Patterson; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Back to the original Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Public is invited to attend the Financial Town Meeting to vote for or against the budget or line items therein. It will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in the Exeter-West Greenwich Junior/High School Auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
Copies of the budget will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office.
There were no Other Administrative Issues.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Lefebvre; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: June 7, 2021