Town department heads in Dublin are doing everything they can to keep budgets flat.
Transfer Station Superintendent Tom Kennedy and Fire Chief Tom Vanderbilt met with the Select Board on Monday for preliminary budget discussions. Combined, the two department heads slashed $1,076 from their budgets, which excludes any salary increases as those are decided at a later date.
“I see your budget is down from last year, which is always good,” said board chair Sturdy Thomas, when discussing Kennedy’s budget.
Overall, Kennedy dropped his budget by $1,126 through line items, but the Select Board recommended to add $50 back to the training line, in the event that another employee is hired and needs to be trained.
Much of the drop in Kennedy’s budget came from two line items: hauling and disposal fees and monitoring and closure fees. Kennedy said the amounts budgeted should handle everything encompassed.
Vanderbilt’s presented budgets for the fire department and emergency management remained unchanged from last year. Vanderbilt said there is a grant pending for the emergency management budget , but its impact to the budget would be negligible.
While speaking with the Select Board, Kennedy said the Recycling Committee has recommended the use of security cameras to ensure that people aren’t dumping trash without paying.
Kennedy said he had mixed feelings about the proposal, but he would price cameras.
“I’m more of the opinion that it protects you,” said Thomas. “If someone accuses you of doing something, it offers a second voice.”
The board said they wanted to hear how much the cameras cost before making any decision.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.