Rindge’s Budget Advisory Committee has recommended that the town’s operating budget not exceed $3.9 million, a recommendation that would require almost $40,000 in cuts.
BAC chair Tom Coneys told the recommendation to the Select Board during its Wednesday meeting. Coneys said that as of Dec. 13, the proposed operating budget was $3,939,357.
“We found it very difficult to come to a recommendation this year,” said Coneys. “We have been working with an incomplete budget.”
Coneys said no specific recommendations were made regarding areas to cut from, with Coneys saying that decision should be left to the board. Coneys said the BAC was “dismayed” that a complete budget was not received.
“We didn’t take any votes to cherry pick the budget and don’t feel we should,” said Coneys.
A number of transfers and encumbrances were made by the Select Board on Wednesday.
A total of $14,500 was transferred from three line items – $5,000 from town office contracted services, $7,500 from town office health insurance, and $2,000 from legal – and placed into contracted repairs for town buildings.
The money transferred will be encumbered so that the town can complete two projects: adding a water spigot to the outside of the town office and replacing five bay doors at the fire department. Of the money encumbered, all but $1,000 will be used to replace the doors.
The board also encumbered $13,188 from town clerk contracted services for archiving work, $23,129 in FEMA money from 2013, and a $1,500 donation to the police department, which will be used to buy automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the department.
The board had a discussion about discontinuing a portion of Old Ashburnham Road, relative to Tax Map 4 Lot 17. Jed Paquin, of Paquin Land Surveying PLLC of Rindge, told the board that discontinuing the road was something that would benefit his client, the landowner, and the town. The board decided to have a warrant article for Town Meeting in March.
The board recognized donations made to the Beautification Committee. The Pumpkin Organization of Rindge (POOR) will donate $250. Franklin Pierce University may donate some volunteers to assist in various Beautification Committee projects. DPW Mike Cloutier said he would donate bark mulch to the committee.
Representatives from the Rindge Woman’s Club and the Rindge Athletic Men’s Social Club (RAMs) said if a request was submitted they would see what their organizations could do for donations. At this time there has been no decision made as to whether the town will put any money in its budget.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.