Rindge officials have began to analyze preliminary department budgets to prepare the 2017 budget.
Members of the Select Board and Budget Committee met Wednesday to discuss DPW and library budgets.
The Library’s budget is expected to decrease almost $16,000 in part due to the library not having an overlap for the director position, which was in this year’s budget to help the transition to new library director Donna Straitiff.
“When we went through the budget process last year, we anticipated [Library Director Diane Gardenour’s] retirement,” said Finance Director Ellen Smith. “The Library Trustees thought it would be important to have some overlap for the transition.”
DPW Director Mike Cloutier presented budgets for cemeteries, town buildings, solid waste, parks and playgrounds, highway, and streetlights.
All of the budgets except for parks and playgrounds increased slightly, but Smith explained it was due to a projected increase in NH retirement and health insurance.
The Select Board approved the addition of David Graham to the search committee for a new recreation director at the request of Recreation Committee chair Mike DiPasquale. The board also extended the application deadline, and will post the job internationally.
The board also approved an agreement with the Jaffrey Recreation Department, allowing the town to borrow a vehicle for $25 an hour. The vehicle will be used to transport children for the EDP program. Presently, the town’s vehicle will not pass inspection.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.