Selectmen Address Needs in Budget

Now that the town departments have presented their “bare bones” budgets, the Board of Selectmen are looking at what high priority items should be increased.

Chairman Bruce Bowler said that they need to consider investing more money this year in order to prevent increased expenses in the future. 

For example, he suggested focusing on maintaining the roads so that extensive damage does not cost the town more money.

“We are going to continue going backwards further and faster,” said Bowler at their meeting this week. “We need to present something to the voters that will stop that downfall.”

He suggested adding the most money to the Amherst DPW, including adding an employee and adding more funding to preventive maintenance.

At previous meetings, DPW Director Bruce Berry also told selectmen that many town buildings needed repair and maintenance. Bowler suggested adding $25,000 to the budget in order to address these issues.

“We need to do something with our building so they don’t look like our roads,” said Bowler.

For the fire department, Bowler suggested they provide funding for an additional breathing apparatus, as well as money to keep a custodian in their building.

Selectman George Infanti agreed that fire personnel should not do custodian work.

“I think they do a lot, cleaning the fire house is asking too much,” he said.

Other members of the board suggested putting up to $75,000 in a contingency fund to prepare for future emergency needs, similar Hurricane Irene and Snowtober.

Selectman Brad Galinson said that the board focus on staff issues, such and wages for and fire personnel.

Selectman George Infanti added that the police department should have enough money for equipment and that software and printers in town hall need to be updated.

At most, Bowler estimated they could add about $140,000 to the operating budget if they address all of these needs this year.

Ways and Means member David Chen suggested that the board continue to look at needs, but also try not to overlook some services that could be cut completely.

“The hardest thing for government to do is to figure out what places or what services you want to eliminate or reduce,” said Chen.