Selectmen Trim, Approve Proposed Operating Budget

The Milford Board of Selectmen trimmed, then unanimously approved the town’s proposed $12.4 million operating budget at their Monday evening meeting.

By downsizing the proposed addition of a full-time police officer to a part-time position, and maintaining the town’s part-time recreation coordinator position rather than expanding the position to full-time, the board reduced the operating budget by about $15,000.

The board also voted against Warrant Article 3, to fund the Nashua Street sidewalk construction project at $286,000; and against purchasing or leasing a new vacuum sweeper for the Public Works Department at $35,250.

“Personally, I’d like to do a little more research,” Chairman Gary Daniels said of purchasing the new vacuum sweeper. “I’d like to understand this piece of equipment better and determine the accurate cost of what to spend.”

Like Daniels, Selectwoman Kathy Bauer doesn’t believe the board has enough information to allocate money for the new sweeper

“I’d be interested to see how the equipment we have performs over the next couple of months,” she said.

Selectman Mark Fougere said he would like the board to begin vetting proposed budget items sooner in the future.

Town Administrator Guy Scaife expressed disappointment with the board’s decision to defer the sweeper, considering that the town will need to fund more expensive items in the coming fiscal year.

“Does this just keep getting pushed out?” he asked. “I have proposed since 2008 to look at this service.”

Scaife said after keeping the current machine working for so many years, maintenance of the old vacuum sweeper is becoming expensive—more expensive than a new machine would be to maintain.

Because a new machine would require less maintenance, Scaife argued the investment would mean cost-savings.

Selectman Mike Putnam said he believes with the economy as it is, “there are some things [the town] will need to live without,” perhaps street sweeping.

In additional pre-deliberative session votes, the board unanimously approved Article 5, the Wastewater Department Treatment operating budget at $1.7 million; and Article 6, the Water Department operating budget at $1.3 million.

Town deliberative session is to be held on Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.