Town of Pinckney Minutes
Budget Meeting
October 20th, 2015
Roll
Officials
Present: Sherry Harmych,
Supervisor
Don Cook, Superintendent
Don Vincent, Councilman
Bob Amidon, Councilman
Dan Pearson, Councilman
Megan Vincent-Olmstead,
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Absent: Sandi Dunn, Councilwoman
Public
Mark McAleese
The budget meeting was called to order at
6pm; Don Cook opened the meeting with information regarding the Highway
Department and how it would affect the proposed budget. Superintendent Cook
stated he was contemplating dropping his request for a third full-time employee
and keeping it at a part-time position. He believes the man in the position
would be okay with this arrangement. However, in exchange, he asks the board to
approve of the town of Pinckney to pay the premium for the full time Highway
Department employees Health Insurance.
The board members number crunched the
different health insurance plans that had been proposed to them at the health
insurance meetings and were looking for a good plan at the cheapest rate. It
was discussed whether the town should pay the premium or a set amount towards
the premium. Five hundred and fifteen dollars was an amount that was discussed.
Community Member, Mark McAleese stopped
into the meeting believing it was the regular board meeting. He wanted to voice
his concerns in regards to the trash removal and the survey that was handed out
on Saturday trash day. His main concern was having to pay a set amount monthly
for trash, he stated he did not believe that would be a fair way of handling
the situation because of some people bringing numerous bags every week and
others only bringing one or two bags. He stated that perhaps having to pay per
bag for trash would be a good alternative. Supervisor Harmych replied that the
survey was just to test the waters with the community, that no one had answered
that they wanted change, and that the topic would be covered more at the next
regular board meeting on November 4th, 2015.
Councilman Bob Amidon voiced his opinion
that he believes keeping the third employee on as full time is actually a good
idea and may save the town money without having to hire as many part time
employees. The board agreed and the budget remained in place, keeping a third
full time highway employee.
It was decided that the town will pay a
set amount toward the health insurance premium; the full amount this year, but
if the amount increases in following years, the employees will be responsible
for the difference.
On an unrelated note to the budget,
Rebecca Sullivan turned in her resignation from the Board of Assessment Review
as of December 31st, 2015.
A question arose from the board wondering
where in the budget Highway payroll was coming from; the answer: from the
Highway fund.
Another question: Where in the budget can
I find how much the county pays our town for plowing? Supervisor Harmych
responded: On the last page of the budget, under services for other
governments. Furthermore on the topic of plowing, Lewis County will be paying
the town of Pinckney to plow County Route 194 up to the Pinckney Road.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:16pm.
