On March 28, Wiscasset's budget committee spent nearly four hours reviewing the draft budget that Town Manager Laurie Smith at presented at a March 19 selectmen’s meeting.

At the budget committee meeting, Wiscasset resident and North of the Border owner George Green expressed concern that neither Smith nor any selectmen were present to answer questions about the proposed budget. “I am extremely disappointed in my selectmen for not being here to answer the questions you (the budget committee) have,” Green said. “The budget committee and the selectmen need to work together.”

Budget Committee Chairman Cliff Hendricks said the selectmen and town manager were invited to attend the meeting.

Hendricks said selectman Pam Dunning told him if the selectmen were to attend it would require a public notice because it would constitute a selectmen’s meeting.

“We are trying to look out for the people who pay the taxes,” Budget Committee member William Barnes said.   

In lieu of no one being present to give any explanations, the committee decided to develop a list of questions for Smith. As the meeting went on, the list got longer. By the end of the meeting, members had approximately 25 questions.

One of the first questions on the list asked why the assessing agent's salary is rising 17.54 percent (an additional $7,779). Hendricks said the increase is due to a union contract pay grade.

According to Smith, the current assessing agent, Sue Varney, has taken on more responsibilities. Varney is the human resource director, the E-911 addressing agent, and she does the reconciliation of the town’s financial statements each month.

Also, in the previous union contract, when the assessing agent took on the duties of the town manager, she was paid the town manager’s salary. In the new contract, she will not be paid any extra when acting as the town manager.

“The current assessing agent does a lot more than assessing,” Smith said.

According to Barnes, despite a union contract or not, if the voters say no, there is no money for that increase. “That much of an increase in unacceptable,” he said.

On another item, the committee appeared to be mixed on Hendricks’ suggestion to cut the library contribution by $750,000.

Hendricks said he was in favor of libraries, but that the $750 could be used elsewhere. “Perhaps help the police department to give the 24/7 service the citizens asked for.”

Budget committee member Norm Guidoboni said he didn’t agree with the suggestion to reduce the library’s contribution because   the library provides services to people of all ages in the town.

A 9.17 percent increase in the planning budget generated some concern; as did the town planner proposed salary increase of $3,836. The discussion focused on the code enforcement officer and the town planner being one position, according to most of the members of the budget committee. “The town can’t afford to have these two positions,” Barnes said.

Committee members decided to take a close look at salary increases in this year’s budget.

The budget committee suggested two alternatives to save the taxpayers’ money; one was to combine the planner and the code enforcement officers positions, and another was to join with other towns in sharing the positions.

“I am hopeful that we and the selectmen can come together on some of these budget issues,” Hendricks said. “The budget committee members will be at the informational meeting to hear what the people have to say about the budget.”

The selectmen will make their recommendations on the budget following an April 2 informational budget meeting, and the vote on the budget at the April 16 meeting. The budget committee is expected to make their recommendations April 18 at their regular meeting.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.