Budgets, bridges and building committees for BOS

SALISBURY — The Board of Selectmen will ask the Amesville Association to suggest a replacement for George Kiefer on the Housatonic River Commission. 

At the regular monthly meeting Monday, March 7, First Selectman Curtis Rand said the request fulfilled a prior commitment from the selectmen to the association.

Kiefer is stepping down after 40-plus years of service. Salisbury’s other representative on the commission is Gordon Whitbeck.

Rand reported that the Board of Education asked the selectmen to appoint a building committee for a planned renovation at Salisbury Central School.

He asked selectmen Kitty Kiefer (daughter of George Kiefer) and Jim Dresser to think about what should be included in the charge for the building committee, and said the selectmen may have to hold a special meeting later this month to decide on the language of the charge.

Appointing members could then take place at the board’s regular April meeting.

Rand had the second draft of the selectmen’s proposed spending plan for 2016-17. Both the selectmen and the school board will present their initial budgets to the Board of Finance on Thursday, March 10 (7:30 p.m. at Town Hall).

The draft budget has an increase of 5.3 percent ($300,032). Rand said this number is preliminary and will change.

The selectmen approved a resolution supporting the conversion of a town-owned single-family home at 414 Millerton Road into two three-bedroom units of affordable housing. The town is applying for a state grant to help finance the project.

The selectmen also authorized Rand to administer a $2,000 state grant for neglected cemeteries.

Rand reminded the audience that there is a special town meeting Friday, March 11, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, to vote on proceeding with the new transfer station plan. He said a paper ballot will be prepared for the first vote — whether to go ahead or not — and subsequent agenda items dealing with accepting a federal grant and loan package will be done by voice vote.