Mill rate up to 12.50, pay raises up by 2 percent

CORNWALL — Town and school budgets for 2011-12 were approved May 20 at a town meeting at Cornwall Consolidated School that brought out about 40 people.Five agenda items were dispatched in less than 30 minutes. There was no discussion on most items.The $6.1 million budget for town and local school expenses received two dissenting votes, including one from Board of Finance member Anne Ingvertson, who later voted against a small mill rate increase.“I don’t want my taxes to go up,” Ingvertson explained following the town and finance meetings. She added that she was disappointed there were not more objections to spending plans that should reflect the anticipated aggressive cuts in state funding.In the very quick finance board meeting that followed the town meeting, Chairman Ralph Gold made a motion for a mill rate increase, from 12.32 to 12.50, explaining it was aimed at covering the yet unknown amount of state aid cuts. The change equals 18 cents in additional taxes per every $1,000 in assessed property value.2 percent pay raises get OKThere was no discussion on the much-debated issue of raises for Town Hall employees. The selectmen originally proposed 2 percent. The response from finance board members was mixed. First they suggested a salary freeze. The selectmen came back with suggested 1 percent pay increases. Following input from voters at the public hearing, the finance board approved a final proposal that included 2 percent raises.Receiving the 2 percent pay hikes are the assessor, assessor’s clerk, selectmen, selectmen’s secretary, town treasurer, finance director, social worker, tax collector and town clerk, as well as the recreation director and Hammond Beach employees, for a total of $4,512. The land use administrator’s pay will rise by 7.5 percent to $7,946, reflecting more activity in that office.The contract for highway department’s ASFME union employees has yet to be negotiated for the coming year. For budgeting purposes, the approved spending proposal includes a 2.765 percent increase — the same increase they received for this year.Capital projectsApproved unanimously with no discussion was a plan to use insurance money received for a destroyed equipment shed at the town garage for a new shed, and to spend up to $150,000 for a new facade grant and traffic calming measures, to be reimbursed at 100-percent by a state Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant.The proposed Great Hill Road improvement project, which would be partially reimbursed, was tabled until firmer grant numbers are received. That matter is expected to come back to a town meeting this summer. Gates bequestHow and when to spend a $251,000 bequest from Judy and Larry Gates was discussed. There are no restriction on how the money can be used; but the money has been held in a bank account since it was received in July 2009, earning only a little more than $1,000 in interest since then.There was a consensus that a revocable trust, with a board of trustees, created with the advice of the town attorney, should be formed. That would allow the money to be invested.First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said his board is leaning toward spending only the earnings on an annual basis.Finance board member Celia Senzer advocated using all of the money now for something the town can use, especially if earnings cannot be increased significantly.Paul Baron said he recalled hearing that the selectmen favored using the trust money for scholarships. He suggested putting at least some of it toward helping the town’s college students.The idea of scholarships had come up at last year’s town meeting, where a majority in attendance suggested the money be used for scholarships.Ridgway said his board favors recreational uses for the funds, as that was the primary focus of the Gates’ community service. He also noted that there are already numerous scholarships available for Cornwall students.Phil Hart offered a well-accepted idea to keep older citizens in mind while planning how to spend the money.“Absolutely,” Ridgway agreed. “We can cover a lot of things under recreation.”Barton Jones suggested giving the trustees broader discretion by designating the funds for cultural uses.The matter will go to a future town meeting to establish a trust.