Expect Heated Discussion at Tonight's Budget Review Meeting

Tonight's budget review committee has a full agenda that could incite some heated discussion on several fronts. On the agenda (listed in order of appearance on the agenda):

• Discussion over a letter submitted to the Board of Aldermen last week by resident Eliza Weeks questioning the removal of mature trees from Main Street as part of the street project. The letter has also been referred to two other committees for discussion, Board of Public Works and Downtown Improvement.

You'll find attached here copies of the letter submitted by Weeks; the recommendations of UNH Cooperative Extension forester Jonathan Nute, whose expert opinion was solicited by the city; a memo from Nick Caggiano, Superintendent of Parks & Rec, summarizing the city's decision regarding tree removal relative to Nute's analysis. 

• R-13-123: Discussion continues on the Mayor's proposed FY 2014 budget.

• R-13-69: A resolution requesting the Mayor and Board of Public Works provide full accounting and expenses including overtime costs relative to the Main Street improvement project.

• R-13-116: A resolution to transfer $40,000 from the general fund into the Public Works budget to cover additional costs of street lighting beyond what was budgeted in FY 2013.

• R-13-118: A resolution to transfer $33,143 into the police budget to cover costs associated with the hiring of two additional police officers. 

• O-12-48: An ordinance that would exempt sitting presidents/vice presidents from reimbursing the city for campaign stop expenses.

• O-13-39: This ordinance increases the sewer user fee flow charge by 27 cents, from $1.78 per 100 cubic feet to $2.05 per 100 cubic feet effective July 1, 2013. It also increases the quarterly and monthly demand charges by 15 percent, effective July 1,2013.