Good evening. I'll call the December 14, 2020-22 meeting. The Lt. City Council to order.
Good evening. I'll call the December 14, 2022 meeting, the Lebanon City Council to order, Councillor
Councillor Whitlesy. We do please send the Presidential Billion Board to
Whittlesy, would you please send the pledge of allegiance?
Councillor Whittlesy, would you please send the pledge of allegiance to the Councillor, would you please,
the United States of America,
Councillor Whittlesy, would you please send the pledge of allegiance to the Councillor.
This meeting is being conducted in the courts of the provisions of RSA-91A. It's being conducted here in the Council of Chambers of the City Hall. It is also a stride, live stream, a sample cast on our city website.
This meeting is being conducted in the courts, the provisions of RSA and 91A. It's being conducted
here in the Council of Chambers of the City Hall. It is also a stride live stream
samelcast on our city website. It is also a virtual component, participation from Microsoft
There's also a virtual component,
participation from Microsoft Teams,
Teams, and there's also a phone component. You can participate in any of those four
and there's also a phone component.
You can participate in any one of those four
different options in this meeting tonight. If there is a problem with the digital components
different options in this meeting tonight.
If there is a problem with the digital
components of the meeting,
of the meeting, the meeting will still continue because the only requirement is to have it in
the meeting will still continue because the
owner requirement is to have it in person
meeting under state statute. If you're having difficulty accessing the meeting, the virtual meeting,
meeting under state statute.
If you're having difficulty accessing
the meeting, the virtual meeting,
or the phone access,
or the phone access, you can use my email on there and email me and I'll try to assist you as
you can use my email on there,
email me and I'll try to assist you
as best I can to participate in the meeting.
best that I can to participate in the meeting. If you wish to speak, there's a several public
If you wish to speak, there's several public hearings tonight.
two public hearings tonight. Well, two public hearings in the regular open of the public session.
Well, two public hearings in the regular open of the public session.
If you wish to comment at any of the items that are there when the mayor opens it up for public comment,
If you wish to comment at any of the items that are there when the mayor opens it up for public
comment, all you need to do is unmute yourself. You do not need to try to find the raised hand
all you need to do is unmute yourself.
You do not need to try to find the raised hand function.
don't worry about that, just simply unmute yourself, state your name, the word that you live in,
Don't worry about that.
Just simply unmute yourself.
State your name.
The word that you live in.
If you don't live in the city of the jurisdiction and what you do live,
if you don't live in the city of the jurisdiction and what you do live, and then the mayor will
and then the mayor will recognize you in the light to speak at that particular time.
recognize you in a light to speak at that particular time. Thank you. Any member of the public who
Thank you.
Any member of the public who desires to speak on any item may do so, when the item is taken up by the Council, and you'll be allowed to speak on the subject for not more than three minutes.
desires to speak at any item may do so, when the item is taken up by the council, and you'll be allowed
to speak on the subject for not more than three minutes. Again, to each of me, we always allocate
Again, to each of me, we always allocate a little time for items that are not on tonight's agenda.
a little time for items that are not on tonight's agenda.
I want to examine for the public here in the audience who has an item that is not on tonight's agenda that they'd like to briefly discuss.
I want to examine for the public here in the audience who has an item that is not
on tonight's agenda that they like briefly discuss.
And as I remember in the virtual audience with any items I'd like to briefly discuss that are not specifically on tonight's agenda.
Is there any of them in the virtual audience who has any items I'd like to briefly discuss
that are not specifically on tonight's agenda?
No one is unmuted.
I just wanted to thank the Recreation Department for doing such a great job with that.
I just wanted to thank the Recreation Department for doing such a great job with the Labanin celebration, season celebration.
in celebration, season celebration, it's really, and the lights look just beautiful.
It's really, and the lights look just beautiful.
Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. And I just wanted to remind people who have seen or announced
Thank you.
who have seen or announced for those who haven't seen that a week from today is December
for those who haven't seen that a week from today is December 21st, typically known as the longest
21st, typically known as the longest night of the year, and it's traditionally a day
night of the year and it's traditionally a day of homeless memorial where we recognize the
of homeless memorial where we recognize the people whose lives have been lost, who've been
people whose lives have been lost who've been the lives have been shortened due to homelessness.
lives have been shortened due to homelessness.
There will be a vigil on Culver and Park at 530,
There will be a vigil on Culver and Park at 530 and it's open to the public and anyone
and it's open to the public, and anyone is welcome to attend,
as welcome to attend, and there will also be a call to action so that we can consider
and there will also be a call to action,
so that we can consider the problem of how
the problem of how to best support most vulnerable residents of our community and hope
to best support the most vulnerable residents of our community.
in hope to make these vigils less relevant as fewer people pass due to homelessness.
to make these vigils less relevant as fewer people pass due to homelessness.
And I think I saw in the press release that you will be spending the night outdoors and the city manager will also be spending the night outdoors as well our human services director.
And I think I saw in the press release that you will be spending the night outdoors and
the city manager will also be spending the night outdoors as well our human services director.
And so thank you very much for doing that.
Thank you very much and we're also anything not on this tonight's agenda
Thank you very much.
And we'd also anything not on that tonight's agenda.
Okay, then we will
Then we will start with the public hearings.
We'll start with the public hearings and the first one is one we do
And the first one is one we do once a year.
Once a year and this is the adoption of the 2023 city budget
And this is the adoption of the 2023 City Budget.
This is a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public input
This is a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public input,
The taking action to adopt the 2023 city budget
the taking action to adopt the 2023 City Budget.
As proposed by the city manager with additional actions to include
As proposed by the City Manager,
with additional actions to include authorizing the issuance of bonds
authorizing the issuance of bonds or notes to finance 2023 capital improvements, authorizing
or notes to finance 2023 capital improvements, authorizing the city manager to apply for
the city manager to apply for new Hampshire drinking water, and to our clean water state
New Hampshire drinking water, and to our clean water state revolving fund loans, and
revolving fund loans, and designating the city manager as authorized representative of the city,
designating the city manager as authorized representative of the city, authorizing the
authorizing the disbursement of water investment fee funds, expanding the purpose of an existing
disbursement of water investment fee funds, expanding the purpose of an existing capital
capital reserve fund, establishing a public assistance revolving fund, an authorizing the city
reserve fund, establishing a public assistance revolving fund and authorizing the city manager
manager to transfer an incumbent, procreated fiscal year 2022, general funds to other municipal funds.
to transfer an incumbent, procreated fiscal year 2022, General Funds to other municipal funds.
You'd like to start with any presentation. I would please pull it up.
You'd like to start with any presentation, I would please pull it up.
The one behind you says no signal, do you know that? Yeah, the service services people would just
The one behind you says no signal, do you know that?
Yeah, the service services people would just in here trying to deal with that issue.
you're going to deal with that issue.
Okay.
So I want to go through this quickly. I've made this presentation before it's available in our website.
So I want to go through this quickly.
I've made this presentation before it's available on our website.
I know the council have heard it, but maybe citizens would have not.
I know the council have heard it, but maybe citizens will not.
So of course, any time, people don't realize, but obviously the passing of a budget is a public policy statement as to what the resource allocations are.
So of course, any time people don't realize, but obviously the passing of a budget is a public policy statement as to what the resource allocations are.
And we do that based on several different things.
The city has a master plan, a sustainability principles.
The city has a master plan, a sustainability principles that has business plans and at least two of our departments,
It has business plans and at least two of our departments.
police and fire. We use performance measurement and analysis and evaluation when it comes to determining
police who fire, we use performance measurement and analysis and evaluation when it comes to determining how we spend our money and how effective that spending of them money has been.
how we spend our money and how effective that spending of them money has been. Budget objectives
Budget objectives ensure that the municipal tax rate for 2023 increases no more than 2.5 percent.
ensure that the municipal tax rate for 2023 increases no more than 2.5 percent. Meet the city's
Meet the city's guiding principles and sustainability objectives.
guiding principles and sustainability objectives. Uncritical capital improvements projects and maintain
On critical capital improvements projects and maintain quality service to the levels to meet the public
quality service to the levels to meet the public's expectations. Those are the overarching
expectations, those were the overarching objectives we developed the budget for this particular year.
of justice when we developed the budget for this particular year.
I'll go with the issues we had for the previous year, the year where it presently
I'll go with the initiatives we had for the previous year that we're presently in as you know we're a calendar year budget.
and, as you know, were a calendar year budget.
These were the initiatives that we have ventured into, continue paperless and transparency
These were the initiatives that we have ventured into. Continue paperless and transparency initiatives.
initiatives, electronic payment process for landfill, as you know, we've made great strides
Electronic payment process for landfill as you know we've made great strides in those.
in those.
Continue to develop into the various west-level and improvement projects and we've been through those when over the CIP.
It's been a development of the various west-level and improvement projects and we've been
through those when over the CIP.
Great, wastewater capital needs assessment similar to the water assessment plan that has
Create wastewater capital needs assessment similar to the water assessment plan that has been done.
and done.
Continuum implementation of the fixed asset management system again, significant progress
Continuing implementation of the fixed asset management system again, significant progress has been made in almost all of the departments that have physical assets.
has been made in almost all the departments that have physical assets.
And the enhanced energy efficiency reduced energy usage through the street light project, which is basically down we have one last piece to go, and that's the lights up on stores hill and that contract has been executed and so that will be done hopefully shortly.
Enhanced energy efficiency, reduced energy usage through the street light project, which
is basically done, we have one last piece to go, and that's the lights up on stores hill
and that contract has been executed, and so that will be done hopefully shortly.
solar project, Flintfield, gas to energy and energy upgrades that we have made.
Solar projects, landfill, gas to energy and energy upgrades that we have made. Those were the major initiatives for 22 and we had emergency management capability response.
Those were the major initiatives for 22.
We had emergency management capability response.
We keep talking about this, the result of climate change and when it's occurring across the entire planet,
We keep talking about this.
Due to the result of climate change and when it's occurring across the entire planet,
we have seen the level of natural disasters that have increased significantly.
The severity of those events and the frequency of those events,
and we're not going to be immune from those either.
So we've got to ensure that we are on a proper footing to be able to deal with that.
in options for public safety software in 2023.
In options for public safety, software in 2023, it's probably going to be July 2024 now.
It's probably going to want it in 2024 now.
23 initiatives, the transparency and engagement
23 initiatives, the transparency engagement paperless initiatives,
paperless initiatives, you're going to see something
You're going to see something shortly after the first of the year, Melanie and Beth worked
shortly after the first of the year, Melanie and Beth
worked on a transparency page for the whole bunch of links,
on a transparency page for the whole bunch of links, which will make it much easier for people
which will make it much easier for people to access documents.
to access documents.
That should be a really soon problem in the next few weeks.
There are some things I need to be out of that,
There are some things that need to be added to that, but that's a major change there.
but that's a major change there.
Continuing development of the various west-level improvements, again, we've talked about those.
Continuing development of the various west-level improvements.
Again, we've talked about those.
I won't get into detail right now with those.
Again, enhanced emergency management capability and response.
Again, enhanced emergency management capability and response, I had a long discussion with our chief and assistant chief.
I had a long discussion with our chief and assistant chief, and they have their marching orders
And they have their marching orders in that regard to make sure that we have a robust planning when we're moving forward.
in that regard to make sure that we have a robust planning when we're moving full with
Exercise is in training to get us where I think we need to be.
exercises and training to get us where I think we need to be.
You're seeing energy and sustainability projects and continue development of the strategic
Continuing energy and sustainability projects and continuing development of the strategic plan that we talked about that.
plan, and we talked about that.
So, some opportunities for us, federal funding for infrastructure, energy and sustainability projects,
Some opportunities for us, federal funding for infrastructure, energy and sustainability projects,
the infrastructure act was passed as considerable numbers of funds that are going to be
the infrastructure act that was passed as considerable numbers of funds that are going to be
Well, we already initiated grant applications to take advantage of those and then, of course, the IRA grants that are coming out,
well.
Well, we already initiated grant applications to take advantage of those and then, of course,
the IRA grants that are coming out, which we should see sometime probably towards the end
which we should see sometime probably towards the end of 2023 or the middle of 2023.
of 2023 or the middle of 2023, those applications will be coming out.
Those applications will be coming out. We've got a task force working on those.
We've got a task force working on those.
The CZ economy is strong and it has been for a long time since last time they had a really significant downturn
The seize economy is strong and it has been for a long time since last time that it had a really significant downturn.
My understanding is in the 1950s a little bit before my time.
My understanding is in the 1950s a little bit before my time
Destination location for many reasons we are never attending the entire country for places for people to move to
The US Postal Service was tracking that it was an article about that some months ago and we're the number two location from people
the US Postal Service which tracking that it was an article about that some months ago and we're the number two location for people leaving or fleeing the city of Boston depending upon you look at
Leaving or fleeing the city of Boston depending upon you look at
We have a top-rated school system. It's one of the top 10 in the state our school board and the staff and the school
We have a top-rated school system with one of the top 10 in the state, our school board, and the staff, and the school
that are outstanding job there, and it serves us well.
that an outstanding job there, and it serves us well.
So, those are the opportunities, of course, to threats arising, salary rates, highest in the state that the salaries in our region are the highest in the entire state.
So, those are the opportunities, of course, the threats of rising, salary rates, highest
in the state that the salaries in our region are the highest in the entire state.
Interest rate increases, you know, everybody's seeing what those are doing, that affects
Interest rate increases, you know, everybody's seen what those are doing, and that affects us as well, not just our citizens, but also affects our ability to borrow money in terms of bonds.
us as well, not just our citizens, but also affects our ability to borrow money in terms
of bonds.
Shortage your workers and products supply chain issues were all well aware of that.
Shortage your workers and products, supply chain issues, we're all aware of that, rapidly
Rapidly rise at consumer cost for fuel electricity food most of the items, a lack of
rising consumer cost for fuel electricity food most of the items, a lack of child care capacity
child care capacity and cost, housing costs continue to rise, limit an inventory, and
and cost, housing costs continue to rise and limit an inventory and then of course the climate
then of course the climate change.
change. So there's the web blanket slide.
So there's the web blanket slide.
Tax rate factors, every year I try to remind people
Tax rate factors, every year I try to remind people what goes into actually developing a tax
what goes into actually developing a tax rate. So obviously what we appropriate the expenditures
rate.
So obviously what we appropriate the expenditures that we have for the city, and that's
that we have for the city, and that's an act by the council, certainly revenues that come
act by the council, certainly revenues that come in and automatically property taxes, but all
And then on top of, particularly property taxes, but all of the other revenues that we have
of the other revenues that we have, revenue sources, going to that tax rate calculation.
revenue sources going to that tax rate calculation, and then fund balance used to reduce
Then fund balance used to reduce tax, the new tax rate, and that actually added two slides
tax that tax rate.
And that actually added two slides to this in the last time you started to talk about
to this in the last time you start to talk about that, because we didn't have all that data
things.
We didn't have all that data which we now have, but you'll see that at the end.
which we now have, but you'll see that at the end, and then, of course, the assessed valuation
And then, of course, the assessed valuation of the city for two reasons, one that's
of the city for two reasons, one that's value of existing properties that increase, and then
value of existing properties that increase.
And then the new properties that are added to the inventory of buildings that are newly
new properties that are added to the inventory of buildings that are newly added to the city's
added to the city's tax rules. And then of course, war service credits also go against that.
tax rules. And then of course, war service credits also go against that. So those are the
So those are the factors that go into developing a tax rate in the city. And of course,
factors that go into developing a tax rate in the city. And of course, the tax rate,
the tax rate, I'm talking with the city's portion of the tax rate. There are four components of the tax rate.
I'm talking about the city's portion of the tax rate. There are four components of the tax rate.
There is the local school district, the state-wide education property tax, the county, and then the city.
There is the local school district, the state-wide education property tax, the county,
and then the city. The city's portion of that is 37% and the schools and the counties are
The city's portion of that is 37% and the schools and the counties are very small piece and the schools
small piece and in schools make up the rest of that.
make up the rest of that.
So, this is just, again, you've seen this before as counselors, but if you look at the change in the tax rate compared to the change and the consumer price index, the growth of the economy, that's one factor to determine the growth of the economy.
So this is just a, again, you've seen this
before as counselors, but if you look at the change in the tax rate compared to the change
and the consumer price index, the growth of the economy, that's one factor to determine
the growth of the economy. The economy is growing twice as fast as city government is growing
The economy is growing twice as fast as city government is growing, as you can see. On average, it's 20.9% over that period of time, and the city's budget is grown by 11.5% of the tax rate, I should say it's grown by 11.5%.
as you can see. On average, it's 20.9% over that period of time and the city's budget is grown by
So government is not growing anywhere near as fast as the outside economy.
government is not growing anywhere near as fast as the outside economy.
Change of municipal tax rate.
Change of municipal tax rate, as you can see here, it was 1125 and 2019.
As you can see here, it was 1125 and 2019.
We did a revowage, brought it down to 996 and 2020, and then increased again by 2.5% and
We did a reevalor, it brought it down to 996 and 2020.
And then increased again by 2.5 percent and 21 to 10.6.
21 to 10.6%, and then 2022, another revowage, see a rapid reduction there, but that still
And then 2022, another reevalor, see a rapid reduction there.
That still represents a 2.5 percent increase in the actual tax rate.
that's a 2.5% increase in the actual tax rate, and then for 2023 we're looking at 82 something of that nature.
And then for 2023 we're looking at 82 something of that nature.
Under sign fund balance policy, again our goal is to maintain
Under sign fund balance policy, again our goal is to maintain 19 to 24% of current fund expenditures to ensure that we have sufficient cash reserves to deal with emergencies and also be able to handle cash flow.
19 to 24 percent of current fund expenditures to ensure that we have
efficient cash reserves to deal with the emergencies and also be able to handle cash flow.
And then that's developed in accordance with the GASB standards and the GFOA puts those out of those guidance documents.
And then that's developed in accordance with the GASB standards and the GFOA,
puts those out of those guidance documents.
allows for, I think, a cash flow between tax billings, which, of course, two times a year when we receive our major source of revenue, the spring tax bill in the fall tax bill, and the services a cash reserve for emergencies.
allows for, I think, a cash flow between tax billings, which, of course, two times a year
when we receive our major source of revenue, the spring tax bill in the fall tax bill,
and the services of cash reserve for emergencies.
In summary, the 2023 budget, if you look at, in its totality with all the capital cost,
In summary, the 2023 budget, if you look at, in its totality with all the capital cost, it's 37.8% higher than the 2022 budget. But of course, that has bonding in it, so you don't normally look at that way, but I wanted to make sure you had the number.
it's 37.8% higher than the 2022 budget.
But of course, that has bonding in it, so you don't normally look at that way,
but I wanted to make sure you had the number.
2023 budget that's the entire budget including the enterprise fund so the solid waste fund
the water and sewer fund those are all funded by fees not by taxpayer dollars in the
airport fund is up 7.1% which is actually below with the CPI is and then 2023 the
general fund budget is actually up 4% so well below the growth of the economy and then
Again, we're projecting a 2.5% tax rate increase in 2023 and I say project, we will not know until October of 2023 and we set the tax rate based on the factors I showed you on a previous slide.
That's what we're projecting right now. That is our goal which we've been able to meet the last couple of years hopefully that will continue.
But that all depends on revenues and state revenues and things of that nature.
And watered sewer, we already have a pre-plan 8% increase in watered 7.2 for sewer that deal with the debt service and operating costs for those funds due to predominantly the CSO work.
This just gives you a comparison from 2020 to 2023.
I don't need to explain that. You can suddenly read that and you have that.
General fund budget discussion example here that shows that 4% increase it has actually seen the numbers here.
Again, this is just the general fund, it's not, it includes the enterprise funds, or any other activities in the budget, just the general fund, which is funded by tax dollars.
So the budgetary impact represents a 1.4 million dollar, just over a 1.4 million dollar increase.
That total impact of the cost increases is 1.3 million, almost 1.4 million dollars in cost.
I was which allows for a variance of 86,000 for anything else. And I'm going to show you what those cost drivers are. Again, you've seen it before, if the council wages alone, 75,000, then includes a 3% GWI, most people would call it a cost of living increase. It takes effect, January 1. And then there's a 3% step, I'm here, that occurs on the employees in a first week date. So as you remember, some of these employees, their anniversary, it might be November or December. So they will not see that additional 3% until that particular time. And again, that's still below the, you know,
economy. In fact, I mean, the findings today provided me with an assessment of what other
communities we're providing in some of them are seven or eight percent increases and we're
done at six. And of course, some of our citizens in our community aren't receiving that much
money either. Health insurance costs increases to 21,000. Retirement increases, even though
the rate of retirement is going down because of the higher salaries that it's an overall
increase of 85,000 and winter road maintenance and other 85,000 dollars in there, gasoline,
diesel.
You can see the numbers, electricity is the big one, 181,000 dollars, or protecting the spend.
So those are the cost drivers and that leaves you $86,000 for things that are not specifically
in those categories.
Not a whole lot.
This just gives you an example of a health insurance increase since 2006.
I just talked about the wages and the consumer price index from the wing of the 7.9.
We used to use the Northeast, which is actually higher, it's in the eighths, but I think
now that they have actual data for the win-win-win, we use the win-win data which shows a
smaller cost increase of 7.9. I think it's more appropriate for us.
Again, you've seen these slides before I'm not going to get into those, you have them available
to you.
General Fundet Service, you can see the President playing in some of that will change
because when we actually borrow the money, that gives your projection what that looks like
at least for right now, and this is a general fund-ed services.
That much is funded by the property tax grade dollars predominantly.
And you can see that's flagged that we're projecting between 23 and 24.
That moved because of the fire station projects did not go on.
We expected that to occur this year.
And that's what relates into the, when we get to ordinance 18,
as we've talked about, when there would be no stepping creases
in that year from police, but we turn that around,
because we don't have the fire station project you ready to go.
So, these are the news slides that I add, these are the areas of concern looking out into the future.
If you look at 2024, if you see that red line, this is the unassigned fund balance.
So, we keep using up that rate, which we knew we were going to use up this has been planned for many years,
because we knew we had the debt service spikes and the CSO projects,
and we built that unassigned fund balance to be where it is to be able to hedge the tax rate and keep it where it is.
As you can see, we're drawing down that money.
By 2024, we will be at the minimum of the 19%
member we need to keep between 19 and 24.
So we have sufficient cash reserves.
That allows $1.5 million to be spent
to offset the taxes.
We spent quite a bit more than that this year.
So we're on a trajectory.
Again, this is a certain set of factors
as we're projecting out right now.
This is more than middle of the row projection.
There are more extreme projections that make this worse
and then of course others would make it better.
But you're looking at, right now, if nothing changes, and this projection carries through
a 3.1% tax rate increase in 24, a 9.5% tax rate increase in 25, and back in
206, it's back down to a 3.
Now, obviously, this bell curve, we want to try to smooth that out, so we'll be looking at that
closely.
And we actually got more revenues this year before, that came in after this was actually,
but these numbers put together, which makes things a little bit better, more rooms are
sales tax came in from the state and some other revenues here and there, which will go to
the unassigned fund balance to help make that a little bit better, but we still have some issues
there that we need to be concerned about.
Looking ahead.
Now the next slide after that, it just gives you the actual numbers you can see what they look
like.
So that's the quick presentation of the proposed 20203 budget.
Again, CIP is different.
We already went through that.
I'm not going to go through all those projects again.
you have particular questions about them.
You can certainly do that, but that is the overview of the budget for 2023.
Thank you.
Okay.
I will open the public hearing on this.
Is there anyone from the public hearing the audience?
That has any questions regarding the proposed 2023 budget?
Yes, ma'am.
Absolutely.
Either the podium or the table, please.
Yeah, we need to record you, so we need to either at the podium.
Thank you.
Yes, please.
Thank you.
We can hear you, but they need to be teaching our recording.
So, a lot of information just presented to those of us that are not familiar with it.
The overall budget increase.
Almost 38 percent in one year.
So that doesn't include borrowing for capital projects and perhaps the manager can explore it.
Because you have that cost of that project in one year, you pay for that project over the next 20 years.
So that's what you have that.
Where is that coming? Can you pull that off the thing? Is that on the find that you did?
It was just on a slide, yeah.
So it's maybe more appropriate to talk about the operating budget, right?
So if we have a project in this particular year and let's say it's a $30 million dollar project,
that gets built into the budget for this year.
Even though we're going to pay for that project over the next 20 years.
So it's sort of weirdly inflates things.
No kidding.
Yeah.
Some of those projects.
It's certainly nice.
It's like there's a lot of truck for $1.7 million,
between we don't even stop paying $40,000,000,
we won't even get it until 2025.
Yeah, but we need to make the expenditure to order the vehicle right and so you only start paying it until
2,026 or 20 years after that. You know I last payment to made on that. Yeah, it's a fun of government accounting to
We're pursuing a number of grants. So like government accounting like your revenue sources and your expense sources
It looks like an expense in our budget because that's how it's divided. It may actually be funded through a combination of like the tax dollars
There's a grant and like borrow, like a home mortgage, right?
Yeah, you know, if you put a home loan and purchasing a home in that context, right?
If we bought a home, if you bought a home today, $300,000, you'd record an expense of $300,000,
and we'd have to appropriate for that $300,000 of a expense.
But you're only actually paying, you know, you may pay, you know, let's say like $100,000 a year,
Yeah, and that's third years and that's it's just kind of the funkiness of how the government accounting is required to operate to
Okay, so just to feel like adding to we have other
sources of funds other than just taxpayer dollars that are going to go through that and you
And so to make it even walk here, let's say we have a million dollar project at the airport
It's 90% funded by the federal get by federal grant
So $950,000 is actually not even coming from tax dollars or from other funds raised within the city.
Okay.
That happens fairly frequently.
That's some of those are in there.
That's, yeah, it inflates that number.
So the true number for this year on the operating budget is 4%.
That's what property tax dollars are based on.
They paying that 4%.
Okay.
I have a question.
So needless to say, I'm kind of upset about my new tax assessment, and the fact that I was just assessed two years ago, and I don't understand when it feels very opportunistic with the market bubble as it has been in the last year or so that you guys just jumped all over it to attach that hell out of us.
And, frankly, it's breaking our backs.
So it's a legitimate question, and the answer is actually not opportunistic, it's forced
on us, basically by state law.
If you want to explain that.
State law is every five years, is it not?
No.
According to your letter, it was.
No.
That's not what the letter said at all.
It's just been only we do it every five years, because normally you stay within that range
during that time, because the economy has changed so rapidly, the value of properties have
dramatically increased. We have to assess properties within 90 to 100 percent of their
value. If we're assessing your property at say 125 percent of its value, we have to
do a reevaluation. We were at 66 percent well below the 90s, so we were required to do that
because it is a constitutional issue of fair taxation. We have to go on and do a reevaluation.
That's what we did that.
Okay, so what's going to happen when this bubble burst now that interest rates have gone
way up, and the values come back down.
Are they going to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be?
Well, no, so a couple of things with that, where at 90% right now, we're at the very
age of having to do them, because we're actually too low again.
So what will happen is that those property values go down, we'll inch close to the 100%
which is where you want to be, and as long as it doesn't go over the 110% the value.
So if, right now, a property is worth a $100,000, and it goes down below that, the value
is 110%, which are 110% the assessed value, but higher than that, and we have to
evaluation. So if you're property drops down to the point where then we have to go and do a
re-value across it, it's across the entire city, not just one property, but then we have to do
a re-valuation. So we could be doing one in 2024. If those property values go down enough,
and that who knows what's going to happen, otherwise there'll be closer to five years again,
but that all depends on what the market does. We stay within the ratio, so it's every five
years, if we go outside the ratio that has to be more frequent like.
Okay, is that free stop of real estate?
Real estate?
Like if residential levels off of commercial goes off or vice or something like is it triggered by any individual real estate?
No, it's across, it's the city's overall evaluation.
So that's my other question is in your letter.
It said that commercial property went up 8%.
And residential 28%.
Or 27%.
27%.
was anything done to try to make that more equitable for the property owners.
I mean, my God, you're just really dumping on us here.
It's not what we do, it's the market, it's property taxes are based on the market value of that.
So, if an office building is not, it's only increasing in value by 8% when it was before.
And houses are increasing by 27% or in some cases, 55%.
Yeah, but my income sure isn't increasing by that.
But this isn't the system in the hamster that property taxation, this is what the hamster is chosen to fund its government's local governments
So as long as it relies heavily upon that when you have these markets wings that's what's going to happen
In this case, we had a market swing within the community normally the properties go up pretty close to the same
The residential properties go up commercials go about the same
But that has an occurred in this case in this case the commercial properties went up this lunch and the residential properties went way up because of the housing crisis across the country
So that shifts that burden more to the residential property, and it's as I indicated in my letter.
Yes, so we're not allowed to have a differential tax rate. There's only one commercial versus residential properties.
We're just not allowed to do it under law.
So we can't say, well, the commercial property should pay ex-percentage, and the residential properties should be subsidized by the commercial,
which is not allowed to do that under the law. It has to be equitable across all types of properties.
Some states do have that they have a commercial tax rate and they have a residential tax on the hamster does not have that
Well
You're gonna drive me on 11 and that's about all I can say it's just too expensive
I'm sorry can you please date your name and your ward number
Roberta storm ward three I think
Just to make an observation. It's not this city council
Excuse me, it's not this city council who would be driving you out of Lebanon.
It's the state tax policy that's determined by the state legislature.
And this city and its legislature legislator state legislators have a long tradition of supporting
shifting to basing the tax burden on ability to pay your income.
The state has chosen a system to rely on property values.
And so when property values move in your income doesn't move,
it's great problems.
And we have this community has supported,
trying to change that to shift to an income tax
basis for funding public education in particular,
which is two thirds of the overall picture.
So unfortunately, what we've just seen
is just a shift from one class of that property,
the commercial sector, to the residential sector,
And it has disconnected from what we're doing in terms of providing, you know, a responsible
level of city services.
So, you know, if the shift had not occurred, your property taxes might have gone up
by from the city share of it, not the school district by 4%, but most people didn't see
a 4% increase, and so it appears that the problems coming from our city spending, but it's
coming from the design of the state tax policy.
We've been advocating for broad-based tax in the state for years to supplement the property
taxes as a source of revenue and literally every state surrounding us as a broad-based tax
with the exception of the answer. Everyone.
Well, those of us on the fixed income are going to be gone.
And also, I think that was kind of the point I wanted to make to, is we hear you.
Well, like, you know, this is something we struggle with throughout the budget process,
throughout the year, with our spending. You know, we know the impact of the system we operate
in on the people who live here. And it's tough. And it's that it's a balancing act where really
we're trying to kind of walk that tight road. And so that's why you see we're looking for more
more grants, we're borrowing to met.
It's essentially our payments to the life of what we're trying to build for capital. We're looking at ways to minimize costs and extend out, you know, like the working lives of our capital. So like some of the presentations we had were, you know, how can we maintain a roads differently. So instead of repaving them every 10 years can we, I'm going to get this a little bit wrong, but like essentially resurface them. So that instead of having to repave every 10 years, it's every 15 or 20.
And I think this is the work that we're really trying to do right now with this city and
our departments to really make sure that we're kind of minimizing the overall cost as much
as possible while still maintaining the resources necessary for everyone to kind of live and operate
in here.
And it's hard.
And I feel I got the same evaluation and sure a lot of people did.
My assessment went up by 50% over at the last assessment give or take a few percentage points and it's hard and I recognize that it's even harder for people living on fixed income.
And I think we all do and it's something I don't want you to think that we don't take that seriously because we do and it's it's hard and we don't we don't want to push anyone out of their homes and we you know
Within the scope that we can control, we try to minimize our impact.
You know, and the downside of that is, you know, the property taxes are paying for the schools, the county, the city, the state, and no one really has a good answer for it.
So I know that it's kind of cold comfort when you've had to pay your property tax pay, but we are looking at it and we do hear you.
And I just want you to know you are heard.
Okay, well, thank you for your time.
Thank you. Yes, sir.
Oh, you joined.
17 troops were prone.
And I just want, you know, first off, grateful for your service.
I know it's, uh, I guess, four, three hours.
I'm sorry.
I can barely hear you.
Can you miss date, your name?
John.
Trooper Croden.
So, uh, my, one of my concerns is, first off,
I love this town.
great town. My taxes went up pretty broadly. I'm not going anywhere. I'll find some way to do it.
But a couple of the things that I'm kind of concerned about. Number one is the
window of time to request an abatement in my opinion was very short-sighted
the point where I was out at town for five weeks. So I missed that window or perhaps maybe I didn't
and I'll have an opportunity to request an abatement.
The second thing is, if you could explain exactly
how the assessment worked, did people actually
was it boots to the ground or was it software orientated?
Because I can tell you the comparative analysis
that I have done do not warrant the shocking reassessment
that has occurred on my home as compared to the neighbors.
It just doesn't add up.
So if you could address those two things first off,
the short window on the ability to request an abatement
and is that installed and is that set by a state law?
And the second thing is that just educating me
on how the assessment process worked.
Totally off-kilter.
The pink trash bag thing.
Yeah, that's just crazy.
And I really hope.
We'll be going there in next year.
A little bit of a gutting discussion next.
Great.
Just as long as the constituents have a right to voice
heard.
Yeah, that's.
But before you go too far there, but.
So first is the.
Those were informally hearings.
Those were not a baby processes.
So that you had when I sent the letter out to do that, you can come
and see the assessment to do that.
A baby is on March 15th.
So you have so much 15th to do that.
And that is by state law.
So you have plenty of opportunity to do that.
And it's you can either look it up on our website or call the assessing department they'll help you out with the forms that you do that.
What's somebody going to be looking at, she's very helpful.
So that's the first part.
And revaluations are, it's not a software exercise.
It's they look at the market values for the different types of home.
They don't go to the house.
We do every year.
We do 20% of the city.
It's called a cyclical evaluation.
That's how those are done in the old days.
And somewhat old.
They used to go to every single house every five years.
So we do it on a different base. We do it every year. Let's almost communities do it now
So every year 20% of the house is you're done and we pick up the new sales that are occur
So they go on a look at those and also if you get a building permit and you add something they'll go up and look at that
And the change the assessment evaluation. That's how those are done
Anyone else in the audience here
question comment anyone
Okay, we'll go to the online audience Mary Davis Mary Davis
Yeah, thank you. I have a couple of concerns. One, of course, is the rise, the huge rise in the property taxes.
I am on pretty much a limited income, and my taxes went up $2,000. That's more than I can really stomach here. It's not good.
I want to know what kind of help you're offering for all of us to help us pay our taxes.
I'm 76 years old. Do I qualify for any kind of assistance here?
And how do I go about getting that? And the other piece of this is the trailer that I owned
is a 51 years old. It was assessed two years ago at $24,000. It's a two-bedroom one-bath trailer.
This year it went to 44,400. I mean that's absurd.
And it's not sustainable for us. So where's some help?
So a couple of things, if you choose to apply for an elderly exemption, you would do that
from the assessing department, you would do that online, come in, or talk to the folks
in assessing, they can assist you with that, and those I think are due by April 1st of
each year.
So that's how you would do that particular process.
We've got similar questions to ask, what can you reduce the interest rate?
We cannot, interest rate is set by state statute.
Taxes to do within 30 days, if they're not paid within 30 days, then the 8% goes on
that, for any amount that's not paid.
That's by state law, it says,
shall we do not have any option in that matter?
And that question has come up with several different people.
Nehamsher is not a home rule state.
It is a Dillon's rule state.
In other words, municipalities can only do those things
that the legislature specifically allows them to do.
And in Nehamsher, people think we have local control.
We really don't.
Again, we can only do those things
that the legislature says we can do.
They set the law in taxation.
And it's very clear we do not have any options to wave that.
So, the other thing, Ms. Davis, is the gentleman before you was talking about, you know, deadlines for appealing your assessment, and so that's another potential avenue if you think the assessment is really too high, there is a mechanism to appeal that as well as the elderly exemption.
Let me ask you, I know that in the past few weeks and months, we read that there are corporations
that are trying to get permits and everything to build these mega apartment buildings and
stuff in the area.
Now, if that were to come to fruition, the one by the old IGA, that tells you how long
I've been here and the one out by the high school and everything.
If those mega apartment buildings came to fruition, what would that do to our taxes?
Would that help?
So it might, so last year we had $40 million of new construction in the city.
So that goes into the overall tax rate and it helps to abate the rate for everybody else because
it's $40 million worth of new value.
So those two large projects will certainly be assessed
that many millions of dollars.
And that will bring in additional tax revenue,
which under ideal conditions would certainly serve
to a bait taxes for everyone else,
because it's obviously more value over the same budget
basically, or within a few percent of the same budget.
So the question becomes, with residential projects,
like that, it's largely whether or not it generates a lot of school children.
So, as someone mentioned here, you know, over 50% of the tax bills, essentially of the
of the tax money we have to raise from taxes, is for the school district.
And so, if you have a development, for example, that includes a lot of studios and one bedrooms,
those are much less likely to generate school-aged children.
Therefore, they have a better chance of generating essentially a surplus for lack of a better term.
Of taxes in as opposed to the cost to the city of that new development.
So, it's largely dependent on the number of bedrooms, essentially, in each new apartment.
And most of the apartments that have been constructed over the last decade,
and there have been well over a thousand in Lebanon.
Have been studios, ones, and two.
So we haven't seen that bump in the number of school-aged children.
So presumably those developments are generating taxes,
which exceed their cost to the community,
and therefore they're helping everybody else.
Whether that continues or not.
Right, of course, the downside of that too is that you get infrastructure expense too with traffic and all that.
So my other concern is that with the prices of property taxes and everything going up that 11 is going to become a bedroom community for the wealthy.
And those of us in middle and lower income are just going to be pushed right on out.
I know I've heard, I've heard you all evening about it's not us, it's the state and all.
But it just seems to me that we have to push a lot harder to get some changes because this is not sustainable for a good portion of us and I thank you for listening.
You're absolutely right, Mr. Davis, absolutely right, and that's why we will continue to advocate for a taxation system in this state that is more equitable and less
Progressive than what we have now. You know, we fully recognize that, you know, property taxes are a particularly regressive form of tax, particularly as those of us get older and begin to go on on, you know, fixed incomes and I've certainly fit into that category.
It's just, it's just, it's the worst possible kind of tax you can have, but unfortunately
it's what you have in New Hampshire, but thank you for your comments, really appreciate
it.
Anyone else online?
Not seeing anyone?
Then we will close the public hearing on this.
Councils, we spent months and months and months talking about this to come to tonight.
You know,
it's always a very difficult, I'm a year, the process for acting on this year's budget is in the packet, and it consists of a series of resolutions, as you know, and I'll let the manager expand on this however he needs to.
We have 1, 2, 3,
8, 8 resolutions, 9 resolutions that we have to act on independently to move this budget forward.
So the first resolution is resolved for the purposes of authorizing and financing the general fund budget.
So this deals with the $38 million, $388 million, $372,240 for the general fund budget, and that's the first thing we have to act on if we're going to act on something.
So, Councillor Sykes.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I just want to have it clear in my head to about process.
Absolutely.
We can individual Councillors can make, I'm asking, I'm not saying I want to make sure I get this right.
An individual Councillor could make a motion that would affect that resolution.
That is correct.
We can do that before we make the resolution and before we vote on it.
That is correct.
Oh, in the past we've, in the past we've adopted the resolution and then made amendments.
You might certainly do that as well, but either one is permissible though.
Okay, I don't, frankly, I don't, I don't particularly care how we do it as long as the
opportunity to make motions because I'm aware of at least one motion that will be made, and there may be others.
So, you can either way think council heels right, probably the cleanest way you're due to student amendment.
I'd like to offer the motion.
I'll move the, I'll move passage of resolution number one to appropriate 38,372,240 dollars for general city operations resolved for the purpose of authorizing and financing the general fund budget.
Be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon that funds be raised and appropriated in the amount of 38,372,240 dollars.
This resolution shall be effective.
January 1, 2023.
A good council.
Hello, is there a second term motion?
Yes, council, what else are these seconds?
Discussion and possible amendment.
So, one of the things that I wanted to bring to the Council's attention, I had a really good discussion with Jean Robelod from Tri-County Cap, when they initially requested funding from the city, which I denied, because we couldn't come to resolution on the issues of the welcoming lemon ordinance CO185.
I was able to work with Jean, we were able to look at the contract lanes they had in their contracts with the state and in the federal government.
And we both feel comfortable that they can do, they can meet their mission, and they can meet the statutory requirements they have.
At the same time, they can meet our requirements, because we do require social service agencies to sign an agreement with us,
that they are willing to comply with the provisions of that particular ordinance.
And Gene feels comfortable that they can do that, we review that language.
So I denied that request. Once I submit a budget, I don't have the ability to go and change that it's up to you.
So I would suggest, I would recommend that you add that money back in to programs they have,
they provided this city, a very valuable on the human resource, human services, I'm sorry.
Very valuable to us.
They are the lead agency that gets the funding from the state, well, from the federal government
to the state, and that it gets distributed to the towns and cities.
And I think that we have made considerable progress, Gene and I, and getting us in a direction
that we want to be in in terms of working cooperatively to achieve the public goals
we're looking for, especially for those who can at least,
at least afford help in our community that need
a few assistants, they have, with a resation program,
they distribute the funds that you wrap funds
as you know, and other programs that they have.
So I would recommend that you do that again.
I can't do that at this point in a process,
but I recommend that somebody here to do that.
And that is $28,000, I think it's like $600,000,
what the total amount of time.
Oh, $0,000, $0,000, yeah, it's $500, something,
but I like clean numbers, $600,000, $600.
And again, I denied that because I needed to, they weren't, you know, try kind of cap was not didn't feel like I can apply with it, but again, now they feel that they can.
Questions, that counts what is it?
Given some of the presentations we've heard wouldn't it be more cost-effective for us to just bump that up to our own shelter increases?
We got much better rates at the hotels than they did.
No, they're distributing federal funds.
We don't have any control over that piece of that.
And the recent legislation that was just passed has caps on that now, if that's using
a different pot of money that the state has.
So again, they provide a whole lot of other programs to us than that, so it's a totally different
thing.
It's kind of apples and oranges, is what I would recommend to you.
And a question.
So, and one more thing on the server clear.
We cannot provide the breadth of services that they provide.
we can't do that on our own, that's why it's important to partner with us as we do with
the other social services agencies. They do these things much better than we do, far more
effectively than we can. There are things that we do well, things that they do well, and we
should continue that partnership, I would suggest. So for the $28,600 that we would ride to
electronic county cap, will that take any of the pressure off our existing human services
department in terms of staff time that they're spending now or services that we're providing
directly.
I'm confident that with the level of cooperation that we certainly have seen recently, Jean has
been sharing information with Lynn, which has been really helpful with the wrap around type
of services that we're looking at.
I'm very optimistic that that is going to work out very well for us.
If you looked at the numbers, you don't actually have them, but the numbers are pretty
stark compared to what they're providing.
This city compared to the other communities, the pre-large, millions of dollars of services
that are being redistributed from the federal and state government right into our own community
and it all comes through them.
So we're comfortable and confident that this investment will actually result in more funds
and we're investing because it will allow that pipeline to be opened up through
Tri-CountyCap.
And again, there'll be an agreement for services to that, you know, we had one agreement
we had with all of our social service agencies last year.
There'll be a new agreement this year and that further tightens that the city provides money
and to these organizations and we just read a chat to them.
There's no grant requirements and that is changing.
The federal government requires has requirements in April and they distribute money.
The state does.
The city has never done that.
A lot of cities do.
We don't.
But we are doing that now.
And that's what we have agreements with these agencies and that provide a certain level of service.
So we can monitor that.
And they provide stats to us.
They provide audits to us.
So we have good data from them.
I have a couple of questions.
We'll have the answers.
Yeah.
These microphones, they always throw me for a loop.
has someone prepared a motion to address this issue for tonight?
Well, the only thing that you would do is you would increase the budget by that amount,
that it has just gave you $28,600.
And it doesn't have to be attributed to one place or another?
No, because I decide how money spent once you've appropriate a bottom line,
budget of $38,38,372,240.
So we would say what it's worth.
We would say what it's worth.
So, before that motion is made, one of the observations I would make that was slightly different from the manages perspective is that I would, I would be in support of adding this twenty eight thousand dollars into the budget.
I'm pleased, very pleased, to hear the progress that's being made.
But I also, and I see the $28,000 as an opportunity to further strengthen the kinds of
cooperation and relationship building that we need to make with Tri-Conic App, and use
their resources to help us answer many of the types of issues that the city faces, whether
It's homelessness or fuel assistance or weatherization or in some other parts of the, you know, the county might be transportation, but I see it as an important goal, but I do not see it as being mutually exclusive that is going to fix some of the other substantive concerns I have about the level of resources we're making available for human services.
So, with that in mind, I'm hopeful that someone would make a motion.
All amendment.
Mm-hmm.
And amendment.
Thank you.
So this would be a motion to.
I just wanted to add on to that because I agree with Councillor Sykes.
I think this is definitely a worthwhile addition to the budget.
I think it's important that we continue to foster and rebuild that.
that connection. I'm not confident that that would fully address or even
substantively mitigate the concerns that we're seeing, I think, as we had
recently discussed, the looming crisis of ending government funds, it sounds like
that's going to be a particularly onerous problem
by government funds, of course, I mean federal.
I think that's going to continue to be an onerous problem,
not only in terms of how we support those individuals
who need assistance financially,
but also the task of the administrative side of that.
And as much as $28,600 sounds like it'll be a great investment
in our collaboration with tri-county cab, I reflect on the need
that we have in this community that I think very easily could far exceed
what that would bring to us even on a one-to-one return on investment, even on greater than a one-to-one return on investment.
So I'm optimistic about it, but also concerned that it may not be enough, I'm not.
that I have following up on that,
were we confident in a loss of some level of service
that we are now confident in having as a result of this $28,000 edition, or have the other
discussions that we've had to date recognize that we still may be getting assistance from
county cap and still seeing these potential and actual crises.
So, they're not going to, they already provide the service.
They didn't cut off the service.
They were providing the city when they didn't get funding from the city.
They are funded mostly by federal sources.
They're funded by donations.
And they're funded by municipalities.
And I think there might be one one right now that's not providing any funding to them.
And it helps set their administrative costs to do that.
So, basically, we were not providing any assistance to them to do the work that they were doing here.
It's like we do the other social service agencies, so that's what we're doing.
Tomorrow, you're not going to be a big van from this, it's trying to kind of cat that's going to roll up.
And then, you know, the people that are in dire straits are all of a sudden going to disappear,
and their problems are going to go with that's certainly not the case.
So this actually provides the level of service we used to provide every year and a regular basis to them.
And I think it's two dollars per person, what is it quates to.
That's how they figure that fact around each community.
And that's what that does.
So they haven't stopped providing any service towards the whole time.
Thank you.
So it doesn't necessarily mitigate the problems that we're seeing, however, it does rebuild
this relationship.
And that's the important part of the sharing of information, because we really only
need to be working together.
This limited funds out there.
And when we use those funds wisely, and we do it cooperatively, the public gets the best
benefit from that.
And I think that a stronger relationship with Cap,
which I think we're on the verge of getting,
is the way for us to go.
This helps them offset their costs as it has in the past.
And Ms. May, I wouldn't as my turn.
I have another question.
I was just going to make sure that we can make an amendment
adding this money in, but that further amendments,
either adding or taking away money
are still available to the council as choices.
Councilor Hill.
Yeah.
I'll move to amend the main motion to add $28,600 to be for tri-county camp.
I'll second that.
There you go.
Here, a little quick in the night.
Discussion on the amendment, proposed amendment.
Yes.
Councilor Wilson.
I guess given our recent experience, I'm not convinced this does what's being proposed.
Like we've heard of how much extra work, the frankly, the lack of good documentation around services being provided in the lack of data sharing with people in a time of intense need has caused.
I mean, and that was before the FOIA request, which is going to cost us what $80,000 now.
I'll let FOIA request no longer exist.
Okay, so that's good information to have.
I'm just, I'm concerned about a potential pattern of behavior that I, like, I don't necessarily know how comfortable I feel throwing money at something hoping to get a result without like a clear plan.
And I just, you know, $28,000 does not solve some of what I feel like our root cause issues.
Again, poor documentation, poor data sharing, poor support.
I hear you that it helps repair some of the relationship and that can help build some of that.
But frankly, I'm concerned that that's a prerequisite because to me, the mission of Tri-County
cap and not knowing their inner workings as well as others may.
But to me the mission of tri-county cap would, in a sense, morally or ethically require
them to provide that information to us to help those people.
And it just doesn't feel like that's being done, so I'm concerned about spending more
money when we were considering an entire FTE for human services to essentially address the
problem that that lack of sharing costs.
So let me give you my perspective on this because, you know,
I've been preskeptical of our relationship with them.
Based on the manager's meeting with their CEO,
I think that this is an important step on our part
to, in effect, hold them accountable to say, look,
Despite everything you've done, we would like to repair
and resuscitate this relationship.
We're willing to consider your request this year.
We may add it to the budget.
You may not.
But I think it's pretty clear to them
that this is, well, it's not in writing.
It's pretty clear to them that future contributions
to their budget and ensuing budgets, city budgets,
are really very dependent upon their performance in this upcoming year.
So, for my perspective, it's an investment worth making,
but it's made with the understanding that if there isn't a significant change
in their level of cooperation with the city over the next fiscal year,
it would be pretty hard to justify it the following year.
So, that's where I stand on at this point.
Yes, council will be.
I just want to speak to agree with you, Mr. Mayer, and that I don't necessarily see this.
As a substitute for that discussion that we've had about adding more support to human services,
I still believe that is something that's desperately needed. I also don't necessarily see this as money that we are generously offering unsolicited.
this is something that had previously been removed
from the budget, because the organization didn't comply.
And so it seems to me fair that we're putting it back in.
I appreciate the mayor's characterization
that this isn't necessarily precedent setting,
that we are expecting to see that increased,
that that result of an improved relationship,
and that we may continue to examine whether the relationship is sufficient to warrant that
contribution from our community. It does sound like this is absolutely a worthwhile contribution
and it sounds like we are continuing to receive valuable support from them, but it also sounds
like this is not something that either we were factoring out of our community's needs
when we were talking about the additional support for human services, nor does it sound like
This is a generous, generous donation on our part, if you will.
I would continue to support this amendment, but not to the exclusion of considering additional
support for our own department, which I think will more certainly guarantee that we are
actually getting what we need.
So I am pretty familiar with what Trich County cap has been doing, and I think what has been lost in part of the shuffle, if you will, is that there is a, they spend a lot of money in this city, and in this lower graft and county, to try and alleviate many different problems.
and I alluded to them earlier, which was weatherization, it was, they provide homeless shelters
elsewhere in the county to help folks that need that kind of help. They also do
sides
weatherization. They do fuel assistance. Thank you, Cliff. I was just trying to pull that back
of the tired brain and I don't think we should lose sight of that and so and there is lots
more that dry county cap could partner with us in the future and that's why I think this
is an incredibly I mean I give credit to the manager and to dry county cap CEO because
they're trying to get to the place where we can solve problems.
I view my role in government, and I think the rest of the U.S.
will do too, that I spend my time listening to people's problems,
and then I try to figure out what the solutions might be,
and act on those solutions.
And this is a positive step in solving problems that people have.
And I would strongly encourage the council to approve this amendment.
Councilor Wittlesy.
So I hear all that, but I would argue that they are mutually exclusive.
We, the entire impetus of us discussing what a week or two weeks ago,
our three, whenever it was, of adding an FTE,
was to provide human services with the time necessary to go out and meet with people
who are being housed and hotels up here,
because we had no idea who they were
where they had been housed from what their plans were.
That to me is a function of track county cap,
which I understood when we were looking at an FTE,
when they weren't working with us,
but if we're entertaining, providing funds to them,
then that's their responsibility.
That negates the need for the FTE
it in terms of a very specific appropriation.
Because otherwise, then it just goes into the queue
to me of where are we going to best invest our resources.
And frankly, like, so it's, for me, it really is,
ultimately ends up being one or the other.
Because we are in critical, you know, cost,
financial straight.
So like, I supported the FTE, but to me,
It's supporting the FTE, or supporting providing those funds to them because this to me is like, again,
that was their role, try County cap should be filling, that we had to go and find another person
to help out because our human services department was having to step in and do the work that they weren't doing.
And that's, so I really have to say, like, you gotta pick one, you can't do both.
we don't have unlimited funds, and we have to make a choice.
So I would actually support the FTE, even though I know it's more expensive than the
Tri-Accounting Cap appropriation.
I'd rather do it ourselves.
Just an observation that there's a long tradition in New Hampshire municipalities supporting human
service agencies, because they help relieve municipalities of their constitutional responsibilities
to take care of the poor, so the way that's worked in towns is that the human
services agencies would petition to get on the warrant at 10 meetings and get
appropriations that way. So the city over the years developed a policy to figure
out how to allocate our funds for human services agencies and try countercap was
pretty much always part of that mix because they've always provided services to the community.
And at this point, the issue that was otherwise keeping them from being funding has been resolved.
So it just makes sense to put this back in the budget because it's part of the way our policy
has been applied administratively.
It was developed with the city council in a number of years ago with Paul Mayville, but
but we had a rigor to considering the budget proposals
and looking at the services they provided for the city
and how we, along with other municipalities,
help balance their budget.
So I just think it's appropriate to put this back in,
plain and simple regardless of any other issue.
Councillor Wilkie.
Thank you.
Also, I agree with that, and also,
I recognize the concern, I recognize that we need to remain fiscally responsible and be, of course, very sensitive to the potential tax increases that are clearly affecting our residents and, of course, surfacting ourselves as well.
So that said, I do not see a $28,000 contribution that has previously been provided on some
level as being a sufficient substitute for an FTE in human services and I don't want to
try to prescribe what I would expect a job description to look like or what I would expect
that position to do because of course that is not the role of the council, but I do recognize that
to start $28,000 is not sufficient to hire. I would argue just about any FTE that we would
to be able to effectively serve the city of Lebanon and reside here as we've seen.
I think we had talked about and are planning to provide a revolving fund to support human
services, which as I imagine, I know it will be hugely helpful as I imagine it will also be an
additional administrative expense, the need to outreach to the community at a recent discussion.
I heard it suggested that we will need at least one FTE in Lebanon to be able to meet the needs
here potentially more. And I don't see that $28,000, which as we've heard is not going
to restore any loss service. I don't see that providing an FTE in any instance. And also
so that people are aware I have just submitted an agenda request that I hope we will discuss
very soon into the new year, looking at the need that we have discussed for a number of years
of finding space and opportunity to add a low barrier shelter to the City of Lebanon.
And I hope that we might be able to count on support from Tri-County Cap with that.
But I also recognize that we can't rely on them exclusively to handle something like this.
And that will almost certainly include additional staff time in our staff.
And so, while I see the desire to pick and choose one or the other for where we would send additional human services funds,
I would advocate very strongly that we consider both that we should be supporting
Tri-County cap and that there is a critical need for us to address that priority of human
services and of supporting the vulnerable residents of our community and not see those as mutually
exclusive. Thank you all so much.
I think I agree with Councillor Bielo and his comments earlier I support adding these funds back in that were only removed because
Tric County cap could not sign for whatever reason, could not sign on to the welcoming
Lebanon ordinance. I'm glad that they have reevaluated their position. I think it
makes sense for us to support that. I see it as independent. I certainly hope that the
leadership at Tric County cap has heard our concerns with their behavior. And I think this
gives us an opportunity to have some conversations
over the coming year about what our expectations are.
But I do think that Tri-County Cap
is an important part of the fabric
of our human services network in the Upper Valley.
And I think it makes sense for us to be providing support
in a way that's tied to our population
and that is compensated with how other communities
are supporting tri-county cap as well. It's only fair. I don't think it's fair for us to
expect tri-county cap to be working in our community without having any support from us.
And I also don't think it's fair to other communities for them to be essentially subsidizing
the work that tri-county cap does here. So I think we need to have the discussion.
I think we don't
particular amendment and I'll be voting in favor.
This will make something very clear to keep this seems to be having a life all to its own.
Then we're recommending a full-time position.
The city administration has no interest in adding a full-time position in human services.
None.
Zero.
We have not proposed that.
If we did we would have made it very clear that we wanted to do that.
There's no identified need.
I heard that a few minutes ago too.
I don't know where that's coming from.
That information about a specific need for position that will do something.
I don't know what that is, but we have not proposed that, a couple of councils have talked
about that.
I'm really very clear that everybody who's listening, especially out there, that we're
not, our plan was not to hire somebody full-time to somehow do the job of trying
counter-cap.
But it's going to make that abundantly clear.
Well, is there any further discussion on this particular amendment?
Okay?
They're ready to vote on the amendment.
All those in favor of the amendment,
and the vote against vote is 7-4 and 1-against.
So it passes.
So the question then is, are there any further amendments that are going to be offered on this particular resolution, or are we ready to vote on the resolution?
No, I have another amendment.
Yeah, I get that right now this time.
I offer an amendment to increase this resolution by the amount of $60,000, and then I would
be getting a second for that, and I would like to speak to my amendment.
Thank you.
Well, it's going to suck at that.
Yes, Councillor Wilhelm.
I will say that.
Please be here.
Thank you.
Bear with me, folks, while I call up some data that I've been doing some research about.
One of the things that I've struggled with on this question of how the city best helps the people who need help is how do we objectively measure what success looks like.
And that's a really difficult question.
So I started doing some data searching.
I found out that
At Lebanon's population in Grafton County represents about 15.7% of the county,
and that with
handover and fuel in Lebanon together, it's more than 30% of the population of Grafton County.
So there's a bunch of people here. I've also learned, however, diving a little deeper
that using the 2021 census estimates beyond the 2020 census, Lebanon's population actually is now
thought to be 15,661. That's an 8.7% increase in population. On top of that, Lebanon's density
as measured by a number of people by square footage.
Lebanon has the highest density of all of the three counties that
try county cap works in. Above and beyond all other
communities in those three counties. And we have to make the
connection that with higher density comes more problems. And one of the
that this city is facing, is that we need to be taking a look at homelessness as an issue,
amongst other things.
So we are talking about creating a revolving fund. That's great. It's
wonderful to hear that there's no right to know request that's going to be moving forward on.
And the other thing that I think that's really important to remember is, and I'm going
to switch screens for a moment, so bear with me, because I want to have the stuff in front of
me.
I'm sorry.
We've heard that there are approximately 70 people homeless people that are being served here
in the city.
Well, that's 70 people, approximately, who were receiving
near-app funds in order to be in hotels.
Motels.
Statewide, there are 700 people who are receiving
near-app funds to be in hotels.
But the homeless population is actually much higher
than that throughout the state.
The homeless population throughout the state
actually closer to 5,000. So it's a problem out there. In addition to that, we have some
housing issues that are coming before. We have all read in the Valley News recently how
outside investors are purchasing apartment buildings, evicting the people who have lived there
in some cases for decades so that they can upgrade the apartment and charge more rent.
And, as these rental costs go higher and higher and higher, it's only going to exacerbate
the pressures on people to be able to stay in their homes.
It's one of the important pressures that are happening.
I think it's also important to put a face on the people that we're talking about, because
it's not just some person out there who's homeless.
I think it's really important to know that as an example, the people going into emergency
shelters,
15% of the sheltered persons in the state and a hamper were children, 15% were children,
14% were chronically homeless, they're in shelters. 4% were veterans,
23% were victims of domestic violence.
33% had a known mental illness and 17% had physical disability and 7% had developmental disabilities.
These are the real face of the people that we have an obligation as a society to help.
Now how do we get that done?
I submit to you that there is a need for additional human resources FTE because as I said
the other night when we began this argument, a discussion rather, I'm sorry, it wasn't
really an argument, it was a discussion.
When I worked as the only person in fire prevention and I was kept being asked to well, look
at the big picture.
figure out how to make things better in the big picture. Well, you can't, when you're the only resource
trying to solve these problems. And I see a person who, uh, additional FTE in the Human Services
Department would help us answer some of the questions for information that we don't have.
It will help us figure out a better way to do, to do the solve the problem of, uh,
particularly homelessness. And make no mistake that that is the particular issue that we have been concerned with
Fy County Cabinet, and ability to make sure all these things are being done. I don't know why we went away, didn't touch anything.
There we go. It must be me. You didn't shut me off, Mr. Managent. Well, that's good to know.
So the point is there are a lot of homeless issues are intractable, many people feel.
Well, they're only intractable when you don't try to take steps to make them better.
And we have an opportunity tonight to take a step to suggest and add into the budget, which is our role.
sufficient funds to work harder at finding solutions for this difficult problem and I would urge
my fellow Councillors to be mindful of how important this for us to be helping this underserved
population. Thank you. Yes, Councillor Wilkie. Thank you. I'll speak to my second.
Um, though largely I will just say Ditto to what Councillor Sikes has said.
Um, I, and also I, um, apologize if in any way I implied that it was from city administration
that I had heard the potential need for a minimum of one additional FTE, I will clarify that was not city administration
who made that observation, it did not come from within city administration, it came from outside city administration.
But I did hear of the need for a minimum of one person, do an additional person full time doing work to support the needs of our most vulnerable.
I feel that this is an important opportunity to both address the priorities that we all
shared back in April at the beginning of the budget process.
I believe we all addressed the importance of supporting our social services, our human services,
of supporting the problem of rising costs of people being taxed out of their properties of people being unable to stay afloat.
We are seeing this problem rise at, I think, at least as high a rate, if not higher rate than what many of us anticipated.
I think to the extent that we should avoid letting the problem get critical before addressing
a solution, especially in an area that we have deemed as a priority, it is our duty
and our responsibility to see what we can do, recognizing that we may not have a clear
tactical plan as a strategic board to take this strategic step to say we allocate more
resources to human services, to try to address what is a looming crisis and could become
an augmented crisis if that first crisis bumped up against insufficient staffing and
sufficient support and a very heavily burdened or overburdened department in our city.
Thank you.
Yes.
Councilor Hill.
Thank you very much.
Councilor Sikes for making this amendment.
I raised this question.
I think it was last week or two weeks ago about whether
Councilor's felt based on the presentations we have received over these work sessions, whether we should consider targeting additional resources for its human services.
I don't remember the exact year. I think it was maybe 2008, 2009 when we were facing a global,
depression really. It was a crisis, a financial crisis. The city council at that time also saw a
looming potential crisis for people and decided to make a one-time increase in appropriations
to the social service agencies. I don't think anyone else here was on the council at that time
And maybe you did or didn't notice that.
It wasn't necessarily
paraded in the paper.
But we did that after discussion at work sessions
and we made an increase and have to go back and look.
But it was somewhere around $100,000.
That was shared along the social service agencies
that were supporting people in need here in Lebanon.
And it was that with that spirit in mind that I asked the question, because what I do see is an exceptional year.
We are facing conditions that we did not expect back in April.
Circumstances have gotten more dire.
Back in April inflation was becoming a problem.
energy prices have increased more than we may be anticipated at that time and while this is
causing, this is spurring things like, you know, community power and some good things,
there are people who are going to be faced with difficult choices. This winter about how to
Heat their homes about
what to do when they're pipes freeze and how they can support their family.
And so, and I remember I know that when people are in those tough situations that they can
people end up using blow torches to unfreeze their pipes and they can end up in really dangerous
situations as a result. And it's these things that I have now seen, these cycles happen
and when people are in bad places, sometimes they have to, you know, resort to desperate measures.
And so it was in that spirit that I asked the question about whether we should consider targeting
additional resources to human services because energy prices, because federal funds are
drying up that we did not anticipate back in April.
The things are just a little different
and the other thing that really struck me was the hearing the police chief talk about the level
of distress that people seem to be under in the community, and that that is escalating, and that
it's something I think he said, it's something that he has not seen in his career, in law
enforcement, that these are unprecedented times. And all of these things just lead me to believe
that people are in distress, and that if we can target some additional resources, we may not
solve the problem, and I don't think, and targeting additional resources right now as a sort
of stop-gap measure to say, you know, we can't solve everything, but maybe we can at least
make a difference to help some families get through a difficult winter. I think we should be
simultaneously looking at root causes, looking at systemic issues, looking at the low barrier
shelter, addressing a comprehensive housing plan. We should do all of those things, but that
doesn't mean we shouldn't do something right now as well. I think that we can do both, and I
would support the amendment offered by Councillor Sykes. I don't know how far $60,000 will go,
but I do know that we have good people in place in human services department, and I do think
that they will find good uses for additional resources
that can be targeted in meaningful ways.
So I am curious, because not too long ago,
we approved a sort of flex fund for human services.
And I'm wondering, because I haven't heard the human...
And a request from human services specifically saying that, you know, additional staffing would solve some of the looming issues. I wonder if it would be possible or appropriate for that flex fund to be used to hire additional, like an additional full time employee, if that is sort of what's deemed to be the most useful thing.
And so if maybe allocating the same amount to that fund, and then if it turns out that that wouldn't necessarily be the best, like, I guess the angle of the buck is the word I'm looking for, in terms of like effectiveness of those funds toward direct benefit to the residents,
that's, that would sort of be in the spirit of,
that existing fund. I don't know if that's possible, though. I don't know if that's
within the scope of what is available from that.
It is because you haven't done it, you'll do it tonight.
Yeah.
Okay.
So you didn't have it.
We talked about it about the action.
Okay.
So if that would be a kind of an alternative,
wait a look at it in that case.
System will be available.
Well, I think you're onto something Councillor Zuck.
I was just thinking about that.
It's resolution number 15 on page 38 as Councillor Hill was speaking.
And that, if you'll recall, it's useful to look at it because in some sense, I think
it's okay if we pass an additional preparation, I think it's okay if we don't because either
way it just sort of balances out with this fund and I'll just explain why I think that's
the case.
It's because it's, if we pass the resolution 15, we establish a public assistance revolving
fund for the purpose of accumulating resources to provide general assistance for housing
and emergency shelter, who fuel utilities and other basic necessities of the public welfare
function for which the city is responsible in accordance with our say 165 A to assisted persons
that money in the public assisting Revolcano Fund shall accumulate from year to year, meaning
it's non-lapsing. You should not be considered part of the city's general fund, and the city
manager shall be the agent of the city to carry out the objects of the fund as established by the
city council. This is a rather clever way to say we're going to give the manager some authority
to use funds from the current budget that are not spent, that would otherwise lapse into fund
balance and instead use that to direct it into this fund so we can provide additional assistance.
So what he saw and human services saw was that the need had gone up compared to when the budget was developed
and we don't even know exactly what that need is. So this was a way to approach this.
But to the extent I think, if I'm wrong, to the extent the city manager directs otherwise lapsing funds into this
to make them non-lapsing and sort of a reserve for this purpose, it decreases what would otherwise
go into fun balance that could be used otherwise offset the tax rate.
So I think from a tax rate point of view, it doesn't matter whether we make the sort of
additional preparation or not, it matters how much money goes into this fund and what's
expended out of this fund.
I don't know if it's better spent as an additional FTE or if it's better spent or additional
assistance in a variety of different ways.
I think whether we pass it or not, the city manager would have the discretion to use it as an FTE or not.
But we already would give him a lot of discretion under resolution number 15.
Let's start to set aside some funds to address this problem.
So I think, you know, he thought he had some extent and come up with a mechanism for which we can provide for this without having to
as the need becomes more apparent.
I don't disagree that more human resources
in terms of paid employees who are working on this issue,
might not be helpful.
I just don't know if it's the greatest need right now,
and there's certainly a shortage of trying to hire people as it is.
And I'm not going to worry too much about where that line is drawn.
I think it is important to send this signal whether it's by passage of resolution 15 or this amendment that we recognize there's need for additional resources to go to this.
So with eight of nine members present tonight, please remind us all what votes need to be to pass.
Well, for this, it's just a majority.
This is a simple majority.
When we get to one and say, team, we have to have six.
But we have six.
And then bonds require a sub-majority as well.
So I'll, let me just, I've got a pitch for, so I'm very hesitant
to vote for this specific amount for this specific purpose.
In my opinion, the human services department
put a lot of thought and time and thought into their budget,
not just in April, but as the year went on.
And so I'm certainly in favor of resolution 15, but I don't see my way clear to vote for something that puts it into this particular resolution number one.
I certainly see the need, but Councillor Woodles and many Councillor Sikes.
So I have to adjust the mic.
All right, so I definitely, that's part of my concern.
So we do have resolution number 15 and I do support the revolving fund and I think it's a great way to address some of the issues with a fair degree of flexibility
But the important thing that I would note is there's there's a purpose behind there's a clear purpose
It's not just saying oh, we're going to make resources available here's what we're going to do here's what we're trying to target like there's been a clear
thought and impetus behind it and
With the additional funds that we're discussing in this amendment, that original impetus is to me no longer there, because now we're working with tri-county cap and funding them with those funds.
So providing resources in a vague general way without a plan, to me isn't useful.
We have a clear plan under resolution 15, and I don't think at this point with the partnership
with Tri-County cap that we're trying to rebuild that you then have that same impetus.
I would support it if there was a clear plan behind it, and I think that we've kind of
undercut that plan, and I think with the new funds.
I would also say that I think it's really hard to say we have to make funds available because
We're taxing people out of their homes, but then also raise the taxes because we're adding
more funds.
And so I think if it's carefully thought out and deliberate in the way to meet had been,
that was one that's very different than where we're at now, having not provided the funds
to try a county cap.
Again, to me, it's a very mutually exclusive proposition.
And so since we're already making some amount of funds available through Resolution 15, we've
made the resources available there, and there hasn't been that otherwise request for FTE.
And again, to me, the need for that FTE is really being taken back on by Tri-County
Cap.
The Assistant Mayor even said, we've long had a policy of outsourcing that work.
to these agencies which we couldn't do because they wouldn't sign on to be agreements, well now they're going to sign on to be agreement, we're making funds available to them, so I can't support both.
So we've passed one, I can't support this, I'm sorry.
I'd like to make a couple of observations.
So first things first.
There is, I agree that we should be putting at least $100,000 into that revolving fund,
because the resources will, in my mind, be needed.
My concern is that if this amendment that I have often is defeated, then we won't put
any additional funds in the revolving fund, and therefore it takes money away from recipients
versus providing the administrative support that's needed to do all the tasks that need to be
done, including administering this fund. I mean I know it's the manages decision ultimately,
but I believe quite strongly and I've watched the manager take advice from department heads
very effectively and that would be one of the things that would have to happen. So I'm concerned
about us being Pennywise pound foolish in terms of not delivering the types of resources that
we need.
So that's part one, part two.
For those of you who have been on the council for a long time or on the council off the
council and on the council like I've been, which still comes a rather lengthy amount of time
and plus having worked for and lived in the city for 33 years.
Here's something that I can share with you.
From the days of Donna Hastings,
a former human services person.
Donna Hutchins.
Hutchins, excuse me, thank you.
Shannon Hastings.
Shannon Hastings, you thank you for that.
And even into the present day, I think that and I watch this,
I think that that department particularly is hesitant to ask for the resources that they really
need.
I would talk to Donna, and she would say, well, we need this.
We need this.
Well, why aren't you asking for it?
Well, you know, I don't know that that's going on now, but I've watched that happen.
I've also watched in county government where service agencies, you know, human services agencies,
reluctantly, they never asked for an increase in their budget.
That was come back and want the same.
Whatever we got before, great, but they never asked for the increase.
Because there's a mindset or an ethic that makes that very hard.
And I just worry that we are trying to do the right thing and we can do the right thing by
putting the money in for a specific purpose creating the revolving fund.
If my motion does not pass, I would hope that we would at the very least make sure that we're putting sufficient money
the revolving fund so that recipients projected recipients are not losing out because we then
go ahead and get more help or human services. I think that's my concern with that action.
So, you know, it's time for us to, and by the way, like everybody else, I'm very concerned about
my property tax bill, I've struggled this year more than ever, but Mr. Manager, can you tell
me if we put $60,000 back into the budget, what is the actual effect on the tax rate?
Two cents.
Okay, thank you.
Two cents.
You're up three cents right now.
We're looking at a 20% increase in the tax rate, now it's a 23% increase.
That was my point.
Thank you.
Yes, that's a welcome.
Thank you.
I have an observation, a question, and a comment.
The observation is that, as best I can tell, the tri-county cap funds that we just amended
do not add any portion of a full-time equivalent.
They do not add any additional human resources to the city.
The question is, has there been any consideration, and if so, what is the result as to what level
of administrative burden will be added by this revolving fund?
I won't be significant to artists we have an agreement with the haven and you know that money is going to be gone by the end of the year.
And the...
I'm sorry.
The haven is going to actually manage those operations.
So we're going to provide them money to them to manage them.
So we'll be reporting back to us.
But then we don't have any function.
Thank you.
And the observation is the based on what Councillor Layout Hill mentioned that in a period
quite a while ago, in a period where that money was probably a much larger sum.
There was $100,000 added to the human services of the city.
And if we're adding both this 60,000 to and the 28,6, we're still not reaching that number of 100,000 to the value of which is even less right now.
Thank you.
Yes.
Councilor Woodles.
But we're adding the revolving loan fund.
Which how much were you proposing for that?
Ah, sorry.
Okay. So there you go.
There you go.
But let's assume given the circumstances that we're going to blow through that 100,000, relatively quickly.
There's your 100,000.
So now we're not just talking 100.
We're actually talking 100 and 88,000.
Also that 60,000 wouldn't be for a full-time FTE because if it was, you'd have benefits.
Let's say, I don't know whatever the city's frame today.
I don't even know what position to do so.
Fair enough.
But again, so I just, you know, I support the revolving loan fund, I think it's a targeted approach that will allow us to support the residents and the at risk.
Communities, and we've just discussed that the city is long had a history of partnering with, you know, our local agencies and organizations to do that. It's fine. We're doing that. And we're also doing it through the revolving long fun, but again, I get back to, there's, there's no clear, stated purpose for what these funds are going to be used for. Like, okay, what's that FT going to be doing? Again, when we first assess it, made sense. We got to go figure out where these people are, are who's managing them, where they're going to get
house, et cetera, because we didn't have that relationship with Tri-Count account.
But if Tri-Count account is doing it, it gets back to those funds are for something.
And I can't support that.
I could support it if there's a real purpose behind it.
If you said, you know, we're going to give $60,000 to heating assistance for the city of
Lebanon to be administered by human services, I can support that.
There's a clear need, energy, you know, whatever that is, but I just can't support
at throwing on money for the sake of throwing on money,
because it doesn't inherently resolve any of the issues
that you're concerned about.
But that's fair, you can object.
But I'm just like, that's the same reason
I'm objecting to what we're proposing.
Like, I think there needs to be a clear purpose
behind adding on these funds that weren't otherwise asked for
because otherwise,
again, we're just kind of throwing money
at a problem and hoping it works.
And I just, I don't see that, like the point of really outcomes-based decisions is to know what outcome you're trying to address.
And other than just ameliorating and at risk population, which is really what we're trying to do with Resolution 15,
it's just, it's kind of duplicative, both of the other, both of the revolving loan fund,
but also the other partner agencies that were historically in as a policy been working with.
So I just, I find a lot of contradiction in the, the justification for what's been going on.
Yes, go to Hill.
The $60,000 proposed by Councillor Seix was not specifically for an FTE.
It's a motion to add $60,000 to the budget.
And I think from the discussion, it's intended to increase internal capacity within the human services department.
Department. I haven't heard anything that suggests this is just a growing money at a problem.
It is a very targeted approach to try and increase capacity within a department that has
a very clear mission, which is to support people in distress. Managed by professionals who
know exactly what they're doing and how to target those resources.
So the idea that this is somehow $60,000 being thrown out of problem, I think it's just,
I understand it's a euphemism, but I don't think that is, I don't think it accurately
described the proposal.
$60,000 in the context of a $37 million budget.
Thank you, 38 million dollar budget, that adds a penny to the tax rate.
Two pennies to the tax rate.
I don't think is unreasonable when we know the context that we're operating in.
And yes, times are hard for all of us.
And for people who are in the middle, it's really hard because you don't necessarily even qualify for support from human services.
And so there are a lot of people being squeezed in a lot of directions.
But I do think that it is a good ethical discussion for us to have about how we can support people in need,
Especially when we know that times are difficult and I think this is a good discussion for us to have and I think that
If our population it turns out is actually a little bigger than what we thought it was and
We know that there are potentially more people who are going to have to apply for more services
Potentially exacerbated by the sale of some of the apartment buildings that
have just started happening.
I don't think that it's unreasonable to say $60,000. Targeted
at this particular time. We don't have time to develop a plan for the specific $60,000
because it's all starting January 1 or whenever the next department building is going to be sold
and there's going to be 30 days notice for an entire building of people to potentially have to find
other housing or whatever. So if it was a six million dollar request, yeah, of course we shouldn't
make that kind of appropriation without a hard plan in place. $60,000 on a $38 million budget
to target to a specific department that we know is probably going to be facing challenges,
exceptional challenges over the next few months. I think it's reasonable. I think it's humane quite
So, if we appropriate this money and it goes through the entire year and doesn't get spent, what happens to it?
They go to the Anasana Fundals, but it's a surplus.
So, we appropriate this money and it wasn't used because it wasn't needed and it was going to the Anasana Fundals.
But I have to raise it so, just be aware of that.
Sometimes people forget about that.
I still have to, whatever your program, I have to raise.
understand, yeah. And it can be used next year, lower tact this.
Well, there's actually a better way to do this, and some of you have already talked about
this. So if you actually want to do this, I would ask you not to raise the tax rate in
for the 2023, but take the money in this year's budget, allow me to go to 116 instead
of 100, that when we don't raise the tax rate at all anymore, and we already have, by the
sent for the cap funds, just under one set, the cap funds. That would allow us to do that.
If that's what you choose to do, change that number in article that's actually 16.
Oh, yeah, that's what you want to do. If that's what you want to do, that way you don't have
to raise property taxes in 2020, 2020 to do that. Obviously, it means we have less on a signed
fund balance in the future, but I would suggest we don't, the taxes are as you well in.
I end up as it is. You put it, achieve the same objective you're trying to achieve.
That's one way to look at the second way to look at it is we have a statutory obligation to provide well for services
So if the budget runs out, I have to take it from someplace else in the city budget
I don't get a choice if people are on the street
We haven't we have a statutory obligation to have so I have to go find that money elsewhere
Which I would do
Uh, so that's why we're creating this emergency fund to be able to do just that
But I could take money from other budgets and I would during the year I'd make
Hot elsewhere to do that because I don't have a choice we have to do that
So I don't think you the $60,000 at all quite frankly if I need it, I'm going to find it somewhere else and make other cuts in the budget.
But if you want to do it, I would highly suggest do not raise taxes. Please use the money in the two money left over in this year's budget and put it into that fund.
This is a suggestion.
So just one final observation this may or then I'll be done.
One of the important purposes of me suggesting the $60,000 was because I want this city to lean forward into a looming problem.
At the end of the day, I guess I don't really. I'm not all hyped up about one solution or another as long as we have the resources to lean into the problem.
Yes, it's just maybe I like that idea in terms of resolution number 16 if we had an effect a fifth bullet and just say an additional amount not exceeding 60,000
There's chain 100 hundred. Oh, that's it. That's the one. Okay, that's easy. So I would suggest we could do it that way and then we will
I located that same $60,000 without directly impacting the upcoming next non-lapsum.
So if we didn't spend it which we probably will, but if we didn't spend it, we would
be able to go on in the next year when we weren't in that purpose.
The discussion that we've had about that revolving fund, my impression anyway was that
that revolving fund was really primarily about direct assistance.
Yes.
And that's not what we're talking about.
What are you talking about?
There's $60,000 is talking, my interesting is that we're talking about trying to increase capacity within the department, not necessarily to write more checks, although if we have to write more checks, then that's what we have to do, but increasing capacity so that we can have that there can be time spent on getting this shelter off the ground.
on working with the partnerships that are going to be needed to make that possible,
on increasing
internal capacity. That is what I think I understand, Councillor Sites' intention behind
the $60,000, and so it's not clear to me that increasing the revolving fund will achieve
that because I thought that the revolving loan thought that the revolving fund that the revolving
emergency requests for direct assistance.
And so that, to me, that's not exactly the same.
It's not exactly the same.
That's a woken.
Thank you.
Am I correct to understand first that if we increase the allocation
to the revolving fund that we are reducing
the unassigned fund balance and therefore potentially
increasing the jump that we would need to the increase in tax that we would need to cover
in 2024. Certainly. You take one place. It has to be made up of some place else.
And second, sorry, sorry,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I guess again, I would rather
allocated to the revolving loan fund, because if we're talking about addressing it, the immediate need,
the immediate need is going to be for direct assistance.
All the examples and everything I've heard about when we did this before is really about direct assistance
to people, rent assistance, heat assistance, electric assistance, take your pick.
You've talked about increasing capacity for looking at a low barrier shelter.
To me, that's actually a planning department function to start with,
because you have to find a site, you have to design it,
you have to, you know, all this pre-work.
And then you make the resources available
to human services to administer it.
Like, it's a bit of, it feels a bit like putting
the cart before the horse.
I support finding a place for a low-bearing shelter.
We should do that work.
But I think that that ties into overall
the strategic plan, the capital, and the government plan,
et cetera.
Like, there's so much of that ends up wrapping into,
because it's not $60,000, and it's not gonna happen next year, right?
Like, you're talking a multi-million dollar investment
when you talk about a low-barrier shelter,
whether it's through partnership or tax funds
or capital funds or whatever, it's not cheap.
And I get back to that you're not increasing capacity
just by handing off $60,000 without a purpose.
And if we're partnering with other outside agencies,
let's utilize their infrastructure in their scale which is what they're
evolving loan fund does to make though that assistance available or let's
leverage our existing resources to provide greater direct assistance which is
what people will need in every session.
I guess again I just get back to it
just every all this justification feels very contradictory and and without a
your purpose for the next year, and if I would rather do the way the city manager is suggested,
I agree it doesn't long-term change the increase in taxes, but I think it's a more effective way
of administering the funds, and achieves the goals that you're saying this money would use for.
I mean, I just remembered my second question, is that am I also correct an understanding that if this revolving fund is being administered not by human services but by the haven that that means these funds would not, the funds in the revolving fund would not in any way affect human services but would instead go directly through the haven to
people who use that. Our plan is to use the haven to house and they will be the
mechanism. They're the administrative agent to perform that function. We don't
start writing check for them for that amount, but they will be a check for that amount
to go do that program. They run that program and we think it about 10 families that
are the year that would be able to meet the need of. That's it. But the whole year, I
mean there may be different families coming in at different points, but that's about
what it equates to. I don't know a whole lot of money to go home, very far. It's a big
that from where we were before.
And let's just be clear that people don't necessarily
just get checks.
A lot of what people need is help filling out applications
so that they can get state or federal dollars.
And that's what people in human services do.
So writing more checks is not necessarily the answer.
And that's not necessarily what's needed right now.
That might be part of it.
But also having an extra set of hands around
to help people fill out applications,
look on websites that they might not have access.
To a computer to do things like that are the type of things that I think are going to be needed in our human services department over the next few months.
And that is why I do feel there is a difference between putting $60,000 in the revolving fund or making this targeted appropriation.
Yeah, I want to be very clear.
I still stand by my motion and will vote in favor of it.
And the other thing piggybacking on Councillor Hill's point,
the state requires about 25 separate pages of application
to get heating assistance.
25 pages.
A lot of folks would need help doing that.
don't think I could do it. Where does that help come from? It comes from the sufficient human
resources in the human services department. That's what I'm trying to accomplish.
Before the discussion on this pose amendment,
let me take a vote on it then. All those
favor the amendment, please raise your hands.
One, two, three, four, five, all those opposed.
One, two, three, the amendment passes.
Are there any other proposed amendments to resolution number one?
Very none.
We will take a vote on the resolution with the two amendments.
Does anyone need any further explanation to amend a bottom line?
Okay.
And I have some comment.
Give it a bottom line.
Well,
no, you've got to add the 60,000. That just passed. Did you ask that then, too?
and 60, okay.
One of them, no, I haven't been in one yet, Councilor Hill.
Budget season is always difficult.
And I will keep my remarks brief because we've already been speaking quite a lot.
Well, it was really, I think one of this year, maybe more than any other year in the 18 years that I've been at this table.
I think that we are feeling more than ever the systemic inequality that Councillor Bielo talked about earlier of state tax policy.
The elephant in the room is that the state of New Hampshire provides the lowest amount of funding for public education in the entire country.
So we already start out from a place where local property taxpayers are burdened more than any other state here in New Hampshire.
So we're already dealing with massive injustice and unfairness at the local level.
On top of that, the city of Lebanon is in a particularly difficult situation.
We're home to officially 14,000, but it might be more like 15,600 people, and as the socioeconomic hub for the entire region during the day, we have two, three times that many people we are the center of a region of more than a hundred thousand people.
That means we have a police department that has to serve many more people than those that live here.
That means our police, our fire and EMS department is one of the busiest in the entire state of New Hampshire in terms of calls for service.
Our infrastructure, the wear and tear on our infrastructure is tremendous and it's much greater than if we were just 14,000 or even just 15,000.
We are serving a much larger population, and that is reflected in our municipal budget,
but because the state of New Hampshire requires that we pay for everything with property taxes,
it's the taxpayers of Lebanon who have to shoulder this burden of providing services to a
much larger population than that lives here. And it's even worse than that because while there's
15,000 people who live here.
The number of taxpayers is much smaller.
So there's only about 5,000 of us
who are actually footing the bill for all of this.
And that is the, I think in Lebanon,
we are Lebanon taxpayers are some of the most burdened
in the entire state of New Hampshire.
And we already know that New Hampshire
is the most burdened in the entire country, and I think that we here in Lebanon are faced
with just massive injustice and unfairness.
So this is why I have passionately advocated for years, decades now, to change tax policy
in the state of New Hampshire.
Councillor Bieleau, many of us have two, but Councillor Bieleau has really done incredible work
on this.
And we have had chances to make changes.
And yet there is a stranglehold on tax policy and new Hampshire.
But I think that it's time for us to build coalitions of taxpayers,
who are similarly burdened because something has to change.
Ms. Davis's point earlier tonight, it's not sustainable.
It is absolutely not sustainable for the tax policy in New Hampshire to continue placing this level of burden on the taxpayers in Lebanon.
It's not fair. It's not right, and I think all we can do is try and change it at the state level.
Now, speaking of sustainability at the local level, you know, it would be great if we could cut the budget.
It would be great if we didn't have to raise property taxes for percent.
It would be great if we didn't have to raise water and sewer rates, you know, seven and
eight percent like we did last week.
But sustainability requires that we look at the future and that we make good decisions today
so that we don't unfairly burden people in the future.
When I first came on to the council,
a previous council had decided that it would be a good idea
to go for 10 years with no water and sewer rate increases.
It was very popular, very popular with the water and sewer rate
fares of Lebanon.
But it was a terrible idea that was not sustainable.
And one year we had to raise the water, the sewer rates, 72% that was not sustainable.
And so while it's difficult to raise taxes, while it is difficult to raise rates, sometimes
it is what's required in the interest of sustainability and fairness and looking at the long-term
And being responsible with taxpayer dollars.
And I think that the budget, that those city manager,
has presented this evening.
We've heard from our department heads over the last several weeks.
I would do believe that this budget is responsible.
It is addressing our long-term needs while also being as sensitive as possible
to people's financial positions.
So, I'll be voting for this budget this evening and I am glad that the amendment, the earlier
amendment's past because I think that we are adding an additional level of support for
people in need over the next few months.
Thank you.
I just thought I'd bring that up.
We have violence with this a lot of evaluation for that out there.
The other thing I would point out, that's why I don't really want to say it here.
The other thing that I would point out, a similar vein,
not only do we have to figure out a better way to pay for the things that we want to pay for,
not using being solely dependent on property taxes.
It's even worse than that because the current legislatures have cut business taxes and that of course means that they have to get more property taxes in order to maintain the budget.
So it's bad enough that we're relying on property taxes so heavily, but then to go and then turn around and give tax cuts to basically the large box multinational corporations because smaller businesses are most of their income is most of their profit is not applicable for the tax.
So it's worse even in that.
So, we've ready to vote.
We're on member now voting on in 38,460,840,
all of general fund budget.
All those in favor of the resolution number one
has amended these are your hands.
And eight in favor, not opposed.
You're going to take a two minute break.
Three minutes.
This is my question.
Oh, okay.
I do.
He needs to have it all.
Do you want to support?
I do.
I
do.
I do.
It's too late for any challenge, let's guess we're not sleeping any time, guess we're not.
Now, be considering resolution number 2, which relates to the appropriation of 4,916,203 dollars for
solid waste disposal. Yes. In the past, we have just gone down the council table, and each
councillor has taken a resolution. I would propose unless there's objection that we do the same
thing, just to be able to move through all these resolutions. I would be lovely. Council, will we
you'd like to start?
Absolutely.
So resolution number two, motion by Councillor Wilkie to move passage of resolution number
two to appropriate $4,916,230 for solid waste disposal, resolved for the purpose of authorizing
and financing the solid waste disposal fund budget for the resolved by the city of Lebanon
that funds be raised and appropriated in the amount of $4,916,230.
This resolution shall be effective January 1, 2023.
I propose that the person to the left of the motion maker, that can.
I'm not going to get that specific.
I'm just, I don't find it.
I don't find it.
A little direction to the body.
Let's get into the over one.
So.
Any discussion of this particular motion?
A particular resolution.
Any discussion?
Okay.
All is in favor.
And it's unanimous.
That brings us to resolution number three.
I would move passage of resolution number three to appropriate.
4,436,960 dollars for water treatment and distribution, resolved for the purpose of authorizing
and financing the water treatment and distribution fund budget.
Be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon that funds be raised and appropriated in the
amount of 4,436,960 dollars.
The resolution shall be effective, January 1, 2023.
I was seconded that
much, unanimous.
Okay, would you like to do the next one?
This is going to be a long one.
Yes.
I move passage of resolution number four to appropriate.
7,862,20 dollars for sewage collection and disposal.
Resolve for the purpose of authorizing and financing.
The sewage collection and disposal fund budget.
Further resolved by the city of Lebanon,
that funds raised and appropriated in the amount of 7,
May and $862,020.
This resolution shall be effective.
January 1, 2023.
Second on that.
That's a widdle of seconds.
Read this question on this.
Hold on to the favor.
Animus...
Resolution 5.
Thank you.
I move to...
The passage of resolution number 5 to appropriate
$2,035,470 from municipal airport operations resolved for the purpose of authorizing and financing
the municipal airport on the budget, be it further resolved by the City of Lebanon that funds
be raised and appropriated in the amount of $2,000, $35,470.
This resolution shall be in effect January 1, 2020.
Thank you for the second for that.
How's your slate seconds?
The discussion?
I was in favor.
Ladies and gentlemen,
how's it going?
I move passage resolution number six to appropriate $25,000
for emergency preparedness.
Resolved for the purpose of authorizing and financing the
Emergency Management Fund budget.
Be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon.
that funds be raised and appropriated in the amount of $25,000, the resolution shall be effective
January 1, 2020, 23.
There was a second to council's looks motion,
five in seconds,
any discussion?
How is the favor, and is it in the end?
Yeah.
Let's see, Councilor Seix, number seven, number seven, number seven, number five,
I'm Chris, can you turn on your microphone?
My apologies.
There we go.
Councilscikes moves the passage of resolution number 7 to appropriate $400 for historic resources
and preservation efforts resolved for the purpose of authorizing and financing the heritage fund budget.
be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon that fund be raised and appropriated the amount of
$400. This resolution shall be effective January 1st, 2023.
It was second for that,
those of you seconds.
You did the left thing.
All those in favor?
We, yes, it is.
Yes, Councillor Wilkie, I don't know, it's Councillor Wilkie's turn.
Go for it.
All right, motion to move passage of resolution number eight A to appropriate six hundred twenty thirty thousand seven hundred seventy dollars for the downtown Lebanon tax increment finance district. Resolve for the purpose of financing the downtown Lebanon tax increment finance district fund.
Be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon that funds be raised and appropriated in the amount of six hundred twenty three thousand seven hundred and seventy dollars.
This resolution shall be effective January 1, 2023.
Second to that, council will be seconds.
The discussion, all those in favor.
Do you have unanimous?
Councillor Wilkie, 8B.
Yes, motion by Councillor Wilkie to move passage of resolution number 8B to appropriate $10 for
the 11 in airport tech part, park, tax, increment, finance, district.
Resolved for the purpose of financing the Lebanon airport tech park tax increment finance district fund
Be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon that funds be raised and appropriated in the amount of ten dollars this Resolution shall be effective January 1 2020
30
So much for that
Second
All
those passage
Resolution number nine to appropriate thirty nine million two hundred fifty five thousand five hundred forty dollars for capital improvements and acquisitions
Resolve for the purpose of authorizing and financing the capital improvements funds budget be it further resolved by the city of Lebanon
That funds be appropriated in the amount of 39 million 255,540 dollars for expenditure in connection with the following capital improvements and acquisitions as shown on the table on page 34 of 67 of the December 14th city council budget packet
The further is on by the city of Lebanon that the city manager is authorized to take steps necessary and appropriate to apply for and secure maximum federal and state grant funding assistance.
This resolution shall be effective January 1, 2023.
I'd just like to say, if I can, I want to just highlight the discussion that we had at the last meeting that with regard to West Lebanon.
that we are making this appropriation and we hope that, at least as my understanding, we hope
that the federal funds will be approved to make the West Lebanon capital improvements possible,
but that even if those federal funds somehow fall through and don't become available,
that we are also appropriating $2 million of city funds that can be used in some way to continue
the momentum in West Lebanon on the streetscape improvements and that the city manager plans
to come back to the council to discuss that more so that we can consider how to keep the
I'm going in West Lebanon even if for some reason the federal funds don't become available as we hope is that is that a fair characterization
This project is continuing upon those
funds it those the federal funds were not actually available to us because that's how you voted this and you as you should
That we're making it a sum from going to get those money to match the local funds. So if that doesn't happen
And then that's also part because we need to come back and have further discussions on it.
And that's what I understood was that you said, if the federal funds don't come through,
you'll come back to talk about how we could use potentially the 1.3 million dollars
that we're appropriating tonight of city funds to be able to keep some things moving maybe
consider a phase approach or some other way of keeping things moving forward in West Lebanon
So, that I just want to make it clear that even if the federal funds don't come through, we're taking action tonight so that we can keep the progress going in West Lebanon one way or another.
Correct. We're taking the appropriate steps to move.
Thank you.
Yes.
I move passage of resolution number 10 to authorize the issuance of bonds or notes to finance 2023 capital improvements resolved by the city of Lebanon.
the city treasurer with approval of the city managers authorized to issue an accordance with the
municipal finance act, RSA-33, a bond issue or bond issues and the amount not to exceed
17 million 22,970 dollars as follows referencing a table on page 35 of our packet.
The further resolve that except as hearing otherwise provided discretion to fix the dates,
maturitys, denominators, interest rate, form and other details of said notes, issues
is hereby delegated to the city treasure with the approval of the city manager.
The further resolve that in accordance with the requirements of the municipal finance,
RSA-33, Colin II, Repiminal Loans, no loans issued to pay for public quirks or improvements
shall be shall exceed the expected useful life of said public works are improvements as determined
by the city council as designated in the for going table. This resolution shall be effective
January 1, 2023.
Discussion?
Who are we out of the world?
Left.
Hang on.
I, Councillor Simon,
to move the passage of resolution number 11,
to authorize the city manager to apply for a
New Hampshire Clean Water State Revolving Fund
loans up to $1,387,250.
And to designate the city manager as
authorized representative of the city.
I mean, we're at, in accordance with the table as printed on page 36 of 67 of tonight's
dated packet, whereas the city of Lebanon after thorough consideration of the nature of
water pollution problems hereby determines that construction of certain works described as sewer
I'm sorry.
Production Improvement Projects for Kimmel Street and Forest Avenue in the amount of $469,000, South Main Street Bridge, $5,000,
Established Circle and Maple Street, $23,250, and Baker's crossing sewer, forest main, replacement,
and $890,000, our desirable and in the public interest and to the end, it is desired to apply
for assistance from clean water, the revolving fund of up to $1,387,250, and sorry, to the
break.
Yeah, whereas the city of Lebanon has examined and do we consider the provisions of RSA-486-14,
and the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules Chapter can have a little help with what that abbreviation is.
It's E&B-WQ-500, which relate to loans from clean water, date revolving fund, and deems it to be in the public interest to file loan applications and to authorize other actions and connection there with.
we're halfway home folks. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City of Lebanon City Council that
won the City Manager is here by authorized on behalf of the City to file an application for
a loan to be made in accordance with the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules,
ENV-WQ 5002 that if such loan be made city agrees to repay the loan as stipulated in the loan agreement
three that the city manager is here by authorized to furnish such information to and to take such
action as maybe necessary to enable the city to qualify for the loan for the city.
excuse me, that the city manager is here by
Desi, I'm losing my spot. Desi, as the
authorized representative of the city for the purpose of
furnishing such information data documents pertaining to the city for
alone as may be required and otherwise to act as the authorized
representative of the city in connection with the application
five that certified copies of this resolution be included as part of
of the application and be submitted for the loan.
Six, that if such loan be made, the city agrees
to make provisions for assuming proper
and efficient operation and maintenance of the facilities
after completion of the construction thereof.
This resolution shall be effective January 1, 2023.
Come a second to the motion.
It's not a mistake.
If that gets zero dollars paid for you.
May your math come out, not hearing you.
I'm sorry. The motion was seconded by Council of Zuck. Any further discussion? All those in favour?
It's unanimous.
Thank you.
We get a better one.
Yeah, Council of Zuck, I'll over that one.
Councilor,
please, do you need to turn on your microphone?
Sorry.
But
up to $3,100,000, $1,500, and to designate the city manager as authorized representative
of the city as represented in the table at the bottom of page 36 of 67 of our packet from
tonight.
Whereas the city of Lebanon, after thorough consideration of the nature of water pollution
problems, hereby determines that construction of certain works described as water infrastructure
Improvement Projects for Kimble Street and Forest Avenue, $780,000, $780,000.
South Main Street Bridge, $200,000, Miracle Mile, $2,077,000, $1,000, and Estabrook Circle
and Maple Street, $46,500, are desirable and in the public interest and to that end,
it is desired to apply for assistance from the drinking water state revolving fund up to $3,100,500.
dollars. And whereas the city of Lebanon has examined and
duly considered the provisions of New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Chapter
E&B-W1100, which relates to loans from the drinking water state revolving fund and
deems it to be in the public interest to file loan applications and to authorize other actions
in connection therewith. Now therefore be it resolved by the city of Lebanon City Council,
that one, the city manager, is hereby authorized on behalf of the city to file an application for a loan to be made in accordance with New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules,
tapures, E&B, dash, D, W, 1100, two, that if such loan be made, the city agrees to repay the loan as stipulated in the loan agreement.
Three, that the city manager is hereby authorized to furnish such information and to take such other action as maybe necessary to enable the city to qualify for the loan.
Or the city manager is hereby designated as the authorized representative of the city for the purpose of furnishing such information data and documents pertaining to the city for alone as maybe required and otherwise to act as the authorized representative of the city in connection with this application.
Five that certified copies of this resolution be included as part of the application to be submitted for a loan.
Six that if such loan be made, the city agrees to make provisions for assuming proper and efficient operation and maintenance of the facilities after completion of the construction thereafter.
This resolution shall be effective January 1st, 2020-30.
for a second for that?
Sure.
About a couple of seconds.
Any further discussion?
All those in favor?
I'm just unanimous.
Thank you.
Number 13, Councilor Sikes.
Councilor Sikes moves.
You passage.
Result.
Is that on now?
Yep.
Thank you.
I know.
That's slowly.
Council on Sykes moves passage of resolution number 13 to authorize the dispersement of water
investment fee funds to partially fund the new source of water supply study resolved by the
city of Lebanon that funds in the amount not to exceed $175,000 be dispersed from the water
investment fees fund to the capital improvements fund to partially fund the new source water
supply study. This resolution shall be effective January 1st, 2023. Thank you to you
of a second to that motion. I'll see you in the next few seconds.
Good idea. Any discussion? Almost in favor. And it is unanimous. Thank you.
Board, Dean Council, what is it? Motion move passage of resolution number 14 to expand
the purpose of an existing capital reserve fund in accordance with the Hampshire RSA 34
or coal in 11, results by the city of Lebanon
that the purpose of the police department equipment vehicles
and improvements capital reserve fund established
on December 20, 2017 is expanded from aggregating resources
to affect acquisitions and capital repairs maintenance
and or upgrades of police department related equipment vehicles
and facilities to also include the purchase use maintenance
and periodic upgrading of the police department software.
That the capital reserve fund is renamed the police department
Equipment vehicles improvements and software capital reserve fund that the city manager shall be the agent of the city to carry out the objects of the fund as established by the city council. This resolution is effective upon passage.
Thank you. Two seconds.
Councilor Slyke's second.
Any discussion?
That was in favor?
And it is, we have.
Yes, Councilor Wookie.
Gladly.
Motion by Councillor Wilke to move passage of resolution.
Number 15 to establish a public assistance revolving fund in accordance with New Hampshire RSA.
31 colon 95 heightened each resolved by the city of Lebanon that a public assistance revolving fund be established
For the purpose of accumulating resources to provide general assistance for housing and emergency shelter,
food, fuel utilities and other basic necessities of the public welfare function, for which the city is responsible in accordance with New Hampshire RSA 165-8 to assisted persons that money in the public assistance revolving fund shall accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered part of the city's general fund and that the city manager shall be the agent of the city to carry out the object.
of the fund as established by the City Council.
This resolution is effective upon passage.
Council, what will see seconds?
Discussion?
I just have one question.
All the other resolutions have dollar amounts associated with
this one does not.
And so I was just a little clarification.
Excuse me.
Okay.
Thank you.
Any further discussion?
We got to create it first.
Get in.
Okay.
I just missed it.
Any further discussion?
I will move passage of resolution number 16 to authorize the transfer of unincumbered appropriated fiscal year 2022 general funds as follows.
Resolved by the city of Lebanon that the city manager is authorized to transfer unincumbered appropriated funds from the 2022 general fund to other municipal funds as follows.
And amount up to but not exceeding $250,000 to the DPW equipment and vehicles capital reserve fund and amount up to but not exceeding $500,000 to the fire department equipment and vehicles capital reserve fund and amount up to but not exceeding $425,000 to the police department equipment vehicles improvements and software capital reserve fund and amount up to but not exceeding $100,000 to the public assistance revolving fund.
This resolution is effective upon passage.
It was second.
It's a Wilkie seconds.
Potential amendment.
It's just may be alone.
I would move to amend the bottom line to read it in a map.
Two, but not exceeding 150,000.
The public insistence will be involved in one.
Second.
Okay.
Any discussion about amendment?
We just raised another 16 now.
You're putting another 50, which has to come out of that.
on a signed fund balance where we already have a hold.
So now you're double-dipping into that.
You're magnifying that problem.
So I recommend it in one of the,
I didn't recommend either one,
but if you're gonna do it this method with the 60,000,
but now you're up in the ante even more.
So I suggest that there's not ways to do.
May I ask a question?
I'm curious, based on the language it sounds like
the city manager is authorized to transfer an amount
up to $150,000,000, does that mean that you would still be able to transfer only the $100,000?
Well, if it's the intent of the council to do that amount of it, the reason why it's
is up to, I'm not sure I'm going to have that money left over to do all these amounts.
And I may not need some of them, like, far from a little bit number down a little bit.
It's the same thing with the clean shop where we think it's a little bit smaller than that.
So I'll put a small amount there.
But if you really want me to spend 150,000, my plan is to put it in there, if it's available, that's what I'm going to do.
So, that's what, if the inflexibility really is only intended to make sure I actually have it at the end of the year we've got more weeks for the actual end of the year, but we won't pay all our bills until March.
Yes, the system is available.
Well, clearly says it amount up to, but not exceeding.
And I think we anticipate that there might be more need than this possibly.
And if there isn't, and you do, it's not my obscene.
So that's 50,000, you don't need to land to put into the front, the front one here.
I just think it provides flexibility that could be useful.
It could avoid the need to have to do an additional preparation in the middle of the year.
And I don't consider it as a mandate to do up to that amount,
But it gives you the flexibility to do it if it's needed.
Before the discussion?
Yes, Councillor Sight.
Yeah, I would support this amendment because as Councillor Bilo pointed out, and the
manager himself pointed out for the other funds, it doesn't necessarily have to spend all the money,
and he may not need to, but at least he can if necessary.
Thank you.
Any further discussion?
Yes.
Was there a second to this amendment?
Yes.
I didn't think of it.
Yes.
You got to hear the second.
Hey, further discussion?
I'll vote in favor.
I'll be a member of the amendments, just the member we're moving on.
Opposed?
Vote is seven in favor.
I want to pose.
The amendment passes.
You ready to vote in the main motion?
All those in favor?
Student anonymous.
Thank you.
That takes care of the budget, folks.
But it doesn't take care of the meeting.
So, just one more thing.
Two more cases.
Two more.
Two more things.
So our next item of new business is the proposed city charter amendment.
And would you like to just briefly explain what we're doing here?
Yes.
Since there's a second reading in the public hearing for ordinance 18.
Yeah, that this is the order to send a mic back.
You know what?
It's not in a packet.
It's a second reading sign in our packet.
Well, whatever, it's not in our packet.
It's not in this order.
Do you want to find it and get it for us so we can really do it?
Okay, it's on the agenda.
It's on the agenda, but there's nothing in the agenda.
It's on the agenda.
I don't know.
So I do a lot of the charter.
Charter?
Well, that's what's next in my packet is a charter member.
So there's someone who will discuss the charter member.
Well, are we doing the public hearing?
What do we have to do?
What are we doing?
Yeah, we have a presentation.
Public hearing, sir.
You want to do that?
I don't know.
No, no.
Let's do the target.
We can do the target.
No.
I don't care. I mean, it's just it's not in our back or to safety is not in our back. It is on the agenda, but there's no motion for anybody to read. There's nothing here.
Can you print something out for us if we do the charter stuff now?
The charter is in here. The third reading of the ordinance 18.
It's not that we read it from last week.
All right, so you've got to go one of the trust.
So we don't have a motion right here
that we can even read.
So we're one of the trust.
I can put the motion on the screen.
OK, well, let's do the charter amendment while we're
here.
We'll go back to this.
OK, OK, not read the screen.
Do we want to have a solution to that?
Do we want to talk about the charter?
Do we, yes, please, please, please.
Yes.
So two weeks, three weeks ago, on November 16th,
The Council held a public hearing relative to the charter amendment.
At that time, it was unanimously decided that the Council adopted a resolution identifying
that proposed amendments to the charter were necessary and appropriate and forward and basically
initiating the process.
The next step in the process was to notify the state agencies, including the Secretary of State
Attorney General's Office and the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Administration
of the proposed amendment. That starts at 45 day clock for them to review those proposed amendments to make sure they comply with state law.
We didn't know necessarily when the state agencies would reply, but within seven days once we get their response of approving the proposed amendments,
the council can take action to formally place the amendments on the ballot.
So we got the state approvals, a single letter from the Attorney General's Office on behalf of all three state agencies on Monday of this week.
So again, I statute you would have to take action to put this on the March ballot on or before next Monday.
And so, in an effort to avoid having to schedule yet another meeting this week or Monday
of next week, just to take up this issue, we propose to put this on tonight's agenda using
the Council's rules in 1991-70, which allows anything of urgent, of an urgent nature
or that needs immediate attention to put that on your agenda.
So, I've confirmed with the City, the City's legal counsel that this does not require
further public hearing.
The only public hearing that's necessary in this process happened on November 16th.
This is just a next step in the process and putting it onto the ballot will give every voter
in the city the opportunity to weigh in at that time.
So, all you're doing tonight, well, let me back up, when the state agencies provided their
statement that they were not opposed to the amendment, they offered three further changes
to some of the language that was being proposed to avoid potential ambiguity with plural
versus singular.
And so in the packet that was sent out today that the red line includes those proposed,
those further changes, they're fairly simple to change they to whatever the term is, the
member or what have you.
So there's a motion that was provided in packet, which would incorporate those additional
changes, suggested by the state agencies if you wish, and then a motion to formally
order that the proposed amendments be placed on the ballot from March.
So, we have a post motion on page 40, two of our packet.
Does anyone have any questions of David with regard to what he's just described or would
somebody be interested in making a motion?
Yes, sir.
I will move that the Lebanon City Council hereby accepts the non-substantive changes suggested
by the Attorney General's Office to avoid potential ambiguity with the insertion of gender
neutral terms as follows.
In section three administration,
subsection C419,
colon 16, the proposed insertion,
they were to be changed to the member was.
In section three administration,
subsection C419, colon 33,
the proposed insertion, their own,
to be changed to the officer's own.
In section three administration,
subsection C419, colon 45,
the proposed insertion of two instances of there,
to be changed to two, the heads.
Be it further moved that the Lebanon City Council
pursuant to its authority granted by RSA 49-B,
colon 5, 1, parentheses B.
Hereby orders the city clerk to place the final draft
of the proposed charter amendment,
including the changes outlined above
on the ballot at the next municipal election
to be held on March 14, 2023.
We're soon to RSA 49-B colon 6, Roman numeral 4 parentheses B, the amendment to the city charter will become effective July 1, 2023 if a majority of the ballots cast at the March 14, 2023 municipal election favor acceptance.
Thank you, Councilor Hill.
Councilor Hill seconds.
May for the discussion.
Yes.
There appears to be a typo on page 54.
Section 419-27 qualifications.
The fourth line down.
Or where the Senate's begins during the city manager's tenure of office.
He, the city manager, he I think was supposed to be struck out and replaced with the city manager and it doesn't show a strikeout in
The version and our packet, so I just like the motion passed with the understanding that he be struck out there and that's
Either an amendment or just a technical type of correction
What's section because I see one that is struck?
Oh, I should say in the page 54, it's the section on qualifications and it's the last
red edit in that paragraph.
Okay.
You see that?
All the other keys are struck out.
Yeah.
I was looking like two lines above that.
It looks like an instruction.
I was looking.
I'm looking.
All those in favor?
unanimous, that brings us back to the public hearing on ordinance 18 or how do you want to proceed with this?
Well, I was going to, I thought I had some good news and the good news was that you'd have to read the whole motion that you could actually approve it as printed in that packet.
I'll read it. I'll read it. I'll read it.
I'll read it. I'll read it.
Well, I'll give it to you to read it.
I'll hand you this.
Okay.
I can't do it.
Yes, I have it.
So do you, this is the third reading of this. Do you want to give a brief, I do?
So, the purpose of this for those who are not aware of the city has a wage classification system that is approved by the council manual basis and there's a number of things that I would go through those things, and so this is part of our process as part of our city charter.
It's not the same and every community that you need, but that's how it operates here.
So, a couple of things with this.
One, the collective bargaining room, which we have before unions, that we have, had a range of
one, two, three percent GWY, which is the same thing as the cola cost of living increase that
most people are from Mayway.
And that's based on what the actual cost of living is.
But at maximum of three, the cost of living is actually 7.9.
But so that maxes out at three.
So we have to actually set that on an annual basis.
And that's what the council was doing here.
And that will take effect.
January 1 for all, not a well, all about one, not affiliated employees and all the
collector bargaining units in the city, all the employees are fit in those categories.
And then the other part to that is that in 2023 or 3 year collector, all the collector
bargaining is a 3 year contract, they're all in the same schedule.
There was scheduled to meet no stepping crease or merit increase for the deposit employees
in 2023, and that was because the unions agreed to a concession that we were going to have a debt
service by 2023 due to the Fire Station Project, which did not occur.
So they acted in good faith, it's appropriate for us to act in good faith as well and put
that back in there.
And that's what I have recommended to do it, of course, not surprisingly, you need to agree
to that.
I'll look to allow that to occur.
So even that, as I told you before, some of those people won't get raises until the end
of the year, and that's 7.9% impact that's already occurred in July of 2022, so they're
already behind, and we are behind what other communities are giving, just so you're aware
of that. So that's one piece of this. The other part of that is we, normally every year
to five years cycle, we do a wage classification study for each group, we have the foreclad
to bargain, it's in the non-affiliated employees. This year we, I felt the need to do something
different because of the inflation and the wage market. So I did three different groups asked me
LaPaz and I did not affiliate. It's not affiliates. We only were scheduled for this year but I did
those other two to make sure that those groups reached the 60th percentile. And that is what we
are trying to achieve by doing this. So all of our collective bargaining units are at, we'll be at the
the rest. But again, even that is based on numbers that will prior to the hyperinflation
that we have. So even with this, we will not be at the 60th percent where still continuing
to fall behind there. So there's that. There's a couple of reclassifications of different
job descriptions. And then you have those. You can take a look at those. And some of the
count in court three is in there and well the truck driver was already in there anyway
because we already had that job description. So those are the key parts of that and that
in essence is what you would be approving tonight with the ordinance 18. So you're approving
not the money amount that's already been done. It's the wage classification components that
allow that to occur. It's similar to the trailer build the state budget, the implementation
two pieces of that. So that's what this is here. Thank you. Okay, we'll open the
public here. I don't know. This is any members of the public in the audience
that have any questions or comments on this. Again, it's the third reading.
Seeing none, I'll move to the virtual audiences or anyone in the virtual audience who has
any questions or comments on these amendments to ordinance 18.
So hearing none, I will
Those are public hearing.
Council, any questions or comments on this before motion is made?
Not on this, but do we need a motion to extend our meeting, given where it two hours and five,
five, six, six, six, six, six.
All right.
I don't think so.
It's okay.
I've got the motion.
You have the motion.
I am ready.
Very good.
I will move that the Lebanon City Council acknowledges the third of three presentations to amend ordinance number 18 salary plans as follows.
One, Article two, non-affiliated and LaPaz employees to A, implement the three percent general wage increase for 2023 B, increase the wage and stipend pay scales for seasonal temporary and stipend employees C,
reclassed by the following non-affiliated positions.
One, systems librarian and information technology librarian from grade 9 to grade 11.
Two, deputy library director from grade 11 to grade 12.
Three, chief innovation officer and deputy finance director from grade 12 to grade 13.
Four, airport manager, assistant fire chief, and human resources director
from grade 13 to grade 14. Five, deputy police chief from grade 14 to grade 15.
D, reclassed by the following lapos positions.
One, assistant city engineer from grade 9 to grade 10, two, cemetery sex, and fleet maintenance, supervisor, maintenance, superintendant, and utilities maintenance, superintendant from grade 10 to grade 11, three administrative services manager from grade 11 to grade 12, e, retitled the following positions, one, two benefits coordinator, payroll specialist positions to be separated into a benefits coordinator position, human resources and a payroll specialist position finance, two, director of planning and zoning, retitled his planning and development director.
three director of public works,
retitled as public works director.
F, reclassify and retitled the following position.
One, recreation director,
retitled as recreation arts and parks director,
and reclassified from grade 13 to grade 14.
G, add the following non-affiliated positions.
One, accounting clerk, three, finance department,
added as grade eight.
Two, combined deputy city clerk, deputy tax collector,
city clerk, added as grade eight.
Three public relations, coordinator, city manager,
added as grade nine.
for Deputy Human Resources Director, Human Resources Department,
added his great 13-5 Deputy Planning and Development Director,
Planning and Development Department added its great 13-6 Human Resources Specialist,
Human Resources Department added as great 14-H,
add the following seasonal temporary and stipend positions,
one tree warden, Recreation Arts and Parks Department added as a stipend position,
two lead recording secretaries that he clerk added as an hourly position,
2. Article 3, bargaining unit employees section A, asking local number 1348, Council 93 AFL CIO,
to A, implement a 3% general wage increase for 2023, and B, replaced by the following positions.
One, Parks and Grounds crew, Forman, from grade 7 to grade 8, 2, electrician from grade 8 to grade 9.
3, Article 3, bargaining unit employees section B, leavened impermanent firefighters association, local 3197 International Association of Firefighters,
IFF to implement a 3% general wage increase for 2023-4, Article 3, bargaining unit employees,
section C, 11 employees, benevolent association, LPBA, New England police, benevolent
association, NEPBA, to implement a 3% general wage increase for 2023-2. Resolution, I have
to do it all again. Sorry, everyone. For the purpose of mending ordinance number 18 salary plan,
now therefore be it resolved that the 11th city council amendments ordinance number 18 salary plan
follows. One, Article 2 non-affiliated in La Paz and Poise to A, implemented 3% general
wage increase for 2023, B.
Increase the wage and stipend pay scales for seasonal temporary and stipend employees. See,
reclassed by the following non-affiliated positions, one, systems librarian, and information
technology librarian from grade 9 to grade 11. Two, deputy library director from grade 11 to grade 12,
three chief innovation officer and deputy finance director from grade 12 to grade 13, four, airport
manager and system fire chief and human resources director from grade 13 to grade 14, five,
deputy police chief from grade 14 to grade 15. D, reclassed by the following lapos positions,
One assistant city engineer from grade 9 to grade 10,
two, cemetery sex and fleet maintenance supervisor maintenance superintendent and utilities maintenance superintendent.
From grade 10 to grade 11, three administrative services manager from grade 11 to grade 12,
e. Retail the following positions.
One, two benefits coordinator payroll specialist positions to be separated into a benefits coordinator position, human resources,
and a payroll specialist position finance.
Two director of planning and zoning retitled his planning and development director,
3 Director of Public Works, Retinal is Public Works Director, F. Reclassifying Retinal the following position.
One, Recreation Director, Retinal as Recreation Arts and Parks Director, and Reclassified from grade 13 to grade 14.
G. Add the following non-affiliated positions. One, Accounting Clerk 3, Finance Department,
Adders, Create 8. Two, a Command Deputy City Clerk, WD Tax Collector City Clerk,
Addages, Create 8. Public Relations Coordinator, City Manager, Addages, Create 9.
Four, Deputy Human Resources Director, Human Resources Department, Addages, Create 13.
5. Deputy Planning and Development Director Planning and Development Department added its grade 13.
6. Human Resources Specialist Human Resources Department added its grade 14.
H. Add the following seasonal temporary and stipend positions, one tree warden, recreation arts and parks department added as a stipend position to
leave recording secretary city clerk added as an hourly position, two. Article 3, bargaining unit employees section A,
have some local number 1348 Council 93 AFLCIO to A, implement a 3% general wage increase
for 2023 and B, reclassed by the following positions, one, parks and grounds, grew
form in from grade 7 to grade 8 to electrician from grade 8 to grade 9, 3 Article 3
bargaining unit employees section B, Levin, and permanent firefighters association, local
3197 International Association of Firefighters, IAFF to implement a 3% general wage increase
for 2023, 4 Article 3, bargaining unit employees section C, Levin and Police Benevolent
Association LPPBA, LPPBA, New England Police Benepline Association, NAPBA,
to implement a 3% general wage increase for 2023, as indicated in the charts as indicated
on the charts
as indicated on charts on file, because city manager's office.
Yeah, they're on the website. This whole packet is attached to the web, the web, the agenda
within the website
as demonstrated on file with the city manager's office dated December 14th
At any set of land speed record, do we have a second to that motion, council whittles these
seconds.
So is there any discussion about all those in favor and it is unanimous.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Okay, well that brings us to the end of the seedlings meeting, it's like the wish all you are very happy holiday, we will reconvene and just a few weeks here, probably fewer than we'd like, but we'll be back in very soon.
So having said that, I will see if anyone has a vote.
I can't make a motion, but I got one thing to say if I could.
Yes.
So I just want to thank you for a year's of dedicated service, another year of dedicated service that you would provide.
I'd just like to remind people that you do this without any compensation whatsoever.
And every other town in City, I know they received some sort of stipend you get zero.
Other than the chocolates I give you, and that's what I think.
The slice of pizza now.
And they will last year's chocolate.
I noticed that there's a grinches on these.
There are a lot of things like that because I didn't know how you're going to vote on things.
So I want to seriously thank you for the work that you do because you are all volunteers
and you're on, you're not just on the Council but you're on other committees and there's
a lot of work that goes along with that and it has been a long year and you have continued
to serve the people to the city very well.
That's what I extend our thanks on behalf of myself and my staff being able to work with you
folks.
Thank you very much.
You all all the good night, but something like to make a motion so adjourned.
Council, what does he make some motion adjourned?
Do I have a second?
Second ed.
Council, what piece of seconds?
It's not subject to discussion.
All those in favour of that.
And it is unanimous.
We are adjourned for the year.