Budget Hearing – April 3rd 2017

Minutes of the Budget Hearing held on Monday, April 3rd, 2017 Mayor Megan Grenier opened the Public Hearing at 5:00 P.M.

PRESENT:

Megan Grenier, Mayor
Steve Boulet, Trustee
Diane Foley, Trustee
Seth C. Harris, Trustee
Aileen Nicoll, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
William T. Smith, Jr., Village Treasure

Also attending: Brian Marsh.

The Clerk read the notice:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the Village Law, the Tentative Budget of the Village of Menands for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2017 and ending May 31, 2018 has been duly filed.

FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on the second floor of the Menands Village Hall, 250 Broadway in the said Village on the 3rd, day of April, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands to consider the Tentative Budget, at which time and place the comments and suggestions of residents of the Village relative to such budget to be enacted will be received.

The Tentative Budget is on file in the office of the Clerk and may be inspected during office hours.

The maximum compensation to be paid to the Mayor is $14,337.00 and each of the four Trustees, $8,363.00

Date: March 13th, 2017

The Treasurer presented the Preliminary Budget for 2017 -2018 Fiscal Year and answered all questions.

Resident Brian Marsh asked how the tax increase went from $5.35 to $1.61.

The Treasurer explained that $80,000 from Law Suite monies were transferred into the new budget. A discussion followed

Resident Marsh asked why the Village does not go out to bid for legal services and why the Village attorney has a salary. The Mayor advised that the Village Attorney is an appointed position under New York State Law.

Resident Marsh asked if the Economic Development position is needed. A discussion followed.

A village resident made a suggestion that an abridged version of the Budget be sent out to residents and put on the website prior to the Budget Hearing. A discussion followed.

The Mayor asked if there were any further comments or questions, hearing none she closed the Public Hearing.

The Budget Hearing was adjourned at5:40 P.M.

__________________
William T. Smith, Jr.
Treasurer