Limerick Budget Committee reviews library, public areas, and building budgets

The Limerick Budget Committee reviewed multiple departmental budgets, including the library, public areas, and municipal buildings, during its October 15 meeting. The committee held several items pending clarification on accounting discrepancies and requested updated figures from department heads. A selectman urged voters to oppose a proposed reduction in the committee's size from five to three members.

Key points

• The committee approved the library budget, which increased by 3% to $100,000, noting that library director Cindy Smith was absent but her budget was reviewed.
• The public areas and cemeteries budget was held due to accounting errors, specifically a $30,000 allocation for buildings and grounds that did not match actual expenditures or proper coding.
• The animal control budget was held pending a revised submission from the animal control officer, as the current budget had not been updated in several years.
• The committee reviewed the snow removal contract, noting it is a one-year contract that is lower than the previous year's per-storm pricing.
• A selectman asked voters to vote "no" on the November 3 ballot item that would reduce the Budget Committee from five members to three, arguing that five members are needed to handle the workload.
• The committee discussed the decommissioned fire station, noting that power had been restored without authorization and that the building remains a fire hazard due to an unsafe breaker box.

Next steps

• The committee will send a list of questions to the town clerk regarding the public areas and cemeteries budget discrepancies.
• The budget secretary will email the animal control officer to request a revised budget.
• The committee will revise its meeting schedule based on the progress made during this session.
• The committee will contact the library director to confirm the reviewed budget details.

Read the full transcript