Current (2012) Town Report is available at the Town Hall and on the ...

<strong>Town</strong> of Lee Annual <strong>Town</strong> <strong>Report</strong> - <strong>2012</strong>
BOARD OF SELECTMEN &
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
During <strong>the</strong> f<strong>is</strong>cal year ended June 30, <strong>2012</strong> (FY <strong>2012</strong>) <strong>the</strong> reuse of <strong>the</strong> four
paper mills th<strong>at</strong> closed on <strong>the</strong> eve of <strong>the</strong> Gre<strong>at</strong> Recession continued to be held back by
<strong>the</strong> slow economic recovery. Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong>re was ongoing investment along <strong>the</strong>
commercial business corridor as well as priv<strong>at</strong>e developer interest in producing on
<strong>Town</strong> l<strong>and</strong> renewable energy equal to <strong>the</strong> amount of electricity consumed by our
school <strong>and</strong> municipal facilities. Effects of <strong>the</strong> recession also led to a decline in <strong>the</strong>
value of residential property resulting in an unusual shift of <strong>the</strong> property tax burden
from single family home owners.
The General Fund budget increased by $391,950 or 2.5% due to a
$288,633 or 9% increase in <strong>the</strong> cost of school <strong>and</strong> municipal employees’ benefits <strong>and</strong>
a $113,578 or 1.5% increase in <strong>the</strong> School Department budget. Among employee benefits
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Town</strong>’s 75% share of employee health insurance premiums grew <strong>the</strong> most, a
$255,198 or 10.6% increase. The educ<strong>at</strong>ion expense budget was $11,422 less than
FY 2011; however, “School Choice” funding alloc<strong>at</strong>ed to reduce <strong>the</strong> budget decreased
by $125,000 or 17%, because fewer students enrolled from outside <strong>the</strong> school d<strong>is</strong>trict.
Slight increases in st<strong>at</strong>e aid <strong>and</strong> local receipts reduced <strong>the</strong> additional levy by $62,000
to $329,000 which resulted in a 4.7% ($0.61) tax r<strong>at</strong>e increase. However, since <strong>the</strong>
value of <strong>the</strong> average single family home decreased by $8,150 (-3.3%) while
Commercial/Industrial (+.31%) <strong>and</strong> Personal Property (+1.26%) values increased, <strong>the</strong>
average single family tax burden rose by 1.3% ($44) to $3,370.
Significant staff turnover which began in FY 2011 continued in FY <strong>2012</strong>
with changes in general government, public works <strong>and</strong> police personnel. In December
2011 Ass<strong>is</strong>tant Collector Eleanor Baumann retired after more than 31 years of service.
Then part-time Treasurer’s Clerk Karen Fink assumed <strong>the</strong> full-time responsibilities of
<strong>the</strong> newly cre<strong>at</strong>ed position of Treasurer’s/ Collector’s Clerk position. A second financial
team member change occurred toward <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> f<strong>is</strong>cal year when <strong>Town</strong>
Accountant K<strong>at</strong>hy Borden retired after 13 years of service <strong>and</strong> Lynne Browne succeeded
her. After serving 14 1/2 years as Secretary to <strong>the</strong> Select Board <strong>and</strong> <strong>Town</strong>
Admin<strong>is</strong>tr<strong>at</strong>or, Suzanne Alderman retired on February 3, <strong>2012</strong> <strong>and</strong> Cindy Belair succeeded
her. Changes in public works <strong>and</strong> police personnel led to promotions as well
as new hires.
In January <strong>2012</strong>, Department of Public Works (DPW) Heavy Equipment
Oper<strong>at</strong>or Paul Porrini retired after 26 years of service to <strong>the</strong> community. DPW Truck
Driver/Laborer M<strong>at</strong>t Larson stepped up to Paul’s position <strong>and</strong> seasonal Truck
Driver/Laborer Robert Zerb<strong>at</strong>o filled M<strong>at</strong>t’s position. In <strong>the</strong> fall of 2011 Police
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