Heated discussion follows budget committee questions on petition to abolish the committee

GORHAM — The selectmen announced on Tuesday evening that a petitioned warrant article had been received asking the voters to abolish the town's budget committee. On Wednesday evening, the budget committee and supporters of the petition shared their feelings during the budget committee meeting, with the discourse at time dissolving into personal attacks.

The purpose of Wednesday evening's meeting was to hear from the water and sewer department on their 2012 budget. The commissioners and superintendent presented the two operating budgets with a combined decrease of around $6,800. The committee has no power to change or endorse the water and sewer budgets so the post-presentation conversation turned to the other matters, including that of the petitioned warrant article that proposed to abolish the budget committee.

A major point for some budget committee members was that the bulk of the signatures on the petition, were town employees and their immediate family members. PJ Cyr, the town's Chief of Police, who spearheaded the effort, was on hand and explained that he believes many more signatures could have been gathered but he felt it necessary to just provide the minimum. Under questioning from committee members, Cyr said he did not feel that any employees had violated the town's code of ethics by taking part in the petition, and assured them that he collected the signatures in his free time.

When asked about his motives, Cyr said that he was struck by the way some of the budget committee members conducted themselves regarding town employees. He said employees had been publicly called addicts, abusers, alcoholics, and even thieves on open Facebook pages. He also told the committee that one of their members, Robert Balon, had appropriated a photo of Cyr and his wife for personal use on his Facebook page, made comments about Cyr's children and also had made comments about other town employees and their family members, in addition to making questionable statements on his Facebook. Cyr asked “how can people who've made those comments make objective decisions,” on town spending that impacts the same people who were targeted? “People like that don't deserve to be on this committee,” he said.

He added that he felt some members were not competent and didn't understand elements of budget committee law and duties, like the “10 percent rule.” Cyr went on to say that the department heads, the town Finance Manager, and the Selectmen were involved in the budget process for 365 days a year, but its not until September that the committee is brought in for their input. “You're a needed level of government if you're a functional level of government,” Cyr said, noting they are part of a “broken system.” It was the functionality of the committee that Cyr attacked pointing to what he saw as a lack of decision making skills of some of the members. He also pointed to a lack of voluntary participation, noting that Balon and committee member Jay Holmes gained seats on the committee only when no one else ran on the ballot and the two men each received a handful of write-in votes. He said though he respected everyone on the board with the exception of Balon, there were others with “special interests” and questioned whether everyone was there to represent the will of the people.

Others who also signed the petition were on hand including former budget committee member John Lapierre, who is also married to a town employee. He said he thought about whether or not he would sign the petition for a long time before actually making the decision to sign. Lapierre said he had resigned from the budget committee because of personal vendettas and felt he had no conflict of interest in signing.

Another town employee, Michelle Lutz, said she signed because she believed there were people on the committee with an “axe to grind.” She also asked that the committee become more educated about their responsibilities. “If you're going to represent me I prefer you have the knowledge.” Lutz also took Balon to task for his postings on Facebook saying that town employees are not elected and are not therefore, “fair game and fodder.”

The budget committee members fought back refusing to be lumped together as targets. “You refer to one person, I look at the board as a whole,” said budget committee member Terry Roderick. “I don't feel I'm incompetent,” he said noting that he asks questions when he doesn't understand something and attempts to learn as he goes. Jay Schall also pointed out that one person is only 10 percent of the committee's votes

Balon responded to the criticism of being a write-in seat saying simply, “I was elected. I was called to serve.” He added that he believes he has focused solely on the budget at every meeting and no votes had been taken yet.

Roderick questioned why budget committee chairman Bruce Lary was allowing the issues played out on Facebook, which had nothing to do with the actual budget, take up the committee's time. Lary responded that he normally would not, however, he felt that since the board had asked for Cyr's motives in trying to disband the committee the information was pertinent to that cause.

John Losier said he has learned in his 13 years on the budget committee that it is a thankless job. “We've seen some good people resign because you can't get anywhere,” he said. He also noted that at a previous meeting Cyr had contradicted his current position by stating that the committee was finally doing what it should be by asking questions. Losier said he felt the petition was biased and defended Balon saying he had brought more state information to the board than anyone else in his experience.

Holmes told Cyr that he understood there was a personal issue between Balon and Cyr, but added that he believed missteps had been made on both sides. Holmes said he understood Balon's anger toward Cyr noting he had heard of no one else in town being arrested for trespassing at the town airport or the firing range.

Bob Demers, turned the tables directing his comments at the selectmen as he took them to task for poor management. He argued that the town fathers had not stuck to requiring the department heads to cut five percent from their respective budgets. He said that he feels no one wants to run to be on the budget committee because those elected become outcasts right away. “I can see it. I feel it,” he said.

Lary went around the room allowing everyone a chance to weigh in on the discourse and budget committee member Lisa Kardell expressed her disgust for the tone of the conversation as it transpired. She announced that she was shocked by the comments and behavior exhibited and didn't think either side of the room had acted professionally.

Selectman Paul Robitaille responded that he felt the board of selectmen had provided the budget committee with “pretty lean” budgets for the past 10 years, Town Manager Robin Frost was more critical of the committee. Frost called out the committee on not knowing their job and announced that if she had been eligible to sign the petition she would have because she does not believe the committee knows what they are doing. She illustrated that point by asking if any of the committee members present knew what was the overall decrease in the budget presented to them over the recent weeks. She also asked if any of the board members could explain the 10 percent rule. Two committee members attempted to explain the rule that limits the power of the voters at town meeting to increase the budget committee's recommended budget but both fell short, Frost said. When none could answer the question of the budget reduction, after saying they were not at the point yet where they examined the budget as a whole, and implications of any changes they might make, she pointed out that at this time the budget is down 10.9 percent from the 2011 appropriation, or a cut of close to $500,000. Frost said the petitioned warrant articles with associated costs yet to be received have not yet been factored into that number so it may change slightly, but that is where it stands as presented to the budget committee.

She said if the board is disappointed in management, “right back at 'cha.”

Holmes responded saying he had not realized the cut was that substantial and called it “respectable” while noting that in his opinion it wasn't that far out of line with his proposal last year to cut $800,000.

Lary said the budget committee as designed by the state is a check and balance with the task of analyzing the budget not micromanaging it. His only concern with doing away with the committee is that the 10 percent rule goes out the window.

According to RSA 32:18, in towns where a budget committee exists, the total amount appropriated at town meeting cannot exceed the budget committee's recommendation (proposed budget and recommended warrant articles) by more than 10 percent. This 10 percent figure is calculated on the recommended appropriation excluding fixed costs. Fixed costs are defined as principal and interest on bonds, principal and interest on notes (except TANs), and mandatory assessments imposed by the county, state or federal governments.

With all of the town departments' budgets presented, the budget committee began working on their revisions last night (Thursday, Jan. 19), with a 6:30 p.m., work session. Their budget revisions, along with all warrant articles, will be presented to the voters for a public hearing on Feb. 8