Town of Vienna

Town Board Budget Workshop Minutes

October 22, 2025

 

ATTENDANCE:

Deputy Supervisor Jason Spellicy Councilman Jason Lamb-Absent

Councilwoman Mary Beth McEwen Town Clerk Carol Huber

Councilman Darrin Smith

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy called the meeting to order at 3:15 pm. Followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

BUDGET WORKSHOP:

Budget Officer Ben Gasser started with the Special Districts. The Fire Districts are not all in yet and the library budget is not known until the taxes come out. He stated that the electricity and water costs keep going up. The sewer district (SS2) maintenance has gone up because it seems that a lot of pumps have been replaced and the water district (SW) costs have doubled since 2023. Because the budget of $60,000 for sewer line maintenance has not been used up, we can lower the property taxes a little to reduce the tax burden on those residence.

 

SS2-1001 Tentative Budget $151,000 changed to $140,000.

 

Mike Piper suggested that the Y-Hill pump needs switched out and could cost around $7,000 plus labor.

 

Ben finished up with the special districts with no other changes. Ben gave the hourly rates for Clerks and a discussion on what Clerks should be paid hourly and what a starting Clerk should be paid when hired and then at the next budget meeting would be a discussion on what type of increase would happen depending on the performance of the individual. The following was discussed and agreed upon.

 

Title 2025 Rate Experience 2026 Rate

Court Clerk (current) $19.13 8-10 years $22.50

Court Clerk (vacant) $19.13 Vacant $19.25 starting wage

Assessor Clerk $22.50 5 years $23.30

Highway Clerk $19.13 4 years $21.00

Codes Clerk/Deputy TC $20.55 5 years $21.27

Deputy Town Clerk (new) $19.13 Vacant $19.25 starting wage

 

Duties for each Clerk can not be compared to each other, they need to be looked at by office. The positions will be assessed by efficiency, experience, and years worked as reported by Supervisors. Newly hired Clerks would start at $19.25 per hour then at next budget meeting maybe go to $21.00 per hour. Newly elected Town Clerks would start out at $30,000.

 

Councilwoman McEwen stated that the Department of Labor would audit on responsibility and years of service per hourly wage. She also feels the Town Clerk should be making at least $34,000 to be comparable with the hourly wages of Clerks.

 

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy talked about how the Town Clerk and he are working together and there are no issues. He stated that former Supervisor Davis said he would get the Clerk back up to $35,000 and he will get the Town Clerk up to $35,000 next Budget for 2027.

 

Ben will have the final budget prepared by November 2^nd. Overall, we have cut the total budget by $1000.

 

Mike Piper asked why is it necessary to collect $5,000 in the A Fund to be raised by taxes? The answer was to continue having that line item showing up on the taxes. Sales Tax is never a for sure thing, so need to have a little back up.

 

Deputy Supervisor read a proposal letter from Planning Board Member David Carpenter on how the Planning Board Members are paid. Suggesting instead of paying a set amount at the end of the year if attended 9 of the 12 meetings and if not, getting nothing, to paying $25 per meeting and not waiting to the end of the year. This way still stays under the budget for the year. They will table making a decision on this until all Board Members are present.

 

Mike Piper suggested to look at other Towns and see how and what they pay their Planning Board Members.

 

TextMyGov:

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy made a motion to sign a contract with TextMyGov, Ben already added it into the Budget and there is no problem covering the yearly fee.

Councilman Darrin Smith seconded the motion.

 

Voting Record:

Councilwoman McEwen Aye

Councilman Smith Aye

Councilman Lamb Absent

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy Aye

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Not entered

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Deputy Supervisor Spellicy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:15 pm and Councilman Smith seconded and all were in favor.

 

Respectfully,

Carol L Huber

Carol L Huber

Town Clerk