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Budget Committee Meeting Agenda (PDF) (minutes)

The Budget Committee approved minutes from August 26, with Joe Bodwell abstaining, and September 9 by unanimous vote. Regarding the FY28 Pay Matrix, the committee recommended a 3% increase. This motion passed 5-1-1, with Backman, Rechcygl, Plenge, Silvia, and Bodwell voting yes; Brown voting no; and Stevens abstaining. The Selectboard had previously voted for a 3.5% increase. The committee discussed that higher recent raises aimed to bring town employee salaries in line with neighboring municipalities. The meeting adjourned at 6:28pm, with the date of the next meeting listed as TBD. Source: https://www.sanborntonnh.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09152026-442

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TOWN OF SANBORNTON
MEETING MINUTES
BUDGET COMMITTEE
September 15, 2026, 6:00pm at: Old Town Hall
19 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Sanbornton, New Hampshire 03269
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www.sanborntonnh.org
Roll Call: Chair Bob Silvia, Paul Stevens, Denise Backman, Dennis Rechcygl, Deb Plenge, Joe Bodwell
1. Approval of Minutes – Denise Backman made a motion to approve the minutes of 8/26. Dennis 
Rechcygl seconded the motion and the motion passed, with Joe Bodwell abstaining.
Joe Bodwell made a motion to approve the minutes of 9/9. Denise Backman seconded the motion and 
the motion passed unanimously.
2. Discussion of FY28 Pay Matrix – Chair Bob Silvia explained that he looked at the average yearly 
CPI for the last several years and the pay matrix increases have outpaced the average inflation. Paul 
asked if the goal of a pay matrix adjustment is to beat inflation or to remain competitive; Selectman 
Brown stated that the larger increases given recently were to get the town on par with other towns as 
many employees were the lowest in the area. Ray Masse noted that the 6% raise was an oddity because 
that was the first year that employees began contributing to their medical premiums.
Chair Silvia stated that the Selectboard voted on a 3.5% increase to the matrix; Denise stated that she 
would be in favor of a 3% increase. Dennis Rechcygl made a motion to recommend a 3% increase to the
FY27 pay matrix. Denise Backman seconded the motion. Paul asked why the Budget Committee would 
be in favor of a 3% increase when the inflation average so far this year is 3.2%; Denise stated that the 
average taxpayer does not get a 3.5% raise at their own jobs. The motion passed 5-1-1 with votes as 
follows: 
Backman/Rechcygl/Plenge/Silvia/Bodwell – Yes
Brown – No
Stevens - Abstain
Meeting adjourned at 6:28pm. The next meeting is TBD.
Respectfully submitted,
Audry Barriault, Secretary