Mr. Charles Koch, during the public comment part of the meeting again requested a complete line item budget, not a summary. He was told he could get it after the budget was passed. He also requested the electronic on-line agenda be more complete with details describing each item not unlike the bench copies available to all as they enter the chamber. He asked if there was any legal reason not to open all committee meetings to the public. Mr.Donohue commented that there was no legal reason. Mr. Koch also suggested the public comment portion be moved to the end of the meeting and that Friday nights should be considered for Council meetings so that out of town property owners  could be present.

The Council meeting then centered on the introduction of the budget for 2010.  In the main it seems that over a one cent increase in local taxes is to be expected. (One cent brings in $450,000.) The Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, Mrs. Vaul, reiterated the difficult problems the Department heads had trying to keep the budget increase as small as possible. Even though her concern that the needed tax increase looked like 1.2 cents per hundred of assessment, there seemed to be no effort to limit the tax increase closer to zero. Mr. Koch, a.k.a. Captain Stone, asked several questions that revealed from Councilman Cope that not only was a $50,000+ salary, job given to the designated fire inspector, but the insurance package of $23,000+ was part of the employment package, not to mention a 10% longevity clause and pension, which, in fact, were not mentioned, probably because it wasn't asked. Councilman Cope, who didn't offer any of this latter information, later stated to the effect that the government in Stone Harbor was very transparent. Mr. Koch disagreed. Councilman Cope answered Mr. Koch's question regarding any attempt to fill the fire inspections job with a contract employee with a terse, "No." Mr. Koch requested that Council members and the Mayor immediately relinquish health care benefits at taxpayer expense. This could result in an almost $50,000 savings. Mrs. Vaul, who wasn't sure that number was correct, (she was right it is over $50,000) stated that the council will be undertaking a compensation study that will include the health benefits issue. In a query as to why the Borough Administrator is paid to attend the Planning Board meetings, as the representative of the Borough, Mr. Hawk gave some history on the issue stating that he replaced Mr. Sheeran, our head of Public Works, who was being paid and that Council approved payment to him as well. Mr. Koch stated that  salaried employees normally would not be paid extra, since salaried employees are usually available 24/7. Mr. Hawk said he didn't see his job as 24/7.

After the Budget presentation, Councilman Bauer wondered how many citizens, let alone Council members, put together a budget and then try to find the money to pay for it? He also wondered if the Budget process could not be a "Zero Based' budget, with the Council setting the amount of money and then asking the Departments to fit into it. Tough decisions would have to be made. Although not cast in "Stone", it seems that without questions and efforts to reduce the budget on the part of the people who pay the freight, the average taxpayer will pay a total of at least $.024 per $100 of assessed value in new local and county taxes, not including the other taxes on your bill. That brings a $1.5 Million assessed property a tax bill increase of at least $350 over last year, plus any new school, library and open space taxes. It is not easy these days, but as was said, "How can we keep increasing the budget almost a Million dollars every two years?"