BOARD OF FINANCE
SPECIAL MEETING
The regular
meeting was called to order by Chairman James Persano at 7:08 p.m. Present were: Stephen Krasinski, Thomas Mazzoli, Michael Parker, James Persano,
Marilyn Pronovost and George Warner.
Also attending: Treasurer Edward Sullivan and First Selectman David
Pinney.
II. CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Pinney
presented a letter from the Board of Education inviting the Board of Finance
and the Board of Selectmen to a joint meeting of all three boards on March 29,
2006 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting would
include a discussion about the possibility of
sharing services between the Board of Education and the Town. By combining services commonly used, the
opportunity may exist to save on costs.
It was
determined that March 29th was an inconvenient date for some of the
Board of Finance Members, but it was the consensus that Mr. Pinney move forward
with combining services without a meeting.
Board of
Education Member Tim Geib passed out a BOE Budget History Summary and stated
that this year they are asking for a 6.24% increase. This percentage is in line with the average yearly increase of
4.61% the Board of Ed has incurred since 2002/03. The Board of Ed has been working within the Town’s constraints
although it has been difficult.
Families and teachers have donated goods and services and helped
financially.
One of the state
mandates this year involves bringing special education students into the
regular classrooms. Should the
requested increases to support staff be cut, the classroom changes will not be
done properly and the Town will have to pay the repercussions in the future
financially anyway.
Mr. Geib noted
if the Board of Finance brings the proposed Board of Education budget below
5.8%, important programs will be at risk and the quality of education may
decline. Parents and teachers are
likely to be upset and refuse to vote for the proposed budget.
Board of Finance
Minutes
March 27, 2006
Meeting
Page 2 of 4
Mr. Warner asked
about specific proposed staff increases, including that of a curriculum
director, and Mr. Geib explained the reasoning behind the Board of Education’s
request. He added that the Board of
Finance may disagree with some of the Board of Education’s specific
requests. If so, this can be solved by
bridging the gap between the 6.24% proposed budget and the 5.8% base-line
figure and eliminating some of the items of lesser importance. It was noted that 5.8% is approximately
$70,000.00 less than 6.24% increase.
IV.
LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION FUNDING
Positive
feedback was received at the public hearing and Shirley Warner stated that the
Library Board would now like to move forward with the project.
David Pinney
reported that the Board of Selectmen are in the process of getting a committee
together and have talked with the Special Projects Committee. They are trying to decide whether to use
that Committee or to come up with another one.
Once a decision regarding the committee is made, an architect can be
chosen and preliminary plans can be made.
However, the Committee will need the $50,000.00 appropriation to
begin.
A motion was
made by Jim Persano, seconded by Tom Mazzoli and unanimously voted to approve
an appropriation of $50,000.00 to Acct. 69-10-161.0 (Preliminary Funding) and to recommend to the Board of Selectmen
that they bring this appropriation before a Town meeting.
V.
REVENUE FORECAST AND MIL RATE DISCUSSION
Mr. Sullivan
presented the two additional options as requested at the March 20 meeting, both
showing the Town at 4.4%. The first
option had the Board of Education at 5% in 2006-07 and 4.4% in 2007-2011. The second option showed the Board of
Education at 5.5% in 2006-07 and 4.4% in 2007-2011.
It was noted
that the Board had given CIP the amount of $517,000.00 to work with and now
should remain committed to that figure.
Following
discussion regarding the various scenarios, a motion was made by Jim Persano,
seconded by Michael Parker and unanimously voted to set the 2006-07 General
Government Budget with a 4.4% increase at $5,528,312.00, which includes
$35,000.00 for the lagoon cleaning and $135,480.00 for Self Support
Services. Additionally, the Board of
Education is set at $16,937,623.00 which represents a 5.25% increase. The mil rate is increased by .76 mil. Capital equipment is proposed at
517,000.00.
Board of Finance
Minutes
March 27, 2006
Meeting
Page 3 of 4
This item was addressed as part of Item V above.
VII.
MINUTES REVIEW
A
motion was made by Tom Mazzoli, seconded by Jim Persano and unanimously voted
to approve the minutes of March 20, 2006 as presented.
A motion was
made by George Warner seconded by Tom Mazzoli and unanimously voted to approve
the following transfers and appropriations:
From the Board
of Selectmen a transfer of $380.00 from Acct. 10-10-600.3 (Legal Unions) to
Acct. 10-32-532.5 (Probate Court).
From the Fire
Department the following transfers:
$1,000.00 from Acct. 20-16-584.1 (Foam) to Acct. 20-16-560.1
(Electricity); $2,100.00 from Acct. 20-16-563.1 (Alert Pager Maintenance) to
Acct. 20-16-559.1 (Heat); $1,750.00 from Acct. 41-24-563.1 (New Pager Purchase)
to Acct. 20-16-560.1 (Electricity); $700.00 from Acct. 41-24-605.1 (Blood Borne
Pathogens) to Acct. 41-24-531.5 (Vehicle Maintenance); and $1,000.00 from Acct.
41-24-568.1 (Training) to Acct. 20-16-560.1 (Electricity).
From the
Building Official a transfer of $755.00 from Acct. 10-16-502.1
(Building/Sanitarian Secretary) to Acct. 10-16-520.1 (Supplies).
From the
Transfer Station a transfer of $1,000.00 from Acct. 30-34-588.1 (Recycling) to
Acct. 30-34-589.1 (Landfill Operating).
From the Library
a transfer of $1,100.00 from Acct. 50-21-611.1 (Services) to Acct. 50-21-559.1
(Heat).
Board of Finance
Minutes
March 27, 2006
Meeting
Page 4 of 4
A motion was
made by Tom Mazzoli, seconded by Michael Parker and unanimously approved to
adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.