BOARD OF FINANCE
REGULAR MEETING
The regular
meeting was called to order by Chairman James Persano at 8:32 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. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Carlin,
Charron & Rosen has submitted a
proposal which includes a 3.8% increase over last year. No other bids were sought.
A motion was
made by Michael Parker, seconded by George Warner and unanimously approved to
appoint Carlin, Charron & Rosen as the auditors for the 2006-2007 fiscal
year.
A motion was made by Marilyn Pronovost and
seconded by George Warner to move forward with the 2006-07 budget as proposed
and ask that the Board of Selectmen call a Town Meeting for revenues of
$25,518,701.00 and expenditures of $25,518,701.00. The Town Meeting is to be on May 8, 2006 and the referendum will
be on May 16, 2006.
Mr. Krasinski
asked First Selectman David Pinney to clarify issues regarding highway
maintenance. Mr. Pinney stated that he
was aware of concerns expressed over the proposed budget increase for highway
maintenance not being as high as what the Public Works Department had
originally requested and residents comments that some of the highway repair
issues were not being addressed. He
added that the chip-sealing cycle of 11 miles of road per year is appropriate
and has not been decreased.
Eventually the
Town will have to repave the subdivision roads, which is a long-term
challenge. Mr. Pinney noted that after
the October 2005 flooding, the crack sealing work was stopped and some of the
maintenance work that was scheduled to be done was not completed. Expense reports have been submitted to FEMA
and the funds received may be put back into the road account to provide the
necessary funding for getting the maintenance work back on schedule. Also, road expenses are eligible for LOCIP
funding. He noted that next year’s budget is proposing a $20,000.00 increase in
road maintenance.
Board of Finance
Minutes
April 24, 2006
Meeting
Page 2 of 4
Tom Chilicki,
Recreation Department, joined the meeting at this time and was asked about the
athletic field concerns brought up at the public hearing. Mr. Chilicki explained that the field is in
need of irrigation. The field has new
top soil and seed, but putting fertilizer on it without the necessary watering
is a waste of money.
A request was
made to CIP for a pump irrigation system with a well, but the request did not
make it onto the CIP list for 2006-07 budget year. A portable irrigation system would be expensive and the option
of pumping up the water from the brook would require the purchase of a pump,
requiring buying a pump similar to the pump which would have to be purchased
with a well irrigation system.
The Recreation
Department determined that the backstops and fences were necessary for safety
reasons, which is why these were requested first. The fences were budgeted at
$24,000.00.
Mr. Krasinski
suggested a reallocation of the CIP budget to put in the irrigation system
rather than the fences. He requested
an amendment to the original motion to include the provision that the details
outlining the use of the $517,000.00 proposed for CIP are not yet approved and
will not be until after the referendum.
This would provide time for the Recreation Department to gather more specific
information regarding the irrigation system to present for consideration.
An amended
motion was made by Stephen Krasinski, seconded by Michael Parker and
unanimously approved to move forward with the 2006-07 budget as proposed, with
the condition that the details outlining the use of the $517,000.00 proposed
for CIP are not yet approved and will not be until after the budget
referendum. The Board of Selectmen will
be asked to call a Town Meeting on May 8, 2006, for revenues of $25,518,701.00
and expenditures of $25,518,701.00. The
referendum will be on May 16, 2006.
IV.
RECOMMEND MIL RATE -
This item was deferred.
V.
CORRESPONDENCE
A memo was
received from Ed Sullivan dated April 18, 2006 updating the Board of Finance on
the Somersville Sewer Plant Expansion.
He reminded the Board that the Town will need to pay one-half of the
total cost of the expansion. This will
mean an expenditure of $300,000.00 or more which will be presented to the Board
of Finance after the start of the fiscal year in July 2006 and which is not
included in the 2006-07 proposed budget.
Should the mill project move forward, the Town may receive partial
reimbursement of it’s share.
Board of Finance
Minutes
April 24, 2006
Meeting
Page 3 of 4
VI.
MINUTES APPROVAL
A
motion was made by Stephen Krasinski, seconded by George Warner and unanimously
voted to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2006, March 6, 2006, March 13,
2006, March 20, 2006 and March 27, 2006 meetings of the Board of Finance as
presented.
A motion was
made by Tom Mazzoli, seconded by Stephen Krasinski and unanimously voted to
approve the payment of a bill from Printing Inc, LLC dated April 10, 2006, in
the amount of $440.00 and the following transfers and appropriations:
From the Fire
Marshal a transfer of $75.00 from Acct. 20-10-565.1 (Uniforms) to Acct.
20-10-534.2 (NFPA Membership).
From the Tax
Collector a transfer of $75.00 from Acct. 10-13-599.1 (Tax Collection) to Acct.
10-13-534.1 (Dues and Seminars).
From the Library
a transfer of $1,000.00 from Acct. 50-21-611.1 (Services) to Acct.
50-21-559.1
(Heat).
From the
Assessor a transfer of $273.00 from Acct. 10-15-521.1 (Copy Machine) to Acct.
10-15-532.1 (Computer Services) and a transfer of $102.00 from Acct.
10-15-533.1 (Postage) to Acct. 10-15-532.1 (Computer Services).
From the Fire
Department a transfer of $2,500.00 from Acct. 20-16-568.1 (Training) to Acct.
20-16-531.1 (Building Maintenance).
From the Town
Clerk a transfer of $89.32 from Acct. 10.12.521.1 (Copy Machine) to acct.
10-12-520.1 (Supplies) and a transfer of $32.00 from Acct. 10-12-521.1 (Copy
Machine) to Acct. 10-12-534.1 (Dues/Seminars).
From Capital
Projects a transfer of $3,176.94 from Acct. 69-10-235.3 (Contingency) to Acct.
69-10-160.1 (Police Building).
From Elderly Bus
an appropriation of $12,401.74 to Acct. 68-10-634.3 (Elderly Bus).
Board of Finance
Minutes
April 24, 2006
Meeting
Page 4 of 4
IX.
OTHER - No
other business was presented.
It was the
consensus of the Board to adjourn the meeting at 9:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Timmons, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.