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BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES
March 25, 2002
I. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
by Chairman Tom Harrison, members Tom Gugliotti, Bill Hooper, Steve McGuff, Michael Monts and Mark Zacchio attended. Jim Speich was absent.
Mr. Zacchio lead the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. COMMUNICATION FROM AUDIENCE
Professor Paul Kramer, 45 Pine Hill Road, Northington, now known as Avon, Connecticut has been a resident of Avon for 14 years, and is a professor at the University of Connecticut. He represents a constituency of early boomers - those about to or recently have retired. He has what he feels is a typical middle class income,
$90,000 a year. He would like to know about long term planning. His spendable income is about
$50,000; the rest of it goes to taxes, etc. Of that $50,000, he is now paying approximately $6,000+
for his home; which is assessed for about $200,000. That's about $1.00 out of every $8.00
discretionary dollars I have to live on. His main concern is the burgeoning difference between the
rate at which the necessitated costs of the Town, things to which we are obligated: teacher's
contracts, medical costs, etc. etc. The difference between the rise of those and the diminishing
income for not just the town, but for him. He's very concerned with the long term future of the
Town. Looking over my past 20 years, it's been quite stable; his retirement will provide 2-1/2%
over the next 20 or so years. The Town is looking for about double this. Projecting down the line
he will be paying $1.00 out of every $4.00 for his property taxes. You will have to find other ways
to do business, gentlemen. Somebody ought to think about those differentials. People like me will
be phased out of town. He worries a great deal about this. He doesn't know if a great deal of
creative thinking is being done to take a longer term view. You may have to think about some
creative ways to get out from under this situation of not making much money but having some
costs that are not set in stone. He doesn't know if he can afford to be handing the Town $1.00 out
of every $4.00 to pay my property taxes. He thinks that's a lot of money and he resents it.
Chairman Harrison responded that this Board shares his concerns, along with people on the other
Boards in Town. He advised Mr. Kramer that he really should attend the Town Budget Meeting
on April 8th and state those views. That's probably the right place because all three Boards will be
present and everyone can hear your obviously sincere thoughts. He reported we have not set any
kind of mill rate because we haven't set the budget. That decision will come after the Town Meeting.
The figure you are using is if everything that is proposed will be approved, which I assure you will
not be the case. In terms of creative thinking, if there were simple solutions somebody far brighter
than I would have thought of it before now. We are very sensitive to your concerns and will work
very hard, and in good faith, to come up with something acceptable to the Town. Thank you.
II. Minutes of preceding meeting: 02/25/02 0n a motion made by Mr. McGuff,
seconded by Mr. Gugliotti, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance accept the minutes of the February 25, 2002 meeting as submitted.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts and Zacchio voted in favor.
III. OLD BUSINESS
01/02-22 - FY02/03 Budget: Sign Notice
Public Hearing: 7:30 p.m., April 8, 2002
On a motion made by Mr. Monts, seconded by Mr. McGuff, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the Public Hearing Notice as submitted and
attached hereto.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts and Zacchio voted in favor.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
02/02-24 Supplemental Appropriation $1,299 Grant
Think Twice Law Enforcement (Underage Drinking)
On a motion made by Mr. Gugliotti, seconded by Mr. McGuff, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby amends the FY01/02 Budget by increasing
REVENUES General Fund, State and Federal Grant, Think Twice Law Enforcement #01-0330-43378, in the amount of $1,299, and increasing
Appropriations General Fund, Patrol Services - Overtime Account #01-2107-51015, in the amount of $1,299 for the purpose of funding a regional program with surrounding towns to combat underage drinking.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts and Zacchio voted in favor.
V. MISCELLANEOUS
The Town Manager reported on the Connecticut OSHA Quarterly which gives an overview of the
types of injuries and illnesses in terms of percentage of employees by sector. You can see the public
sector has a much higher level at issue here than the private sector. The Town is actually below the
average on the last published report - we were down to about 6% or 5% level. We are such a small group
it is somewhat difficult to get a meaningful trend analysis because 2 or 3 reportable injuries will cause a
huge spike. On the time side, we have only 100 employees; it's such a small sampling it isn't really
significant in the overall picture.
The Town Manager also reported on a new publication to be introduced in the near future.
Called “Living in the Valley” covering Avon, Farmington and Simsbury. The same publisher
is publishing something similar in the Madison, Guilford, Clinton, Saybrook, Lyme area.
Families with incomes over $100,000 a year will be getting free copies and everybody else who
wants a copy will have to subscribe to it and pay for it.
The Town Manager commented on the budget worksheets submitted with the agenda. He
wanted to explain to the new members how these worksheets will assist with the budget
deliberations. He explained how to read the charts as submitted. This will allow you to point
to a mill rate you think is reasonable and will show what the adjustment will be necessary to
reach the desired figure.
A worksheet will be forwarded where you can fill in the mill rate at the top and then work
your way down through to how much adjustment you would need in each one. That will
help you out with the meetings in a couple of weeks.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
None.
VIII. ADJOURN
On a motion made by Mr. Gugliotti, seconded by Mr. Monts, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance adjourn at 8:00 P.M.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts and Zacchio voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas A. Gugliotti, Secretary
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