BOARD OF FINANCE WORKSHOP
MINUTES
APRIL 15, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Tom Harrison called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Avon Room, Town Hall. Present were members Tom Gugliotti, Bill Hooper, Steve McGuff, Mike Monts, Jim Speich and Mark Zacchio.
II. OLD BUSINESS
03-04/03 FY 04/05 Budget
Chairman Harrison opened the meeting by announcing that the purpose of Tonight’s meeting is to develop a total budget figure to be presented to the Town Meeting on May 3rd, which will explain what is in the proposed budget. No changes to the proposed budgets can be made at that meeting. The Town Meeting will then adjourn to the Referendum to be held on May 12th, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. He also explained there will be no comments from the public at this meeting.
Board of Education Chair, Peg Roell asked permission to read a statement from the Board of Education, as follows:
“ As I have said many times during this budget process, the Board of Education hopes that working together, we can ensure that the Avon Public Schools are able to continue to provide the children of Avon with the high quality of education that the community has come to expect and for which we, as a community, have become widely recognized.
In order to help alleviate the concerns of some residents regarding the proposed BOE budget, the Board of Education would like to offer to reduce our request for tax dollars by $275,000.
At our next regularly scheduled meeting on April 27, the Board of Education will discuss potential budget reductions and the likely effects they will have on our students and programs. I encourage comments from the community prior to, during and after that meeting, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Middle School.
At that meeting, we will also begin the discussions of identifying different, creative funding approaches we might be able to implement in order to generate funds for various programs in order to make the educational experience for our children and the community as positive as possible. We are hoping for lots of input not only from BOE members, but from Board of Finance and Town Council members, school personnel, parents and all members of our community.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Board of Education’s requested budget up to this point. I personally hope that with the reduction in our request along with some other modifications discussed at the last Board of Finance meeting, Avon will have a budget that will be supported by the entire community at the referendum on May 12. Thank you.”
Chairman Harrison thanked Ms. Roell and the Board of Education for their cooperation. He indicated this was a “first” and it will certainly help to heal some of the friction in the community. She was also thanked by the members of the Board of Finance individually and collectively for this unusual and difficult exercise. The members are aware of the difficult jobs done by both the Board of Education and the Town Council.
After further discussion, the Board members agreed that with the $42,013 in additional revenues plus $275,000 from the Board of Education, $100,000 from the Town Council and $500,000 from surplus, for a total of $917,013 would just about attain our targeted 5.5% spending increase. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board of Finance to give the Town Manager discretion to determine the additional amount from surplus needed to produce a total budget in the amount of $57,070,527. The Board of Finance asked for assurance that the $100,000 deduction from the Town Council could be attained without jeopardizing the hiring of a Police patrol officer.
The Town Council Chairman requested a short recess at 7:42 p.m. to determine where Council reductions could be made. At 7:54 p.m. Chairman Harrison called the meeting back to order. Town Council Chairman Dick Hines reported that the Council has reconciled the $100,000 with minor deductions and additional revenues for that amount without jeopardizing the patrol officer position. Mr. Harrison thanked The Council for its cooperation.
On a motion made by Mr. Gugliotti, seconded by Mr. McGuff, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends a total FY2004/05 Budget in the amount
$57,070,527 to the Town Council for the Town Meeting on May 3rd, and the
Referendum on May 12th.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts, Speich and Zacchio voted in favor.
IV. OTHER BUSINESS – None.
V. ADJOURN
On a motion made by Mr. Gugliotti, seconded by Mr. Zacchio, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance adjourn at 8:00 p.m.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, McGuff, Monts, Speich and Zacchio voted in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Thomas A. Gugliotti, Secretary
Attest: Elinor Burns, Clerk
04-15-04 Workshop
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