BOARD OF FINANCE PUBLIC HEARING
APRIL 3, 2006
MINUTES
I. Tom Harrison, Chairman of the Board of Finance, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in Community Room, Avon Senior Center. Members present were Margaret Bratton, Cathy Durdan, Tom Gugliotti, Bill Hooper, Mike Monts and Jim Speich. Mr. Harrison explained that Peg Roell, Board of Education Chair, would first present their budget, then John Carlson, Chair of the Town Council would present the Town’s Budget, followed by the Board of Finance’s presentation. At the end of the presentations, questions and comments will be received from the audience. We would ask that these comments and questions be held to 2 or 3 minutes the first time. We will stay until everyone who has something to say has been heard. Mr. Harrison then led the
audience in Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
II. Dwight Johnson, Town Attorney, greeted the assembly. He reported that tonight is the first step of public participation in the budget process which will involve presentations by the Board of Education, the Town Council and the Board of Finance to present their proposed budgets. They will then invite the public to make comments and/or ask questions. Having received those comments and answered any questions that citizens of the Town may have, the Board of Finance will then conduct two workshops, the first on Wednesday, April 5th, at 7:00 p.m., the second on Monday, April 10th, also at 7:00 p.m. At the first of the public workshops comments from the public will be invited; on the second meeting on the 10th public
comments will not be invited. As a result of these workshops and meetings the Board of Finance will recommend a budget to the Town Meeting. The proposed budget will be presented at the Town Meeting on May 1st, at 7:30 p.m. and after that it will then be adjourned to a Referendum to be held on May 10th. Thank you.
III. Mr. Harrison reported that this year the Board of Education will first present its budget. There will be a slide presentation, our Town Director of Finance, Peg Colligan will be working the machine. He reported that a couple of years ago we had some very interesting Budget Sessions. Last year was very calm and peaceful and we certainly hope to follow that trend this year. I’m sure everyone here, regardless of what you may think of the proposed budget, will be given an opportunity to speak and to say what’s on your mind. I’m quite sure that everyone will be treated with courtesy and professionalism. That’s just the tradition of our Town. He introduced Peg Roell to present the Board of Education’s Budget, which
is in the information distributed and made a part of these minutes.
Mrs. Roell introduced the Board of Education Members - Tom McNeill, Bernadette Mayer, Sue Honeyberry, Bill Stokesberry, Angela Shelton, Ken Notestein, Doug Evans, Mike Eagan; also with us tonight is Dr. Richard Kisiel and Mr. Franzi, our Business Manager. Ms. Roell reported there are a lot of teachers and staff people here and she asked that they stand and be recognized. Board of Education power-point budget explanation, as attached is made a part hereof,
Upon completion of the Board of Education presentation, Mr. Harrison called upon John Carlson, Chair of the Town Council to present the Town’s proposed operating budget which is attached to and made a part of these minutes. The Sewer, Debt Service and Capital Improvement Budgets for FY 06/07 are included in this handout.
Mr. Harrison then reported on the Board of Finance’s overview and deliberations which resulted in a requested limit of 5% increase in spending as a guideline for consideration.
The meeting was then opened for discussion. Several people spoke eloquently both for and against the budgets as presented.
Rise Cappadona, 183 Deercliff Road – expressed concerns about how class sizes affect the children.
Lori Sullivan, 23 Oak Bluff – Reported on the importance of Guidance Counselors in the curriculum.
Don Shapiro questioned the training, if any, received by negotiators for the teachers’ contracts. Dr. Kisiel responded.
Nancy Kostal, 31 Rosewood Road – read a prepared statement explaining why the Board of Finance should accept the Board of Ed’s budget as is and not cut any more of the very important items in the budget.
Angela Sum. 31 Ridgewood Road – Does not want any more reductions.
Mr. Harrison explained the Board of Finance is not making any reductions in the Board of Ed’s budget – They are considering just how much of an increase the Town is able to absorb. He also explained that the total figure, as approved by the Referendum, can be used as the Board of Ed sees fit. Neither the Town Council, the Board of Finance or the public can control just how that total increase is appropriated.
Florence Stahl, President of the Avon Taxpayers’ Association spoke from a prepared statement to how the ever increasing amounts awarded under labor contracts will affect the future of the Town. She indicated how important it is to at least live within the growth of the Grand List.
Because of a problem with the recording, the verbatim comments are not included. However, names and addresses are as presented.
Kieran Magrini. 31 Brookridge Drive -
Eli Simon, 6 Manitook Mountain Road
Claire Henderson, 1 Keystone Circle – Also spoke from a prepared statement of the alternative results from some of the large increases in the budget.
David Altschuler, 18 Volovski Road
Robin Schwartz, 88 Harris Road
Del Tepley, 10 Highwood Circle
David Cavanaugh, 481 Huckleberry Hill Road
Sam Levine, 98 Cotswold Way
Barbara Panico, Stony Corners Circle
Linda Merlin, 48 High Gate Drive
Completion of transcription follows:
Colleen Casey-Nelson, 11 Volovski Road – This is a very good turnout for a very, very short street. I am in very passionate support of the Board of Education Budget. I’ve lived here 16 years and I’m not going anywhere. I brought my 4th grade string ensemble son with me. He’s very curious about the civics of how things happen in his school. I am a music teacher, very, very excited about the music staff and the music program we have here in Avon. I specifically know from being a music educator, that this town, in particular, has an extremely what I consider poor student/teacher ratio in the music department. We have the lowest of any town near us from Canton to Farmington, Simsbury. We’re not talking about adding
anything to that, we’re talking about keeping what we have and keeping things going. I’m not envious of what you have in front of you and I just want to briefly say to keep the Board of Education Budget the way it is. Now I’m going to get him home because it’s way past his bed time.
Peter Forte, 20 Chestnut Drive – I can’t believe what I’m hearing that they want to keep the Board of Education exempt from anything like they are a special part of the Town. I believe that we should let the Board of Education run this Town, and that’s what most of the people here want to do.
Bob Creer, 518 Country Club Road – Congratulations on your grand child. I also have a grandchild. I would just like to thank everybody who has had the courage to stand up here and speak and say what they feel and think about our issues in the Town of Avon. I’m a 20 year resident and I was in the corporate world for 35 years. It seems I’m hearing the biggest line item budget is salaries. One of the unfortunate things that we have to face is what can we afford and what can we cannot afford. We can’t afford to continue at this rate of increase without severe consequences. I’ve been here 20 years and I keep hearing “these are contracts that we can’t do anything about”. We keep saying that every 3 years, we can’t do
anything about it but we can. I worked for CIGNA for a long, long time and one of the ugly facts was the CEO said “you know what? We’re having a freeze”. I commend the Superintendent for the courage to do a freeze, but for a very small area, because he can’t do it in any other area. You can freeze salaries! I’ve had it done – several times. I’m still here – I survived. One of the gentlemen said “there’s nothing we can do about it right now – that’s true, but we can certainly do something about it the next time around. I would ask that you seriously consider that. To be financially responsible citizens and consider that. I’m 65 and when I was in high school, we had 40 to 45 kids in class and our school graduated the highest number of kids in the Great State of Texas; we had the highest number go to college of anybody in our district.
It’s very unfortunate, I don’t think we should be cutting text books and supplies, but those are discretionary item. I wouldn’t mind making a donation for them. But please consider freezes. It works and it would help everybody in this town. Thanks
Bill Hooper (Board of Finance) I don’t have all the answers, but I was just reading a Springfield paper and Springfield did that to the teachers, they froze their pay over a period of a year of two. It was just voted by the Supreme Court that they had to pay them back – for all the frozen wages.
Risa Cappadona, 183 Deercliff Road – I would hate for Avon to use the corporate model of slashing salary and benefits to worthy people, working professionals who do a phenomenal job for the community and as professionals, they do not make commensurate salaries that other professions do. They work during the day and they go home in the evenings, they work weekends and they have served our community in an extraordinary way. I have one idea, I also have to say that I think economic times are difficult for everybody across the board, they are difficult for people on fixed incomes, they’re difficult for families who are trying to send their kids to colleges, benefits, there’s no job security any more – everybody in this community is feeling it. I have an idea, I don’t know
if it’s illegal or not but I know when you pay your energy bills, the phone bill or electrical, there’s a little box that says that you can voluntarily contribute more money. I feel if people are under exceptional financial hardship in the community and they really feel that $73.00 a year will affect them, maybe for those who feel that they absolutely or don’t agree with the governing board that they shouldn’t have new text books – or who the hell needs another guidance counselor. I’m very sorry – anyway, could there be an option where people could voluntarily say on top of the tax that is due, I agree to pay so much and I’ll contribute the $73.00. Is that something that could be done?
Mr. Harrison: I think the laws allow voluntary contributions to governmental bodies. It’s something we could look at.
Barbara Yanaros, 14 Millstone Drive – I just want a clarification on something that ….. mentioned early on as it relates to Special Education Fund. I thought he said that we should be reimbursed for 100% but we’re only getting 60% - did I misunderstand something? If we are being reimbursed less than we should be, is that because of something regarding the State Budget?
Peg Roell (Board of Ed Chair) Certainly. The way that works is the State says that the Towns are supposed to pay – we figure out what our per student expenditure is. At the last counting it was $10,716. The way the State calculates it out it’s about $10,000. The Town of Avon should pay up to $55,000 to educate a child. Anything over $55,000, the State is supposed to pay us. If you take a $100,000 for example, the Town should be paying $55,000 and the State should be paying $45,000. Because of State budget issues in prior years, rather than paying us $45,000, they have been paying us 60% of the $45,000 or $25,000. So, rather than paying $55,000, we are paying 55 plus 20 that they are not paying, or $75,000.
Mary Suter, 34 Hitchcock Lane – I’m also the co-president of Pine Grove PTO. A woman earlier said that 2/3 of the population is paying for 1/3 of the population. Historically, it has always been the case that the parents and grandparents were paying for the children’s education – now people don’t see that correlation with the transient population because they no longer pay for their kids. The population that’s not in school is receiving a benefit from our excellent education of increased property values. The value of the homes in Avon have gone up considerably, so they are seeing a benefit in that end of it. We are staying within the 5% guidelines of the Board of Finance in the fact because the per-student cost is below that. It’s only a
4.27% increase per student. The additional increase is showing up in the increase of the number of students which we don’t have control over. We can’t say “sorry, your kids can’t go to school here”. There has to be some way in the guidelines for that. Thank you very much.
As there were no further comments or questions, Chairman Harrison declared the Public Hearing adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Attest: Elinor Burns, Clerk
| 
