BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES
May 10, 2006
I. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Tom Harrison called the meeting to order at 8:25 p.m. immediately following the Referendum. Members present were Margaret Bratton, Cathy Durdan, Tom Gugliotti, Bill Hooper and Mike Monts. Jim Speich was absent.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chairman waived the Pledge of Allegiance for this meeting.
III. COMMUNICATION FROM AUDIENCE – None.
IV. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS – March 27, 2006
April 3, 2006 and
(accepted as amended) April 5, 2006
Mr. Gugliotti asked about the April 5th workshop – he requested that the words “to caucus among themselves” be deleted from paragraph 5 – The Board of Finance called a recess-.
Mrs. Bratton indicated her preference in line 4 was not 3% increase – somewhere in that range, and that those words be deleted.
Mr. Hooper asked for clarification on paragraph 4. It should read after “I don’t know who you meant – (Mrs. Stahl – said ) you spoke about Springfield…..
On a motion made by Mr. Hooper, seconded by Mrs. Durdan, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the minutes of the three meetings, as amended.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, Monts and Mrs. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
V. OLD BUSINESS
05/06-01 FY0-06/07 budget – Set tax rate 24.85 mills
On a motion made by Mr. Gugliotti, seconded by Mrs. Bratton, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve a tax rate for the FY06/07 fiscal year at 24.85 mills.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, Monts and Mrs. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
Chairman Harrison thanked the voters in attendance for approving the Board of Finance’s recommendation. He indicated the overwhelming acceptance was very gratifying to the Board and to the Town Staff whose cooperation culminated in this Budget. In response to a question from the Chairman, the Town Manager reported the process now is after approving the mill rate, we then have to go to the Town Council to get a Rate Bill signed which is actually the commitment to the Collector. The Collector is charged to collect the taxes based on this rate.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
05/06-21 Supplemental Appropriation; Capital Assistance Grant Contract, Greater Hartford Transit Dist. (Dial-a-Ride Bus); $10,391.41
The Town Manager reported we never know when these vehicles will become available. We usually deal with them as a supplemental appropriation. We received a call from the Greater Hartford Transit District that another entity did not take this vehicle and we could have it now, instead of in July or August as we had anticipated. It’s basically a reimbursement.
The Town Manager certified there are sufficient Undesignated General Fund Balance Resources to finance the sum of $10,391.41 for the funding of a Dial-a-Ride vehicle.
On a motion made by Mr. Hooper, seconded by Mr. Monts, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby appropriates a sum not to exceed $10,391.41 from General Fund, Other Financing Sources, Undesignated Fund Balance, Account #01-0390-43913 and General Fund, Capital Improvement Projects, Equipment, Dial-a-Ride, Account #01-8503-53382 for transfer to Capital Projects Fund (Facilities & Equipment), other Financing Sources, Interfund Operating Transfers In, Account #02-0390-43918, and Capital Projects Fund (Facil. & Equip.) Town CIP Equipment, Dial-a-Ride Van, Account #02-4844-53382 for the purpose of funding the Town’s share of the Dial-a-Ride Van.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, Monts, Mrs. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
05/06-22 Approve Suspense List
Collector of Revenues, Kay Roth attended the meeting to answer questions and comment.
Mrs. Roth reported that our collection to date is 99.74%; last year we had 99.91% at the end of June. This year we have four commercial accounts which I do not believe we will settle up in this fiscal year. In response to a question from Mr. Gugliotti, she reported there are two at $10,000 each and one at almost $32,000, this is on real property. The Board discussed the process for collecting the fees and the time frame involved. Mrs. Roth reported there are 26 smaller accounts that will be liened at the end of June. The bankruptcy procedure was explained and how it affects the Town’s collections.
On a motion made by Mr. Hooper, seconded by Mr. Gugliotti, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approves the Suspense List as recommended by the Collector of Revenues, attached and made a part of these minutes.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, Monts, Mrs. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
VII. MISCELLANEOUS – The Chairman reported on a memo from Jim Speich questioning why we could not collect bankruptcies on dissolved businesses or seasonal type collections. He thought the Town’s Liens were equal to the bank’s liens on this type of collection.
Mr. Gugliotti explained the procedures which are taken by the Court, and how it affects the Town’s sequence for collection. Even if the Town liens such property, by the time the bankruptcy procedure is fulfilled, the property usually isn’t worth anything.
Jim Speich had also asked that the Chair ask before the group, about an article in the Hartford Courant. In the Courant there was a table of State funding approved to municipalities. There was listed 30% increase for Farmington, 5% for Simsbury and only 3% for Avon. Why would comparable Towns be so different. They are not all represented by the same people. The Town Manager reported that they are based on formulas that take into account factors of wealth, etc. In Farmington, the large increase was in the PILOT program; they have the UCONN Health Center, Tunxis Community College. All we have for State property is the horse guards and some DEP property. Depending on how that property is valued, it goes into the formula and you get so much money back. Plus they get
a bonus PILOT payment because they have prisoners in the health center. One of the floors is dedicated to dealing with prisoners out of the prison system for health purposes. The other difference is the ECS Grants; that’s based upon the number of students, wealth of the community, equalized net Grand List per capita and other factors.
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS – The Chairman reported we will not have a regular meeting on May 22nd but going forward, we may have to have some discussions with the other Boards. The Auditors had some suggestions about showing grant reimbursements from the State in some sort of presentation to the voters. This does not happen now. The Town Manager reported the Charter says “you cannot spend money unless it’s appropriated”. There is a process for this appropriation. Mr. Harrison indicated before we go into next year’s budget session, we will have to figure out how we can work with other Boards to account for those things. The Town Manager indicated it would be prudent to the
Board of Education because of their Special Education funding, that’s the biggest one.
The Director of Finance reported she is having a meeting with the auditors on May 17th with Gary Franzi, herself, the auditors and the Town Accountant and would ask about this.
IX. ADJOURN
On a motion made by Mr. Hooper, seconded by Mr. Monts, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance Meeting adjourn at 9:25 p.m.
Messrs. Harrison, Gugliotti, Hooper, Monts and Mrs. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Gugliotti, Secretary
Attest: Elinor Burns, Clerk
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