BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
June 22, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Gugliotti called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Chambers at the Avon Town Hall. Members present: Margaret Bratton, Catherine Durdan, William Hooper and Brett Eisenlohr.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ms. Durdan.
III. COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
IV. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS: March 23, 2009; March 30, 2009 Public Hearing; March 31, 2009 Workshop; May 13, 2009 Special Meeting
Several edits were made to the March 23, 2009 minutes.
On a motion by Ms. Bratton, seconded by Mr. Hooper, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the minutes of March 23, 2009 as amended.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
On a motion by Ms. Durdan, seconded by Mr. Eisenlohr, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the minutes of March 30, 2009 as written.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
Several edits were made to the March 31, 2009 minutes.
On a motion by Mr. Eisenlohr, seconded by Ms. Durdan, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the minutes of March 31, 2009 as amended.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
On a motion by Ms. Durdan, seconded by Mr. Eisenlohr, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approve the minutes of May 13, 2009 as written.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
V. OLD BUSINESS
08/09-05 Administrative Services Study Committee – Report Follow-up
Mr. Gugliotti stated that no action needed to be taken regarding this issue. He stated that the report was accepted at the three Board meeting, although each Board needs to discuss this report going forward regarding implementation.
Mr. Hooper suggested that the Board of Finance revisit this issue in six months to see what is happening regarding implementation.
Mr. Gugliotti stated that he sat on this Committee. He feels that Matrix did a great job; he feels that this was money well spent. He stated that implementing some of these issues in the report may take money in order to save money. This report validates that Avon has been doing a good job in the administrative and elected levels. He agrees that they should have a follow-up discussion in six months.
Mr. Eisenlohr suggested putting this on a future agenda. Ms. Bratton stated that six months should be enough time to give the new superintendent time to get acclimated.
Mr. Schenck, Town Manager, stated that it is the Town Council’s responsibility regarding implementation of this report. They will need to discuss what structure and process to move forward with regarding implementation. He stated that one strategy is to put together a subcommittee to help with this.
Mr. Schenck stated there will soon be a new superintendent and new Town Manager in place. They may not be comfortable making recommendations until they have been on the job for a while. Significant recommendations may take time, although minor administrative issues may be implemented sooner. He stated that some of the recommendations have significant resource requirements. He anticipates that the Town and the Board of Education will put some in place as part of the CIP Program process.
Mr. Schenck stated that as the Town gets into the 2010/2011 budget process, implementation of this report will play a role in the budget process.
Ms. Durdan stated that when the auditors were here several months ago, they stated that the Town needed a Disaster Recovery Plan. She questioned if the Board of Education had such a plan and if so, if they could piggy back on theirs. Mr. Schenck stated that there may be an opportunity to consolidate these in one location with one vendor.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
08/09-15 Supplemental Appropriation: $4,155.12 Police and Youth Services Grant
Mr. Gugliotti stated that money is coming in to cover this money going out. He questioned if this was part of the DARE Program. Mr. Schenck stated that this was not part of that program; Youth Services is different. Some of the money could be used for the DARE program but some is used in schools for youth programs. This money is to cover money that has already been spent, mostly for programs that are already in progress or for reimbursement.
On a motion by Ms. Bratton, seconded by Mr. Hooper, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby amends the FY 08/09 Budget by increasing:
REVENUES
General Fund, Intergovernmental, Youth Services Bureau Grant, Account #01-0330-43383 in the amount of $4,155.12 and increasing:
APPROPRIATIONS
General Fund, Administrative Service, Printing (Crime Prevention), Account # 01-2101-52181 in the amount of $4,155.12 for the purpose of funding Police and Youth Service programs.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
08/09-16 Supplemental Appropriation: $8,000 Fisher Meadows: ADA Compliance
Mr. Gugliotti stated that this is to make Fisher Meadows ADA compliant. Ms. Robinson stated that this is an outgrowth of the study done by the State Department of Education last fall of Avon High School and all of its programs to determine if they were in compliance with the ADA. She stated that, among other things, the report found that at Fisher Meadows, there is a lack of pathways to the fields, benches, signage and parking. Because this is not part of the high school renovation program, they are asking for $8,000 for Public Works to make Fisher Meadows compliant, although the estimate is $6,000. They may be returning up to $2,000 back into the fund.
Ms. Robinson stated that work will be done this summer; the money will be taken out of the Fisher Meadow fund. Mr. Schenck stated that money from the Fisher Meadow fund is money for maintenance or for the purchase of open space.
On a motion by Ms. Durdan, seconded by Mr. Eisenlohr, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby appropriates a sum not to exceed $8,000.00 from Fisher Meadow Maintenance Fund, Other Financing Sources, Undesignated Fund Balance, Account #12-0390-43913 and Transfer Out from Fisher Meadow Maintenance Fund, Other Financing Uses, Interfund Transfer Out, Account #12-8700-58000 and Transfer In to Capital Projects Fund, Town CIP-Facil/Fisher Meadows Complex, Materials-Other, Account #02-4834-52239 and Capital Projects Fund, Other Financing Sources, Interfund Operating Transfers In, Account #02-0390-43918 in the amount of $8,000 for the purpose of paying for ADA compliance improvements at Fisher Meadows.
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that there are sufficient Unreserved Undesignated Fund Balance resources to finance the following appropriation. The sum of $8,000 from the Town’s Unreserved Undesignated Fund Balance, Account #12-0390-43913 Fisher Meadow Maintenance Fund, Other Financing Sources, Undesignated Fund Balance.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
08/09-17 Supplemental Appropriation: $11,912.47 Farmington River Trail
Mr. Schenck stated that the Town received a grant; this is for property that the Town acquired, the Fisher Farm property, in 2003. This includes a trail that goes to the Farmington Town Line and for a parking area. He stated that the State is reimbursing the Town for this.
On a motion by Mr. Hooper, seconded by Ms. Bratton, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby amends the FY 08/09 Budget by increasing:
REVENUES
Capital and Nonrecurring Expenditures Fund, Intergovernmental, DEP/Farmington River Trail, Account #03-0330-43323 in the amount of $11,912.47 and increasing:
APPROPRIATIONS
Capital and Nonrecurring Expenditures Fund, CNREF: Town, Farmington River Trail, Account #03-4930-53065 in the amount of $11,912.47 for the purpose of recording the reimbursement from the State DEP.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
The Board of Finance members discussed the ongoing issues with Mr. Simmons. Mr. Schenck stated that Mr. Simmons and the Town of Farmington are having differences of opinions. Because of some of this, Mr. Simmons has received some bad publicity. Mr. Schenck stated that Mr. Simmons’ responsibility to the Town of Avon is to use best management practices on the land and to keep the road side mowed.
Mr. Schenck stated that as the situation stands now, a decision needs to be made as to what makes sense for the Town of Avon, Town of Farmington and Mr. Simmons. Dairy farming is no longer profitable. He stated that Mr. Simmons is currently in the process of getting a new business plan together. He will be presenting this plan to the Town Council in Farmington to see if possibly changing the dairy farm into a hay farm may be appropriate. Mr. Schenck stated that most of these issues are in Farmington, although they could have residual effects in Avon.
Mr. Schenck stated that another issue is the cell phone tower that the Town of Farmington would like to put on this property. One half of the revenue would go to the Town of Farmington and the other half would go to Mr. Simmons. There is some opposition to putting this cell tower up.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS/TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Gugliotti stated that Peggy Colligan has received an award for the CAFR report. The Town has received this award for approximately the last 25 consecutive years.
On a motion by Ms. Bratton, seconded by Mr. Eisenlohr, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance thanked Ms. Colligan and her staff for the excellent work they do in preparing the CAFR.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Executive Session was not needed.
IX. ADJOURN
On a motion by Ms. Durdan, seconded by Ms. Bratton, it was voted:
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
Messrs. Hooper, Eisenlohr, Gugliotti and Mmes. Bratton and Durdan voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas A. Gugliotti, Secretary
Attest: Alison Sturgeon, Clerk
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