TOWN COUNCIL MAJORITY OFFICE
BUDGET COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
PRESENT Ram Aberasturia, Chair, Councillors Barbara-Ann Rossi and Robert J.
Damaschi (arrived 5:45 p.m.)
ALSO Marcia Leclerc, Mayor
PRESENT Mike Walsh, Finance Director
Mark Zito, Superintendent of Schools
Paul Mainuli, Director of Business Services, East Hartford Public Schools
Jeffrey Currey, Chair, East Hartford Board of Education
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Aberasturia called the meeting to order at 5:39 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 19, 2012 Meeting
MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Ram Aberasturia
to approve the minutes from the January 19, 2012 meeting.
Motion carried 2/0. Damaschi out of office.
OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK
None
OLD BUSINESS
Combining Services with the Board of Education
A general discussion was held on several different areas of possible consolidation as follows:
- Trash/recycling pickup – Mike Walsh, the town’s Finance Director and representatives from BlumShapiro, the town’s auditors, will work on a Request for Proposal (RFP) for this service. It is yet to be determined if the Town will be successful in this endeavor.
- Human resources – This issue is off the table for now.
- Legal – It was agreed that if the issue is not an ‘educational’ one, the Board of Education will first go to the Office of the Corporation Counsel for a legal opinion.
- Purchasing – Budget Committee will recommend that the Town Council will direct the Administration to consolidate this duty and have the Town and the Board of Education Purchasing Agents work cooperatively on this effort.
- IT – Budget Committee will recommend that the Town Council will direct the Administration to have the Board of Education and the Town begin Union discussions (2 from the Town and 2 from the Board) in order to consolidate the Town and Board’s IT departments. The Board will set aside $100,000 or more from their Fiscal Year End budget and give it to the Town for the sole purpose of purchasing the Munis System and for no other reason. Also, the payroll and accounts’ payable systems will follow in consolidation within the next two years.
- Grants – This issue is off the table for now.
- High Deductible Health Plan and Robust Wellness Plan – This issue will be discussed at the joint meeting between the Town Council and the Board of Education on February 21, 2012. The Board will come to the meeting with contract information. The two parties will also be prepared to compare carriers, etc.
- Payroll – The Town will also try to follow the Board of Education’s practice of issuing bi-weekly paychecks.
MOTION By Bob Damaschi
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to recommend that the Town Council will direct the Administration to
consolidate this duty and have the Town and the Board of Education
Purchasing Agents work cooperatively on this effort.
Motion carried 3/0.
MOTION By Bob Damaschi
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to recommend that the Town Council will direct the Administration to (1)
have the Board of Education and the Town begin discussions with the unions (2 from the Town and 2 from the Board) in order to consolidate the Town and Board’s IT departments; (2) The Board will set aside $100,000 or more from their 2011-2012 FY end budget, to be turned over to the Town for the sole purpose of purchasing the Munis System and for no other reason; and (3) the payroll and accounts’ payable systems will follow in consolidation within the next two years.
Motion carried 3/0.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION By Bob Damaschi
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adjourn (6:24 p.m.)
Motion carried 3/0.
cc: Town Clerk
Town Council
Marcia Leclerc, Mayor
Mike Walsh, Finance Director
Mark Zito, Superintendent of Schools
Paul Mainuli, Director of Business Services, East Hartford Public Schools
Jeffrey Currey, Chair, East Hartford Board of Education
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