TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR
BOARD OF FINANCE MEETING
February 21, 2007
The Board of Finance meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall in a Joint Executive Session with the Board of Selectman.
Members Present:
Paul Catino, Chairman
Noreen Farmers, Secretary
Maria DeSousa
William Dove
Dale Nelson
Tammy Sorensen-Duray
Jack Manette, Alternate
Members Absent:
Leo Szymanski, Alternate
NOTE: The Executive Session ended at 9:22. This meeting is re-convened as a regular Board of Finance meeting at 9:27.
Members Present for this portion of the meeting:
Paul Catino, Chairman
Noreen Farmers, Secretary
Maria DeSousa
William Dove
Dale Nelson
Jack Manette, Alternate
Members Absent:
Leo Szymanski, Alternate
Tammy Sorensen-Duray
Ken Crouch – Acting First Selectman
Mary Szabo, Town Treasurer
I. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Motion: To recognize Jack Manette as a member for this meeting in place of Tammy Sorensen-Duray.
Ms. Farmer / Mr. Dove
Vote: Unanimous
ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
VI. D) Recommendation to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $19,500 from the contingency fund to legal fees.
No Objections
**OUT OF ORDER**
NEW BUSINESS
Agricultural Land Development Rights – Mr. George Grant
Present were Mr. George Grant and Mr. Albert Grant from the Natural Resources Preservation Committee. The Grant’s advised that there is no grant money yet from Planning and Zoning. They will be doing a study and will advise and help with the process of prioritizing what property is available. The process is that parcels will be identified and recommendations to various Town Boards to decide what is viable.
It was explained by the Chairman that this is an important thing to do for the Town, but a problem with getting people to pass the budgets with increases in them. Everyone wants to do it in November and then come April / May there is a push to get the budgets passed.
The Grants have come to the board to ask if the Town would like to do this and put money into the budget establishing a reserve to draw on when pieces of parcels become available.
One Board member wanted to test the theory and bring a small package to the people to see how well it goes over. The Grants explained that they need to have a property in mind and the money available. They cannot just pick a piece of property to use unless it’s for sale. The concept is like being pre-approved for a mortgage – you haven’t actually applied for it yet, but no homeowner will sell to you without a pre-approval.
The Preservation Commission is interested in both buying development rights and/or buying the land outright.
The Board pointed out that it is a simple fact that a regular home with 1 child uses more services provided than taxes paid. The home would have to be valued over $500,000 to break even.
The next step that the Board of Finance suggests is to have the money put in someone’s budget – Board of Selectman’s budget.
The questions arose:
What dollar amount should be put in the budget?
What dollar amount to pay bonds or
What dollar amount to have set aside to actually put in capital and pay for the land.
The chairman indicated that the Budget is a package, if you want yours you have to work with other departments whether you like them, love them or loathe them.
The Options:
Take land piece by piece as it comes up and present it to the Town. OR
Put a fund together and purchase land as it comes along. BUT, needs a program in place.
The question was raised to see it as a referendum question at the regular election. But it was believed that the budget referendum as to be on its own and can’t piggyback.
The Preservation Commission is looking for the Board of Finance to give a favorable recommendation.
The Board of Finance is looking for:
Does the Board of Selectman support it and want to put it in the budget?
How does the Board of Selectman want it to work
The question was raised as to how often the same Town can qualify for the same grant. It was discussed that there didn’t seem to be any issues with the same Town receiving the grant over and over. It was mentioned that East Windsor is classified as a distressed Town and it has a better advantage as a distressed municipality and qualifies for 60% matching.
It was mentioned that perhaps the Board of Finance could put in some money as seed money as good faith to have some money there to start with. The Commission could perhaps piggyback with Inland Wetlands and put money in their budget. It was suggested that the Commission make a request to the Board of Finance through Inland Wetlands and be part of their budget process and presentation.
**BACK IN ORDER**
III. PREVIOUS MINUTES
Special Joint Meeting – January 16, 2007
Motion: To accept the Special Joint Meeting minutes of the January 17, 2007.
Mr. Manette / Ms. DeSousa
Vote: Unanimous
Discussion: None.
Regular Meeting - January 16, 2007
Motion: To accept the minutes of the January 16, 2007 regular meeting as amended.
Mr. Dove / Ms. Farmer
Vote: Unanimous
Discussion: On page 2, 7th paragraph under Treasurer’s Report it should read $125,000 total to be paid……..On page 3 under New Business, 2nd paragraph it should read IT budget NOT Carol’s budget.
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
Letters to and from the East Windsor Police Commission. – these communications are for the Board members to read individually.
V. TREASURER’S REPORT
Monthly Report – Was read by Mary. A copy of the Treasurers report dated February 21, 2007 may be obtained from the Treasurer’s Office.
School Resource Officer Grant – was discussed in the Treasurer’s Report. The total cost of the SRO with benefits, etc. was $90,252.98 and the total grant was $125,000.
Motion: To accept the Treasurer’s Report.
Ms. DeSousa / Mr. Manette
Vote: Unanimous
Discussion: None
VI. REQUESTS/RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD OF SELECTMAN
To recommend to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $4,852.85 to the Town Clerk Salary line to compensate for unused vacation time.
Karen Gaudreau was present and represented that in the past three (3) years spent 11 months working alone and took no vacation time. Would like to be paid for the vacation time that she could not take. She is only asking for the vacation time. The original request was for $8,000, which included comp time of $3,000. Karen is only looking for time owed and has agreed to take the other as comp time.
The Chairman pointed out that the managing of Town employees is more a Board of Selectman function than the Board of Finance and the recommendation is a more important aspect than the money aspect.
Karen further explained that a temporary resource (temp) cannot just be brought into a Town Clerk’s office to back fill vacancies. There is specific knowledge and training that is needed.
The Board asked if there is still vacation time left and Karen advised that this will bring her current.
Motion: To transfer $4,852.85 from the Contingency account 1-01-50-8410-8-890-0000-0 to the Town Clerk Salary Line account number 1-01-10-1030-1-102-0000-0 for the purpose of compensating the Town Clerk for unused vacation time.
Mr. Manette / Mr. Dove
VOTE: 5 in favor / 1 opposed
Discussion: None.
NOTE: Mr. Dove had to leave the meeting.
To recommend to the Board of Finance bonds, notes, or other obligations to appropriate funds and authorize the issuance in the amount of $560,000 for a rescue pumper; $435,000 to replace the heating system at the high school; $300,000 for the Public Works/WPCA a jet vac truck and $25,000 for issuance costs.
Motion: To recommend to Town meeting the resolution entitled “Resolution Appropriating $1,320,000 for various public improvements and authorizing the issuance of $1,320,000 Bonds of the town to meet said appropriation and pending the issuance thereof the making of temporary borrowings for such purpose”, a copy of which is attached hereto, be approved and recommended for adoption by the legal voters of the Town.
Ms. Nelson / Ms. Farmer
VOTE: 5-0
Discussion: It should be noted that the debt decreased which will make this worthwhile to do. We will replace two trucks. This is a joint effort and recommendation between the two fire departments. This package has received a lot of discussion by both the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance. It is also an end result of two Capital Improvement Committee meetings and has been fully thought out.
To request an added appropriation in the amount of $38,470.00 for the Variable Overtime Account in the Police Department budget, as requested by the Police Commission.
It was recommended that we table this piece of business until the review is complete. It was suggested that we request a joint meeting. The analysis of the documentation received shows that there is several documents missing. A second analysis was put together and it shows several things.
It was stated that it would be good for both the Board of Finance and the Police Commission to sit down and have a meeting to understand both side.
Table Discussion
Recommendation to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $19,500 from the contingency fund to legal fees.
Motion: To transfer $19,500 from the Contingency account 1-01-50-8410-8-890-0000-0 to the Legal account number 1-01-10-1015-3-350-0000-0.
Ms. DeSousa / Ms. Nelson
VOTE: 5-0
OLD BUSINESS
Response to Auditor Recommendation – Board of Education.
Mary indicated that they are responding appropriately.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: To adjourn meeting at 10:57.
Ms. Nelson / Ms. Farmer
Vote: Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Lori P. Holden
Recording Secretary
Discussion: None.
Motion: To transfer $19,500 from the Contingency account 1-01-50-8410-8-890-0000-0 to the Legal account number 1-01-10-1015-3-350-0000-0.
Ms. DeSousa / Ms. Nelson
VOTE: 5-0
Respectfully submitted,
Lori P. Holden
Recording Secretary
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