I. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
Ms. Menard called the meeting to order on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall
II. ATTENDANCE
Denise Menard, First Selectman
Gilbert Hayes, Deputy First Selectman
Mark Simmons, Selectman
Edward Farrell, Selectman
Dale Nelson, Selectman
The selectmen will review the CIP budget, as well as the revised Selectmen budget sheet, at their next budget session. The extra meeting on Tuesday the 11th will be canceled. The Selectmen will next talk about the budget at their March 18 meeting. Ms. Menard advised the Board she gave the letter to fire department per the Board of Finance request and so that item is pending further information.
Board of Education
Superintendent Tim Howes gave a good presentation. The Board of Selectmen had extensive discussion on the presentation, as well as the regular budget and the extra initiatives. Discussion was held on how the Education budget is spent at the BOE’s discretion and the fact that some presented items, while funding is approved by the town Boards, the monies may be spent on other endeavors as the Education side feels necessary. Once the BOE budget is cut or granted, the Selectmen have no control of where the monies are spent. The idea of globally accepting the budget as proposed versus review of the items was discussed. It was the consensus of the Board to make recommendations and state their rationale behind the recommendations made.
The Board went through the extra initiatives which were prioritized in detail and discussed the focus on the various schools and what is needed at each level. It was felt the initiatives the Board of Selectmen recommended provide an equal distribution among the schools. It was the consensus of the Board to recommend funding of the following the following initiative items, taking into consideration the Mr. Howes priorities as to importance in his presentation of these items:
Middle School - Literacy Coach middle
Broad Brook School Special education
Middle School World language middle school
High School Instruction aides high school
Middle School Special Education
With the recommendation of these five priority items, eight positions are added to the school system. Those recommended initiative items equal $328,840.
Break 10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
The Board of Education budget bottom line as presented was $19,103.459. This number included the extra initiatives, contract increases, as well as the increase in cost of operation. The Board of Selectmen took the proposed recommended teacher proposed initiatives of $528,322 and reduce that by the amount the Selectmen recommend for initiatives, as outlined above $328,840 = $199,482. The Board of Selectmen then took the $19,103.459 proposed budget less the above figured $199,482 and recommended a Board of Education budget of $18,903,977. This will be an 8% increase in this proposed budget.
To recap – the Selectmen recommended the following initiatives:
Four full time aides - high school
Full time special education – middle school
Full time World language middle school
Full time literacy coach middle school
Full time special education – elementary school.
It was again stated that at the end of the day the BOE takes the budget money they are given and spends as they see fit. The Board of Selectmen did its part by giving the BOE the tools to work with and some rationale to the recommended budget amount.
Police Department
Ms. Menard detailed the salary budget amount was not available as there are contract negotiations ongoing. The Board went into the specific presentation materials to discuss increases and decreases as explained, as well as the housecleaning aspects of this proposed budget to make it more effective. The importance of Dispatchers, including regulatory mandates in place for the position, was discussed. Having a Dispatcher position also frees up an Officer from dispatching. The Board noted this was a good budget proposal as it presents a 1.98% increase from last year while also adding one position. What’s expected for salary is contractual and cannot figure it for budget. The Board discussed the successful budget years with the police department in recent history. It was the consensus
to recommend the police department as presented.
III. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: To adjourn at 11:20 a.m.
Made by Ms. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Hayes
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
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