TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday - December 11, 2007
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Chairman Joe Pitre, Mike Morin, Ann Titus, Gail Ellis, Brian St. Onge, Deb Cantwell and Arthur Capello.
Members Absent: Steve Henry
Selectmen's Rep: Paula Proulx
School Board Rep: Steve Durrance
Public Present: School Food Service Director Diann Pitre, SAU Finance Administrator Dan McGillicuddy, Superintendant Michelle Langa, Director of Pupil Services Sue Pleau and SAU Technology Director Josh Olstad.
Chairman Pitre called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
The purpose of tonight's meeting was to review more school budget proposals for 2008-2009.
A. Review Food Service Budget Proposal: Diann Pitre presented the proposed budget and Joe Pitre recused himself from the discussion.
1. line 7340 (40-3120-7340) is for four new computer (old ones 8 years old). Brian asked why $2000 for each computer and Diann replied that she is not sure of the cost and just estimated a number.
2. Line 40-3120-1180 (salary) is down because of a change in personnel at a lower step.
3. Arthur inquired what the school policy is regarding outstanding student balances and Dianne said that there is not one. She explained that she sends home notices informing parents of outstanding balances.
4. Mike questioned why line 40-3120-4390 (repairs) is up and Diann explained that the equipment is getting older and in need of more repairs each year. Mike asked if it is because of lack of maintenance and Diann replied she didn't think so.
5. Brian questioned what 40-3120-7360 (equipment repair) is for and Diann explained that it is the technical support for the POS system.
6. Gail asked if any items could be decreased to bring the estimated deficit down and she got not response.
7. Mike questioned why budgeted $579,274.03 in 2006-2007 and expended $499,654.64 but still have a deficit of $36,094.01. Dan explained that he has been researching that exact question and so far he can only assume that the revenues were down.
8. Gail commented that would be helpful to get the food service expenditure reports in the future.
Joe Pitre rejoined the meeting.
B. Review Technology Budget Proposal: Josh Olstad presented the proposed 2008-2009 budget.
1. Josh explained that he would like to hire a new technology assistant to maintain the schools website, for videography at the school and then to work in the school if the person has extra time. Brian asked why students cannot help with these "chores" in a club or something and Josh explained that there is not an available avenue right now to do so. Deb asked for the total cost of the new position and Dan replied he would work the numbers up. Arthur asked what would happen if the position was not granted and Josh replied that the work would not get done. Deb stated that she is concerned that the extra position would not directly affect the students. Michelle Langa added that the person they are looking to offer the position to would be working with the students to teach them
videography and website maintenance.
2. Arthur questioned line 10-2820-4440 (lease). Josh stated that he is looking at leasing 50 - 55 computers for three years with this line. Mike asked where the computers would be placed and Josh said he was planning on using them for mobile labs. Arthur asked if Josh could get quotes for this purchase and Josh replied yes that he was working off an estimate for this budget but could get real numbers. Deb added that she is concerned with purchasing laptops, when the ones the schools currently have are only two years old and the students are picking them apart. She stated she doesn't see why we should expend more money if we haven't solved the issue of how to take care of them. Deb asked if the 4th and 5th grades have computer class and Michelle replied yes. Deb asked if the
schools have ever looked at outsourcing their computer work and Michelle replied no. Deb asked them to look into this and Josh replied that he would.
3. Gail questioned line 10-2820-3310 (project) as to what it is for. Josh explained that last summer the schools hired a couple of students at $10/hr. for 30 hours a week for 6 weeks to clean the computers. He added that this money would fund that cleaning again, plus contract a specialist.
4. It was questioned why line 10-2820-3310 (project) expended $5393.55 in 2006-2007 even though it was not budgeted. Michelle explained that the expenditure was for Critical Mass Technologies who assisted the schools in how to get their systems updated and the money was expended from the salary line.
5. Line 10-2820-6500 (software) is web and Internet access and an automated alert system.
6. Brian asked what line 10-2820-6500 (software) is for and Josh explained it covers the agreements for items like the firewalls and has a large jump this year because he plugged in actual numbers instead of a guess.
7. It was noted that the default budget is not correct in the health, dental, FICA and computer lease lines. Mike reminded Dan that the default budget has to be set in stone by the public hearing that is set for January 7, 2007.
C. Review Special Education Proposed Budget: Sue Pleau presented the 2008-2009 proposed budget.
1. Arthur asked why line 10-1290-2400 (course reimbursement) is up and Sue replied because she was told to budget what was contractual and she has two teachers who can receive reimbursement for 1 1/2 college courses.
2. Deb questioned line 10-1290-1100 (salary) and Sue explained the line is currently for two teachers and a para instead of a director and a para because they felt it was more beneficial to the program.
3. Sue stated that she has nine students in the alternative education program but if she had to place them out of district the cost would be about $260,000 without transportation. Deb asked if any of those students were Middleton students. Dan responded that Middleton pays $9000 a student for tuition. Arthur questioned why Middleton does not pay a higher rate for students in this program and he received no response.
4. Line 10-1200-3900 (services) was created for services that used to be included under psychology line 10-2140-3302 (testing services).
5. Gail questioned what grants Sue receives and she replied an IDEA grant for about $301,000.
6. Michelle commented that the special education services budget is for kids who move into the district post the establishment of the budget.
7. Sue explained the district has two full-time psychologists in which one is grant funded. It was also discussed that it is more cost effective to have these psychologist on staff instead of contracting out.
8. Mike questioned how line 10-1200-5690 (tuition) was budgeted and Sue replied this year’s numbers plus 5%.
9. Gail asked what the difference is between the district special education budget and the schools'. Sue explained that the district budget is for out of district placements and contract services used at all four schools.
D. Other:
1. Michelle explained that she got an answer from her legal counsel in regards to the HIPPA laws and releasing information about the cost of insurances and it is their opinion that it would be illegal to do so. The committee in return requested a list of personnel with salary plus total benefits.
Mike Morin motioned to adjourn, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion passed with all in favor.
Chairman Pitre adjourned the meeting at 10:21pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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