TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Mike Morin, Ann Titus, Brian St. Onge, Arthur Capello, Steve Henry and Jim Horgan.
Selectmen's Rep: Gail Ellis
School Board Rep: Joe Pitre
Chairman Mike Morin called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
1. Review of Minutes:
a. Arthur Capello motioned to accept the minutes of 3-26-08 as amended for a spelling correction, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with Mike Morin, Steve Henry and Gail Ellis abstaining.
Jim Horgan motioned to review the questions from the 3-26-08 minutes and to attach the answers to tonight's meeting minutes, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion carried with Mike Morin abstaining.
2. Discussion of Town Questions from 3-26-08:
A. Selectman Gail Ellis brought forward the answers to the questions posed and the answer sheet is attached to these minutes.
B. Joe asked where the remittance report for the town is and Gail said she will make sure the committee has it for next month where this is her first meeting as Selectman's representative.
3. Discussion of School Questions from 3-26-08:
A. School Board representative Joe Pitre provided the answers to the questions in the form of a memo from Superintendant Michelle Langa; this memo is attached to these minutes.
B. As a result of the memo, in regards to the first question:
1. Arthur stated that when the stage repairs for HWMS were presented for $36,690 it was just for the repairs and did not include daily maintance, gym floor refinishing or tiling of the 5th grade bathrooms. Nor did it include $4000 for daily maintenance. Arthur would like to know what type of daily repairs Ms. Langa is referring to in her memo for $4000.
2. Mike questioned who the sprinkler head bid is from?
3. Arthur asked for an explanation in exactly what line item(s) the stage repairs are in and exactly how it will be spent. Brian noted that the entire $36,690 should show up in the next budget because the warrant article was zeroed out and put in the operating budget, though the committee won't see these numbers until the next fiscal year in July. Arthur agreed that this question will need to be set aside to the August/September meeting when the school has started in their 2008-2009 budget.
C. As a result of the memo, in regards to the second question:
1. The committee was happy to receive the expenditure report and would like to continue to do so.
2. Brian stated he still feels the committee needs a breakdown of the anticipated revenues so that he can compare the actual revenues with the anticipated. Mike requested a copy of the MS-24.
3. Gail asked Joe to make sure the 2006 preschool funding went directly to the SAU and not Middleton first, because then it could have come in, in the form of tuition.
4. Review Draft letter from Mike Morin:
A. Mike drafted a letter to the School Board, SAU and the Selectman requesting that the budget committee be given prior notice as to when DRA is coming so that they can be present to observe and participate in the review and preparation of the MS-4 and MS-24. Arthur Capello motioned to send the letter to the respective parties, 2nd Ann Titus. Discussion followed in which Gail asked who from the budget committee should be notified and how long prior because the committee doesn not know how much notice is given from DRA. Arthur Capello withdrew his motion and Ann Titus agreed.
5. Review of Expenditure and Revenue Reports:
A. Jim Horgan motioned to table the review of the expenditure and revenue reports until the next meeting when the committee has had time to review them, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion carried with Mike Morin abstaining.
6. Old Business:
A. Ann reported that she spoke with Megan about the By-laws and procedures and there is a cost for legal to review the document at approximately $65-$250, depending how long it takes them. Gail will check with the Selectmen to ensure it is okay to go ahead with the legal review.
7. New Business:
A. Mike informed the committee that he explored the NH DRA website and found out information on several forms (ie: MS-9, MS-50 and MS-60) that the budget committee has never seen and should ask for. Mike asked the committee members to review this information online and be prepared to discuss at the next meeting.
B. Arthur commented that the committee should invite the Middleton budget committee, School Board, SAU and Selectmen to the June meeting with DRA.
C. The board continued their discussion from last month regarding Joe's proposal to have the joint meetings during the budget process so that the presenters only had to present once. The committee came to a consensus that this would not be ideal because many items in the department heads' budgets never come to this committee. Arthur added that it would be reasonable to meet with the Selectmen and School Board after the public hearing so that cuts can be explained and answers can be gotten as soon as possible.
D. Mike suggested having a committee meeting in tandem or right after the deliberative session for the school budget and warrants so that the committee could vote right then on whether to recommend or not recommend the changes.
E. Steve Henry motioned to discuss Joe's school bus paperwork and withdrew it. Joe provided the committee with the proof of the school bus expenditure from 2007 that was given to him by the Chairman of the Trustees, John Wingate. Joe Pitre motioned to attach the school bus expenditure for 2007 proof to the minutes of tonight's meeting, 2nd Steve Henry. Motion carried with Mike Morin abstaining.
Next meeting scheduled for 5-28-08 at 7pm in the Selectmen Chambers.
Steve Henry motioned to adjourn, 2nd Ann Titus. Motion passed with Joe Pitre and Arthur Capello opposed and Mike Morin abstaining.
Chairman Morin adjourned the meeting at 8:38pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
____________________________
Ann Titus, Secretary
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