TOWN OF FARMINGTON
BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday - July 16, 2008
356 Main Street - Farmington, NH
Members Present: Ann Titus, Brian St. Onge, Arthur Capello, Cindy Snowdon and Jim Horgan.
Members Excused: Steve Henry, Mike Morin
Selectmen's Rep: Gail Ellis
School Board Rep: Joe Pitre
Public Present: Superintendent Michelle Langa, School Finance Administrator Dan McGillicuddy, Penny Morin, Ken Dickie and Jacquie Capello
Vice-Chairman Brian St. Onge called the meeting to order at 7:02pm and opened the Public Hearing for the Collective Bargaining Agreements for the Teachers and the Paraprofessionals & Food Service Workers.
Public Hearing
Jim Horgan informed the committee that both his wife and daughter work in the schools as paraprofessionals and though he was not privy to any of the bargaining agreement details his wife played a very active role in them. The committee was in agreement that it would be up to Jim to decide if he needed to abstain from the discussion and votes. Jim stated he would proceed. Arthur stated that he would recuse himself from the teacher bargaining agreement because his wife works for the school district and is president of the Teacher's Association.
Brian asked Ms. Langa to review the major changes in the agreements. Ms. Langa explained that most of the changes revolved around salary and medical changes. She said that the teachers did a comparative study with comparable towns and found that Farmington was very deficient in their salary and benefits. She added that the biggest deficiencies were found in steps 1-6, and the changes show a 5% increase in teacher salary the first year with 4% increase in the following two years. Ms. Langa then stated that they changed the healthcare provider to Cigna Healthcare which provided a cost savings allowing the SAU to increase the family healthcare reimbursement over the next several years to 70%.
Ms. Langa then explained that the turnover rate is about 20-25 paraprofessionals and teachers per year and mostly because they can earn $10-15,000 more in other districts. Joe noted that he knows someone who is starting in Dover at $39,000 and would have been only $26,000 in Farmington. Ms. Langa stated that the state average is $30,000.
Ms. Langa reminded the committee that the figures provided in the agreement for costs are for budgetary reasons and may change during the budget seasons due to employee changes.
Arthur asked how the SAU calculated the insurance costs for several years out and Ms. Langa explained that they do not have a 3 year contract but based their numbers on information given by the insurance company. Arthur then asked Ms. Langa to review the major changes to the Paraprofessional/Food Service Worker agreement. Ms. Langa explained that there were three major changes; 1. longevity pay, 2. a 4% raise for 2 years and 3. the healthcare buyback was increased to $1000.
Ms. Langa stated that the MS-22 that was approved by the voters in March was for $15,279,182 and if both the collective bargaining agreements pass the new budget amount will be $15,694,080. Joe calculated the tax impact to be about 83 cents. Gail asked if the courts approved these agreements and Ms. Langa said yes, the deliberative session is scheduled for 8/11/08 at 8pm in the High School gym and both agreements will be on the ballot on primary day in September.
Ken Dickie commented that the deciding factors for approval with him was the school turnover rate, noting that the SAU spends approximately $8000 per new teacher to train them and then they leave to make more money in other districts. He also noted that with these increases the quality of teachers will increase.
Gail asked if there is any type f contract that could be established to keep teachers for a certain time period after they receive funding for training. Ken Dickie replied that there is no such clause in the current agreements and it would be a very difficult negotiation to get it into a future agreement.
Jacquie Capello, President of the Teachers' Association and resident, stated that she is looking for support on these agreements and informed the committee that from a cost and percentage standpoint the town was dead lasst in their healthcare. She also gave examples how a single teacher with a few children would actually qualify for medicare because her wages were so low.
Ms. Capello also explained the compression of steps that was going to occur as a result of the teachers agreement noting that the now steps 1-3 will be compressed into one step, changing the amount of steps from 15 to 12. Also, the new agreement will call for a step increase (if merited) plus the COLA percentage increase each year. Ms. Langa added that they added a step to the paraprofessional agreement as well.
Brian closed the public hearing and opened the deliberative session on the collective bargaining agreements.
1. Joe commented that this is a fair agreement that should be approved and Arthur commended all the hard work of the individuals involved in creating the agreements. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend the paraprofessional and food service workers' collective bargaining agreement, 2nd Joe Pitre. Motion carried with Ann Titus, Gail Ellis and Joe Pitre abstaining.
2. Arthur Capello motioned to recommend the teacher collective bargaining agreement, 2nd Jim Horgan. Motion carried with Arthur Capello, Gail Ellis and Brian St.Onge abstaining.
Joe Pitre motioned to adjourn, 2nd Arthur Capello. Motion passed with all in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandy Sanger
Recording Secretary
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