The Board of Finance held a Regular Meeting on Monday, January 14, 2008 in the Meeting Room at Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, Newtown, CT. Chairman John Kortze called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: John Kortze, James Gaston, Martin Gersten, Joseph Kearney, Michael Portnoy, Harrison Waterbury.
ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman Joe Borst, Finance Director Ben Spragg, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, Assistant Superintendent Linda Gejda, members of the Board of Education and Legislative Council, Board of Education Director of Business Ron Bienkowski, High School principal Chip Dumais, approximately twelve members of public, one member of press.
VOTER PARTICIPATION: Ruby Johnson, 8 Chestnut Hill Road, said that she expected seven playing fields at Fairfield Hills and one has been completed. She was told that Parks & Recreation does not want a softball field. She distributed a packet on population showing that in 2020 the whole U.S. will grow so we should plan now. Also she distributed a history of the school buildings since 1922. She said that someone wants condos on Washington Avenue and that this type of housing will become more common. She asked that the bond issue of $1 million be split into two issues, $600,000 for design of the community/rec center and $400,000 for demo of Litchfield Hall. She said that the original bond issue for Fairfield Hills allocated $850,000 for seven playing fields but that $790,000 has been spent for only
one field. Cost benefit analysis done by the Tax Assessor shows that at 75,000 sf building would generate $240,000 in annual taxes and he said that these buildings would be taxable entities.
Bob Merola, 22 Ashford Lane, said that if you build to peak you design and build to excess. Consider a balanced approach to spending the taxpayers’ money. He said that we are not in a growth economy and Newtown housing starts have gone down. He spoke to the associate director of NEASC who said that about 125 of the 640 high schools in NEASC are on warning annually and did not lose accreditation during that time. One third rotate off every year. About 25-30 are on probation every year and are still accredited. Five in Connecticut are on probation. Do not spend $41 million on the high school if the numbers do not support this.
Mary Ann Jacob, 65 Mohawk Trail, supports the high school expansion. We need the additional classrooms.
Desiree Gallassie, 151 Huntingtown Road, said we cannot anticipate programs with enrollment numbers. It is expected that Connecticut could be the silicone valley of the Northeast. She supports the high school expansion with the current numbers.
Bob Merola, 22 Ashford Lane, said we need a high school expansion but not this big.. NEASC points do not indicate a new or larger gym or new track.
COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Kortze received emails in favor of moving forward with the high school project as presented. He noted that the Board of Finance has no jurisdiction over lights and Title IX, and referred Mrs. Johnson’s letter to the Boards of Selectmen and Education.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion of Mr. Waterbury, the minutes of the regular meeting of December 27, 2007 were unanimously accepted as presented.
FIRST SELECTMAN REPORT: Mr. Borst had no report.
FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT: Mr. Spragg presented graphs concerning CIP Borrow3ing showing growths of 4.5 % and 6% (Attachments A & B to original minutes). He noted changes that were made in the original Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) proposal. First year (2008-2009): Fire engine 441 was removed and will be put in the operating budget; The police building and design was moved to later in the plan. Second year (2009-2010) No changes. Third year (2010-2011) Police radio communications of $300,000 was moved to later in the plan. Fourth year (2011-2012) Middle School ($2.9 M) moved to later in the plan. Fifth year (2012-2013) Middle School is back at $2.9 million. Also back are police building at $200,000 and police radio at $300,000. One-half of Middle School costs ($16.2 million) removed and placed in
years six (2013-2014) and seven (2014-2015) at $16.2 million each (these years are not in this plan).
Mr. Portnoy asked Mr. Spragg if 4.5% or 6% growth is more realistic. Mr. Spragg said that historically 6% is the average except this budget year which is 4.5%.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Board of Selectmen and Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan.
Presentation by Board of Education concerning High School expansion project. Mrs. McClure said that this is the number one priority in the CIP at $41 million. Dr. Robinson said that there is inadequate space at the high school, the cafeteria is too small, classes are held in inappropriate settings. She said we are operating at 20 credits, which must go up now to 22 and the State will increase requirements to 24. Mr. Dumais said that the State will require that students pass classes not merely take the classes as now. We currently need nine additional rooms to meet increased requirements. He said that 100 additional students equals 5 classrooms. He noted that capacity deals with the number of rooms but that utilization deals with programs at the school. We are utilizing 89% of the space without portables.
Dr. Robinson noted that 78% of the NEASC points have been responded to appropriately and 22% are facilities related and will be remediated by the new space, including expanding the cafeteria, adding classrooms and onsite storage and increasing guidance and special education.
Ms. Bittman of the Board of Education is looking for long term solutions. She said that students redistricted in 1996 were back in that fall with new construction.
Dr. Robinson said that if we do not meet the deadlines the project will be delayed another year and will result in higher costs for a smaller building. The seventh grade bubble would hit the high school with no space for them. The State says that the ED049 submitted by the Board of Ed will not move forward unless the referendum passes. Specs would need to be redone; the $2 million already spent for architect’s fees would not be reimbursable. As far as scalability, she said the project was scaled back from $47 million to $41 million and that deleting the green roof would save $75,000; eliminating the gym basement storage would save $370,000.
Track and field is estimated at $2.5 million. Mr. Waterbury asked how the track estimate went from $750,000 to $2.5 million. Mrs. McClure said that $750,000 was the Blue & Gold estimate and that $2.5 million is Morganti’s estimate. Mr. Waterbury does not want to see academics taken away to build a track. Mrs. McClure said that Public Building took a lot away. Mr. Gaston thought the track and field were estimated at $1.3 million and that $2.5 million may include ADA requirements and may come out of contingency.
Mr. Kortze asked what the timeline is. Mr. Bienkowski said that it is projected to have gross prices by May 27 and go to referendum on June 3. Construction contracts would be signed by mid June with construction to begin in July. Mr. Spragg said that a town meeting would be held after the debt service is approved in the budget which will be voted on at the end of April.
Mr. Kortze asked if the $41 million addresses all of the outstanding NEASC issues. Dr. Robinson said all but expansion of the media center is not included and will come out of the operating budget. Mr. Portnoy asked what the taxpayers may think about spending this money when both consultants said that enrollment will go down over the next ten years. He asked if the Board of Education has discussed rearranging grades in the school buildings. Dr. Robinson said that ninth graders do not mix well with younger students and it is very expensive to move students and teachers around. Mr. Portnoy asked if there are ninth grade academies in the country. Mrs. Llodra of the Legislative Council works at the State education level and said that the grades 10-12 school in Amity now is 9-12; Mr. Portnoy commented that both did well.
Mr. Portnoy asked do you believe your consultants? Mr. Nanavaty of the Board of Ed said that the decision was made 18 months ago. Mr. Portnoy said that the State mandate will not go into effect until 2011.
Mr. Kortze said we are having this discussion at the eleventh hour which is too late. Mr. Portnoy feels we could better utilize the other school buildings and does not support the expansion. Mr. Kearney feels there is a need for expansion of the high school but wanted scalability that would allow enough flexibility to go up and down. He said we are at 10% of debt service and 6% growth in the budget would surpass that line. Mr. Gersten asked what is Plan B for 2009-2010 if the time line is not met. Dr. Robinson said that Plan B is not there. If the building has to be redesigned, it will cost more for a smaller space. She said that the architect said there are not a lot of options for scalability. Mr. Gersten said he expected more choices and the delay in having this meeting looks like an end game.
Mr. Bienkowski said that we would spend $2 million even if the project is stopped. Mr. Gersten said that scalability has not been addressed. Mrs. McClure said that end play was never the Board of Education’s intent. The meeting was delayed until the new Board members were seated. She noted that many options have been considered and this is Option G. Mr. Gaston said that the Legislative Council said to build to the high of 2022. He said we should look to build high and need a decision now. He said it is worse to underestimate; if we overestimate, we will still have usable space. He feels that scalability is impractical but noted that we expected to get back two proposals. Mr. Portnoy feels that the taxpayers do not want to spend more than they can afford. Mr. Kortze said that we need to move forward. He said
that the Board of Ed has been discussing the high school for four years and a lot of the questions that the Board of Finance has tonight we had prior to tonight. He said that debt service will impact the voters and this will trickle back to the operating budgets. He asked Dr. Robinson what three benefits to the taxpayers would be with the project. Dr. Robinson said students could get the courses that they need, we would get a better box for the money now and would have less of a building in the future. There is no more room for portables. Good schools equal housing values. She reiterated need, value and we need to build ultimately.
Mr. Gaston moved that we pass as part of the Capital Improvement Plan the $38,826,000 high school project as presented and that it go out to bid as one package, as one project. Second by Mr. Waterbury for discussion. Mr. Portnoy is not in favor. He would rather vote on the entire CIP knowing the exact numbers; we need to look at other items. Mr. Kearney assumes that this puts us over the spending cap without seeing the entire CIP. He is not in favor. Mr. Gaston said that if we pass the CIP that Mr. Spragg presented, we are at 10% not over 10%. Mr. Kearney feels we are slightly over and assuming 6% growth. Mr. Waterbury asked why are we voting on this now and not on January 24 at the next meeting. Motion failed by roll call vote. YES (Waterbury, Kortze, Gaston). NO (Portnoy, Kearney, Gersten).
Mr. Portnoy feels it is hard to believe that the Town will vote for a 6% increase but would go with 4.5%. Mr. Gaston does not feel the budget will be 4.5%. Mr. Kearney feels that we are over capacity now. Mr. Kortze feels that 4.5% is a stretch.
Mr. Portnoy moved to approve the Capital Improvement Plan as presented by the Financial Director’s program dated December 26, 2007 with a reduction in the Board of Education by $4,000,000 to $34,826,000. Second by Mr. Gersten. Mr. Portnoy would like this reduction to remove the gym renovations and athletic field. Mr. Kearney supports the reduction but not in a specific area. Mr. Gersten said we should look elsewhere if the $4,000,000 does not make the cap. Mr. Gaston said that if the athletic contingent is eliminated, he will not vote for it. Dr. Robinson said that cutting will mean redesign. Motion failed by roll call vote. YES (Gersten, Kearney, Portnoy). NO (Gaston, Waterbury, Kortze).
Mr. Gaston moved to accept the Capital Improvement Plan as presented except that the high school expansion number is $37,826,000. Second by Mr. Kortze. Mr. Gaston said that $500,000 would be saved by not having storage under the gym and believes that there is another $500,000 in contingency.
Joe Hemingway, member of the Legislative Council, suggested that the project go forward as presented with bid alternates for some items in order to take things out of the main bid package but still only bid the project once. Mr. Bienkowski said there should be a full set of bid documents by February 26.
Motion failed by roll call vote. YES (Gaston, Kortze). NO (Waterbury, Portnoy, Gersten, Kearney).
Mr. Gaston moved to send the Capital Improvement Plan to the Legislative Council. There was no second.
The Board requested that Mr. Spragg prepare another graph with 5.25% growth for the next meeting on January 24. Mr. Kortze asked that the Board members bring specific motions to that meeting.
ADJOURNMENT Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:01 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
| 
