The Board of Finance held a regular meeting on Monday, March 10, 2008 in the Conference Room, 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. ABSENT: Harrison Waterbury.
ALSO PRESENT: Financial Director Ben Spragg, members of the Board of Education, one member of public, one member of press.
VOTER PARTICIPATION. None noted.
FIRST SELECTMAN REPORT: Mr. Borst was not present.
COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Kortze received a letter from First Selectman Borst requesting that the request for a special appropriation of $38,826,000 for the High School expansion project be added to the March 10 Board of Finance agenda (Attachment A to original minutes). He also received a letter from Superintendent Janet Robinson that the Board of Education had approved this resolution on March 4, 2008. (Attachment B to original minutes).
Mr. Kortze received a reply from Town Attorney Grogins as to what the Board of Finance’s purview is concerning expenditure of bond money remaining from the Fairfield Hills bond resolution, operating money for Fairfield Hills and any future money spent at Fairfield Hills as needed. Attorney Grogins said that the leases are under the purview of the Fairfield Hills Authority. Any new money will come through the Board of Finance. Mr. Grogins said that the Legislative Council on May 23, 2001 voted to purchase the property with all amendments. The Town Meeting on June 6, 2001 voted on $21.85 million, $1 million for a Town Hall, $600,000 for playing fields and no financial limitations on demolition.
MINUTES. Upon motion of Mr. Gaston, the minutes of the public meeting on February 27, 2008 were unanimously approved as presented. Upon motion of Mr. Gaston, the minutes of the regular meeting of February 28, 2008 were unanimously approved as presented. The minutes of the regular meeting of March 3, 2008 will be amended to note that the motion concerning the Capital and Non-Recurring Account should read “decrease Capital and Non-Recurring by $257,000 and add to Revenue.” Upon motion of Mr. Gersten, the minutes of the special meeting of February March 3, 2008 were unanimously approved as amended.
FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT: Mr. Spragg advised that Robinson & Cole has not completed the resolution for the High School expansion project which is on tonight’s agenda. This item will be tabled until the March 27, 2008 meeting.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Town Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY 2008-2009 through 2012-2013.
Mr. Spragg noted that no group had voted to remove the Edmond Town Hall kitchen project or the Highway Department grader form the CIP. He had distributed a revised CIP after the Legislative Council had voted on the plan on March 5 (Attachment C to original minutes).
Mr. Gaston moved to approve the Capital Improvement Plan as approved by the Legislative Council with the following changes: remove the Replacement Grader for Public Works from 2008-2009, remove the Edmond Town Hall Kitchen Renovation from 2008-2009. Also remove all aspects of the Newtown Technology Park except for 2008-2009 as approved by the Legislative Council. Second by Mr. Gersten and unanimously carried.
Transfer. Mr. Kearney moved to transfer from Account 01570-2001 Contingency $75,000 to Account 01510-1003 Winter Overtime $40,000 and to Account 01510-2032 Winter Salt $35,000. Second by Mr. Gaston and unanimously carried.
Resolution appropriating Resolution Appropriating $1,000,000 For Architectural And Engineering Services For The Planning And Design Of A Park and Recreation Community Center/Senior Center.
Mr. Gaston moved to waive the reading of the entire resolution. Second by Mr. Gersten and unanimously carried.
Mr. Gersten moved Resolution Appropriating $1,000,000 For Architectural And Engineering Services For The Planning And Design Of A Park and Recreation Community Center/Senior Center And Authorizing The Issuance Of $1,000,000 Bonds Of The Town To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose. Second by Mr. Gaston. Motion unanimously carried by roll call vote. 5 YES (Gersten, Kearney, Portnoy, Gaston, Kortze).
Mr. Gaston reported that at the Legislative Council meeting of March 5, Council Chairman Will Rodgers asked him the feelings of the Board of Finance on having one vote for the High School expansion project and the budget referendum. Mr. Gaston explained that the Board of Finance feels that the High School expansion project should be presented at the same time as the budget.
Mr. Kortze advised that the operational costs for the new school was presented to the Legislative Council as $2,000,000 but that the Board of Finance was advised that the cost was about $650,000.
ADJOURNMENT Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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