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The Newtown Legislative Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at the Multi-Purpose Center, Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, CT. Chairman William Rodgers called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm.
PRESENT: W. Rodgers, T. Holian, D. Amaral, J. DiCandido, J. Hemingway, F. Pennarola, R. Recht, J. Shpunt ABSENT: P. Baiad, J. Borst, D. Brown, M. Iassogna
ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Finance Director Ben Spragg, Schools Superintendent Dr. Evan Pitkoff, Asst. Superintendent Alice Jackson, Director of Pupil Personnel Dr. Michael Regan, T. Hart (Schools Business Office), Board of Education members: Tom Gissen and Andrew Buzzi, Library Board of Trustees Chairman William Lavery and Treasurer Kelly Urso, Board of Finance member Michael Portnoy, two members of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None noted at this time
COMMUNICATIONS: None
COMMITTEE REPORTS: None
FIRST SELECTMANS REPORT: None
2005/2006 Proposed Budget
Booth Library Trustees Chairman Judge William Lavery had sent communications to Council members outlining all the financial data available regarding the Library budget. The Library is about the “collection” and programs. The Friends of the Library consists of 35-50 volunteers who hold a book sale every year. The book sale income averages $75,000 to $125,000 each year but the Library cannot use any of those funds for operating expenses. It can only be applied to the “collection”. This year the Friends are donating $98,150 for items specified they specify, leaving a balance of approximately $146,000. Mr. Rodgers asked if the Friends by-laws specify a level of reserve they must keep in their account. Ms. Urso will request a copy of the by-laws for the Council.
Dr. Pitkoff distributed copies of a powerpoint presentation he prepared on the budget, an outline of the components of the requested schools budget, and an outline of the new and increased positions for 2005-6 (attached to original minutes). He stated that this has been a challenging year with underfunded areas in the schools budget and the oil spill at the Reed School. He instituted a budget freeze to come up with $216,000 for clean-up costs plus another $168,000 or cost overruns in transportation, heating fuel, diesel fuel, workers comp, legal services and the central office move (copy of 04/05 budget frozen items attached to original minutes). Dr. Pitkoff feels that people who voted for the budget last year expect these items to be accomplished. It does not seem fair to take these
unexpected costs out of the schools budget and that the bonding should have been for $1.2 million. Chairman Rodgers feels that the same could be said of the municipal side of the budget.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the Board of Finance made two adjustments to the municipal budget - a $61,000 reduction in health insurance and a $50,000 reduction in Highway Capital. Overall, the municipal budget now has a 5.6% increase, including a $570,000 increase in health insurance, without which the overall increase would be 3.8%. The only new positions being requested are a police officer to be hired the second half of the year and a new parks maintainer.
Adjournment: Being duly moved and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attahcments
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