North Stonington Board of Finance
Approved Meeting Minutes
of
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
New Town Hall
North Stonington, CT
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- Call to Order Chairman Dan Spring called the meeting to order at 7:34 PM. Brent Woodward, Charlie Steinhart, Emile Pavlovics, Mustapha Ratib and Tim Main were present.
- Public Comments and Questions: No comments or questions.
- BOS: Transfers/Appropriations (NSVFC), Tribal Recognition; Attorney’s Fees, Project Updates, Monthly Report:
In a letter dated January 7, 2015, the BOS requested the BOF to approve an additional appropriation of $22,859. This sum represents the Town’s share of a grant valued at $241,306 to replace SCBA packs and cylinders for the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Company (NSVFC). The $22,859 cost is ten percent of the $241,306 plus administrative fees. This is a regional grant affecting seven local towns including North Stonington. During the last BOF meeting on December 3, 2014, this subject was addressed and it was the general consensus among BOF members to support this request but take no action until receipt of the grant.
Based on disclosure of new details, Dan Spring moved to approve the $22,859 additional appropriation for replacement of the NSVFC SCBA packs and cylinders (line item C3.25) subject to approval at a Town meeting. The motion was seconded by Mustapha Ratib and failed 3-3-0. Tim Main, Brent Woodward and Emile Pavlovics were opposed.
Subsequent to the motion being disapproved, additional discussion by First Selectman Nick Mullane included the following key points.
- The regional grant affecting the seven local towns was formally submitted as of December 5, 2014.
- Approval by the individual seven towns may help in the grant approval process although it was not known if any of the other six towns had provided approval.
At this point Tim Main moved to approve the $22,859 additional appropriation for replacement of the NSVFC SCBA packs and cylinders (line item C3.25) subject to approval at a Town meeting. The motion was seconded by Charlie Steinhart and passed 4-2-0. Brent Woodward and Emile Pavlovics were opposed.
In a letter dated December 29, 2014, the BOS requested the BOF to approve an additional appropriation of $32,000 for final payment to the law firm of Perkins Coie for comments generated to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on revisions to the Tribal Acknowledge Process. Accordingly Dan Spring moved to approve an additional appropriation of $32,000 for payment to Perkins Coie for work associated with Tribal Recognition
( line item B 9.01). The motion was seconded by Charlie Steinhart and passed 6-0-0.
In the same letter dated December 29, 2014 excess funds were noted for the following:
Town Hall Parking Lot Stonewalls Project in the amount of $10,000 and
Boiler Replacement in the amount of $6,821.
Tim Main moved to transfer $10,000 from Town Hall Parking Lot Stonewalls Project (line item D 1.17) and $6,821 from Boiler Replacement (line item C 1.07) to the Undesignated Fund Balance. The motion was seconded by Mustapha Ratib and passed 6-0-0.
Nick Mullane informed the BOF of a one year schedule slip for repair of the Boombridge Road bridge leading into Westerly, RI. The delay, which moves the construction start to July of 2016, is a result of drainage design changes on the Westerly side.
Hewitt property dam repair continues with no change notices and associated cost increases.
Nick Mullane was advised by the town of Stonington that connecting to their sewer line would incur a buy in cost of $15,000,000 plus any plant upgrade costs would be the responsibility of North Stonington. Nick Mullane is reviewing alternate methods.
Interviews of candidates applying for the EDC consulting position will be completed by January 9, 2015. Selection will happen by the end of January 2015.
- Tax Report: The tax report through December 2014 was submitted. A question regarding the payment plan number will be addressed.
- BOF Fiscal Polices: Dan Spring will add signature lines to the Undesignated Fund Balance policy and will draft the next policy, which will be Capital Projects.
6. Previous Minutes: Dan Spring moved to approve the minutes of December 3, 2014 as amended. The motion was seconded by Tim Main and carried 6-0-0.
7. Future Strategies: Budget Prep (2015-2016), BOE Facilities Review: Dan Spring will create a schedule for the 2015/2016 budget process. A tri-board (BOF, BOS and BOE) meeting will be scheduled in the upcoming months for the purpose of continuing the school expansion effort.
8. Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by Dan Spring. The motion was seconded by Charlie Steinhart and carried 6-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
\ BBW \
Brent B. Woodward
Secretary, Board of Finance
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