Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Board of Finance Meeting:
Call to order @ 7:30 PM
• Call to Order Charles Steinhart called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. In attendance: Charles Steinhart, Bob Testa seated for Tim Pelland, Emile Pavlovics & Carolyn Howell (Tim Main arrived @ 815pm)
• Participating in conversation via Video/Conference Call, but not seated –Mustapha Ratib
Absent: Tim Main, Tim Pelland & Alternate Chris Hundt
• Pledge to the Flag performed.
• Public Comments/Questions – None
• Item #5 Continued BOF discussion and action on 2016/2017 budget (tabled from previous meeting) – Since Mark Donohue was the only Selectman present Carolyn suggest that we ask him if he had any comments regarding the proposed cuts. Mr. Donohue indicated that he was not authorized to speak for the Board of Selectmen but that he could comment on how he felt personally about each item. Mr. Donohue did state that Shawn was supposed to forward something to the Board of Finance as to the impact that our proposed cuts were going to have on the Town – Which after discussion, no one had received any documents from Shawn and the only correspondence that we had received specifically regarding cuts was a request by Shawn to consider reinstating the extra $1,000 that would be the difference between
what the Board of Finance was originally told was the cost of the proposed sand bagging machine and the actual invoice/proposal. Everyone present felt that we did not want to make any adjustment to this line item and so we moved on to other items.
• Regarding Tribal Recognition Attorney Costs – Mr. Donohue stated that he was not concerned about the cuts made to this portion of the budget. Mark indicated that more is needed to look at this. They need to get a good feeling about what is going to be involved and the costs related and they have not been able to get this information from the Attorney.
• Highway Department and Road Costs – Mark indicated that there would be an affect on how many miles of road would not be chip sealed or paved. We discussed the fact that at our last meeting that Shawn and Nick had indicated that the reduction of $50,000 from this item would cause 2 miles of road in Town to not be chip sealed for that year.
• Regarding Capital Items – Mark stated that he is not necessarily disagreeing with the Capital Items that were cut. He remembers the Chief stating that the Forestry Truck was much more important and was in favor of having the Company Car put off for another year if he had to choose.
• Abatement Items – Mark Donohue stated that he was personally concerned about the abatement items. He felt that holding off on the abatement of Green Gables and the other properties cause a risk if they are not going to raise the property and make it safe. There are concerns regarding hazardous materials from some areas and that would have to be shipped to Pennsylvania for disposal. He is also concerned about the Wintechog Hill Property regarding trespassers and kids getting in there and the risk that it poses. After some discussion, Bob Testa explained that there was money still in this account. Mark indicated that he wasn’t aware that $60,000 had been left in this line item in order for the Town to start this process and he seemed satisfied with the fact that if more was needed
for this area, that a request could be made.
• After looking at all of the items discussed and cut it was confirmed that there was an increase in the Selectman’s Budget of $8937.00. The budget went from $4,785,756 to $4,794,700 or an increase of 0.18%
• Emile moved onto the Board of Ed budget and wanted to site the entire budget as one package. Emile stated that the Board of Finance gave from the approved 2015/2016 Board of Education Budget an additional $115,966 which gives a 27% mil rate. Charlie Steinhart stated that this is a 0.9% increase. The Board of Finance got not quite ½ _____________.
• Mustapha then indicated that there was $59,120 going into the undesignated fund. Emile stated that we would need this information for the Town Meeting what this increase does to our surplus percentage and we will need this when we face the public.
• Estimated Returns – Mark Donohue said that the request had been made but that there was no response as of yet.
• There was some discussion about the 1st Selectman saying that he expected to have a call with the Board of Ed to communicate the reductions that had been made at our last meeting. There was no confirmation that this conversation had taken place either by communication from Shawn or Mr. Carlson to the Board of Finance.
• Bob Testa then asked how far away from a 26.8 mil rate we were. If you get rid of the surplus it would bring it down to a 26.8 mil rate. The surplus itself goes from 9.9% to 9.6% as it is, which is above the policy of the Board of Finance, but below the auditors suggestion, per Emile Pavlovics.
• Bob Testa then stated that if $200,000 came back to the Town we could get to a lower mil rate but we don’t want to show a reduction from 8.1 to 9.9 in the surplus. There was discussion about what would happen if the mil rate went down – we went up 9/10 of a mil and it mathematically covers the reductions on the grand list. Carolyn also asked if any returned money could be placed into the surplus account.
• Emile Pavlovics moved that the Board of Finance adopt the Budget for the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 of General Operating Government of $4,794,700, a redemption of debt in the amount of $339,470, Board of Education $12,875,068 and Capital of $882,923 for a total budget of $18,892,161. This was seconded by Bob Testa and approved 4-0-0.
• Tim Main arrived @ 815pm.
• The Board of Finance discussed having a Hearing vs. a Town Meeting. It was decided that we would have a Town Meeting and discussed promoting the meeting by sending out a post card sized notice to all residents in the mail, which would include the date of the vote and the town meeting and what would be voted in simple terms so that it would be easily understood by all. Also discussed were posting information on the Town Website etc.
Mr. Melia who was in the audience liked the idea of having something in writing that he could read, look at and think about. Charlie Steinhart presented a sample of a mailer card which all agreed we would consider and discuss at our next meeting the best way to word it.
• Item #6 Suspense List – The Board of Finance received a suspense list from Amy Snell, Tax Collector. After reviewing the list there were several questions as to the process. It was agreed to invite Amy to attend either (July 6th or July 20th, 2016) of our next 2 scheduled meetings to provide a presentation and then answer any questions that may remain.
• It was discussed and agreed that if Amy cannot meet with the BOF on the 6th that we would have a workshop on the presentation for the Town Meeting and post card. Would need the assistance of Mustapha to work on the Power Point presentation with Tim Main as well as the publicity. Tim Main is going to correspond with the Tax Collector.
• Item #7 Review of Previous Minutes – Bob Testa made a motion to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016 that commenced at 730pm, as amended, with attachment and Charlie seconded. Approved 4-0-1 Tim Main abstained.
• Review of 2nd set of minutes for same date - Bob Testa made a motion to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016 that commenced at 745pm, as amended and Charlies seconded. Approved 4-0-1 Tim Main abstained.
• Item #8 Public Comments and Questions – Mr. Melia commented regarding the Suspense List. Emile stated that our town does do very will with collections as compared to other towns. Mr. Paul Simon asked if it is normal for the Board of Finance to make line item cuts to the Selectmen Budget – Emile responded that the Board of Finance can only cut the bottom line from the Board of Education Budget and that the Board of Selectmen has only given $6000.00 in suggested cuts and so yes the Board of Finance can and does make cuts to line items in the Selectmen Budget.
• Item #9 Adjournment – Charlie Steinhart made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Emile seconded. Approved 5-0-0. Adjourned @ 918pm.
Respectfully Submitted by
Carolyn A. Howell, Board of Finance
Filling in for Tim Pelland as Secretary
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