NOTTINGHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 10, 2006
NOT FINAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SESSION
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Mr. Michael Koester, Chair
Ms. Noreen White-Roy, Vice-Chair
Ms. Judy Doughty, School Board Representative
Mr. Peter Bock, Selectman's Representative
Mr. John Decker
Mr. Chet Batchelder
Mr. Kurt Duprey
Ms. Denise Blaha
Mr. Philip Fernald
Mr. Jack Caldon
Ms. Gail Powell
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mr. Hal Rafter, School Board Chair
Ms. Kathleen Sargent, Business Administrator, SAU #44
Ms. Judy McGann, Superintendent, SAU #44
Ms. Michelle Carvalho, Principal, Nottingham School
WORKSHOP SESSION:
The Chair opened the meeting at 7:00pm and explained that this meeting was simply a workshop for the Budget Committee to ask questions and get more information on the proposed school budget.
The Budget Committee members had a lengthy discussion of the default school budget. They asked questions and they discussed whether certain items should or should not be included in the default budget.
The Budget Committee reviewed the school warrant articles. Mr. Bock asked for clarification of warrant article #8. Mr. Rafter said that the Building Committee had approached the School Board about land that was between Priest Road and 152. He said that the town wanted to buy some land from the school for $1 and they wanted to use the land to put a new fire station on. He said that the School Board had felt the request was reasonable. Mr. Bock asked if anything had been done yet. Ms. Carvalho said that someone had come recently and dug some holes in the land. Mr. Rafter said that the main access to the fire station would be from 152. He said that the School Board had some concerns but he said that the trucks would be going more slowly by the school then they did with the fire station in it's
current location. Mr. Koester asked how much land the school had. Ms. Carvalho said that they had between 73 and 75 acres. Mr. Rafter said that not much of that land was buildable. Mr. Koester asked if there was a possibility that a high school would ever be built on the school parcel of land. Mr. Rafter said no.
Mr. Decker asked if all the money issues were included in the final figure. Mr. Rafter said yes.
Mr. Koester noted the warrant article for a capital reserve fund to offset costs if an additional Special Education student with severe needs were to join the district.
Ms. McGann said that there was also a warrant article for a capital reserve fund to do unanticipated repairs to the building. She said that the building was 10 years old. Ms. Carvalho said that the roof was no longer under warranty and that emergencies could happen. Mr. Rafter said that the School Board had struck the word "unanticipated" from the warrant. Ms. Doughty said that the warrant article would be repeated each year and the money would build up if it was not spent. Mr. Fernald said that he did not like capital reserve funds and it would not get his vote.
Ms. McGann explained why a community would want to have a reserve fund for the move in of a catastrophically ill Special Education child.
Mr. Rafter noted that the School Board would run the numbers for the second year of the contract one more time.
Mr. Decker handed out packages from the Conservation Commission to the Budget Committee. The packets included information about the proposed Mulligan Forest easement.
Mr. Decker made a motion to adjourn at 9:35pm. Mr. Bock seconded the motion. The present members of the Budget Committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 10-0. (Ms. Roy needed to leave early).
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Tivnan
Budget Committee Secretary
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