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 TOWN OF OLD
SAYBROOK Board of Finance |
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 21, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY SHEFFIELD STREET |
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CALL TO ORDER, Carl Fortuna, Chairman, called the November 18, 2008 special meeting and workshop of the Board of Finance and Board of Ed to order at 6:35 p.m. Mr. Fortuna noted that these two commissions had the same discussions last year, thanked the BOE, and was looking forward to the same dialogue this year. He then turned the meeting over to Sandra Harder, Co-chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board of Ed.
Attendant Members Absent Members
Carl Fortuna, Chairman George Whelen, Vice Chairman
Robert Finch
Lee Sparaco
David LaMay
John O’Brien
Glenis G. Caouette
ATTENDANT STAFF:
Michael Pace, First Selectman
William Peace, Selectman
Joseph Onofrio, Superintendent of Schools
Julie Pendleton, Director of Finance
Michael Rafferty, Principal, Middle School
Mario Gaboury, Chairman, BOE
Sandra Harder, Co-chairman, Budget & Finance
Brad Thorpe, Co-chairman, Budget & Finance
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
BUDGET WORKSHOP ‘09-‘10: BOARD OF FINANCE/BOARD OF EDUCATION:
Ms. Harder thanked the Board of Finance and also noted that the BOE was very appreciative of having this workshop/joint meeting between them and then turned it over to Ms. Pendleton to give her report.
Ms. Pendleton noted that the BOE already anticipates a deficit of $350,000, due to tuition and transportation items including special education expenditures. She anticipates Special Ed to be one of the larger increases but may possibly be offset by health insurance. Ms. Pendleton noted that basically increases will be salaries and Special Ed expenses; somewhere in the 5% range. She, again, noted that there are freezes placed on supplies, materials, capital items and overtime.
Ms. Pendleton reported that BOE has locked in gas and fuel oil for the ’09 – ’10 fiscal year. Oil was locked in at $2.55/gal.; Diesel was locked in at $2.69/gal.; and Gas was locked in at $2.09/gal. Between now and next year there will be no increase. Ms. Pendleton reported electricity was locked in for 5 years and that the BOE was looking to lock in natural gas for this year and perhaps longer if they could. She, noted that the Administrator’s Union has agreed to a high deductible health plan and the BOE has implemented an HSA Plan, with the BOE funding a portion of this plan. This overall compensation package totals a 3.5% increase each year for a three year term, and will go into effect July 1, 2009.
At this time Mr. Sparaco commented that we should be aware of the effect that the economy has on everyone in the State of Connecticut. He requested a breakdown of Board of Education deficits, which Ms. Pendleton said she would get to him before the evening was over. Mr. Sparaco also asked Ms. Pendleton for the “Gross Receipts Tax” paperwork.
First Selectman Pace concurred with Mr. Sparaco and commented that naturally everyone and everything has to be looked at and considered. He noted that 2010 will be a transition year. Electricity will go up and there will be a small increase in health insurance and he noted that the Town is looking into HSA’s (Health Savings Accounts) as well. He is hoping that general government will have a zero increase in its budget for fiscal year ’09 – ’10. He is expecting a modest amount from the Grand List. The revaluation will take place in 2010.
Chairman Fortuna commented that he appreciated Ms. Pendleton in her willingness to keep the BOF informed. He spoke of the spirit of cooperativeness between the two Boards.
Ms. Harder reported that her Board appreciated Dave LaMay and John O’Brien and their willingness to attend their meetings.
The Special Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
Board of Finance
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