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 TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Board of Finance |
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741 |
MINUTES DECEMBER 20, 2011 7:00 P.M. First Floor Conference Room Old Saybrook Town Hall |
CALL TO ORDER As the senior member of the Board of Finance, David LaMay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Attendant Members Absent Members
David LaMay
Grant Westerson
Barry O’Nell
John O’Brien
Tom Stevenson
Brad Thorpe
Derrik Kennedy
In Attendance
Carl Fortuna, First Selectman
Scott Giegerich, Selectman
Bob Fish, Treasurer
Michael Spera, Chief of Police
Joseph Onofrio, Superintendant of Schools
Julie Pendleton, Direction of Finance & Operations, BOE
Michael Evangelisti, Director, WPCA
Christina Burnham, Chairman, Police Commission
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
Mr. LaMay asked for a nomination for a temporary chairman.
Motion: To appoint David LaMay as temporary chairman.
Moved: G. Westerson Second: B. Thorpe
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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As temporary chairman, Mr. LaMay asked for a motion to nominate a permanent chairman.
Motion: To nominate David LaMay as permanent Chairman.
Moved: G. Westerson Second: B. Thorpe
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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At this time, Mr. LaMay asked for a motion to nominate a vice chairman.
Motion: To nominate Grant Westerson as Vice Chairman.
Moved: D. LaMay Second: D. Kennedy
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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Public Comment: None
Chairman LaMay asked for a motion on the October 18, 2011 minutes.
Motion: To approve the minutes of October 18, 2011 as presented:
Moved: B. O’Nell Second: G. Westerson
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; J. O’Brien; B. O’Nell; 4-0-3
Abstained: B. Thorpe; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy
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Board of Education:
Special Education costs, encumbrances and expenditures have gone over the appropriation for 2011-2012. There are issues with the high school air conditioning unit which will cost $58,000.00. Ms. Pendleton noted that it is a struggle to make any headway with large projects. The big concern is Special Ed. She reported that the Board of Ed is unsure of the reimbursement from the State and that they are now expecting a 70% reimbursement, but won’t know until the State determines what it will be. Ms. Pendleton reported that all existing accounts and encumbered accounts are frozen.
Mr. O’Nell inquired as to the shortfall to which Ms. Pendleton replied $200,000.00. Mr. Onofrio noted that due to the climate of the economy, families are moving back home with their parents. If students are placed outside of Old Saybrook, but live in Old Saybrook, then the town in which they reside is responsible for the costs.
Mr. Stevenson inquired regarding transportation costs. It was noted that M&J Bus is contracted. This includes mini vans. The cost is $200.00 per day. Curtain is the back-up for M&J Bus. One child from Old Saybrook and another child from another town use Curtain. The cost is shared by the 2 towns. The students are transported to Middletown, Plainville, New Haven and Wallingford.
Ms. Pendleton noted that the gas, diesel and oil are locked in and that the consumption is pretty much the same every year.
At this time, Mr. Onofrio reported that Mr. Gaboury asked when the BOF would like to have their joint meeting with the BOE. The date of January 17th at 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Education building was decided upon.
Ms. Pendleton said she would be happy to meet with the new members of the Board of Finance at anytime.
Selectman Report:
Selectman Fortuna touched upon the following:
- Sent budget memo to all departments asking for a “0” increase;
- 2012-2013 will be union raises;
- OSPD is working on their budget;
- KHCAC energy issue:
- Boiler piped incorrectly;
- $30K is realistic number for energy (when problem is solved);
- Trustees offered to help offset some of the cost to which Selectman Fortuna accepted; they will give $6K/yr.;
- Assessor’s Office requested temporary help of 20 hrs/wk. for 3-4 months;
- Contract negotiations with Dispatchers will be January 25, 2012;
- Signs – “A” frame signs discussed with Chamber and Zoning Chair;
- State wants to take North Main Street by Eminent Domain;
- Met w/ HOPE re other opportunities in Old Saybrook;
- Knollwood Beach Wall erosion; State working there;
- Budget meeting with department heads will be held on January 16, 2012;
- Steve Gernhardt and Selectman Fortuna attended legislative session/seminar in Hartford;
- Selectman’s office compiling list of vacancies of boards and commissions;
- Selectman Fortuna noted that KHCAC budget will be over by $10K due to repairs.
Chairman LaMay thanked Selectman Fortuna. Mr. LaMay also welcomed Selectman Giegerich and asked if he had anything to report.
He then asked for a motion to add Treasurer’s Report to the agenda.
Motion: To add “Treasurer’s Report” to the agenda
Moved: D. LaMay Second: B. O’Nell
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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Treasurer’s Report:
Mr. Fish went over the General Fund Revenues, and Expenditures with the Board. He noted that this is the “usual” monthly report and that it is a cash report. He noted that the revenue side was doing well.
Barry Maynard, Tax Collector reported that the motor vehicle bills were mailed. He reported that the month of December for all tax received totaled almost 1.5 million which was par with last year at this time.
Mr. Fortuna noted that we need to consider digitizing files. Mr. Kennedy inquired if we had a capital plan going forward for IT. It was noted that at this time we do not.
Mr. Fish explained how the Probate Court costs were paid. The 9 towns share in the costs.
Mr. Fortuna also reported that at his selectmen meeting, he was trying to get other towns to join CRAHD to drive down costs for our town’s share.
Mr. O’Brien asked Selectman Fortuna to speak with Mr. Bonin with regard to road paving.
Mr. Westerson reminded Mr. Fish regarding assistance in Treasurer’s Office.
Chairman LaMay thanked Mr. Fish and Mr. Fortuna.
BOF Meeting Schedule 2012:
After a short discussion, it was decided to keep the same schedule going into the new year. Mr. O’Nell noted that schedules were set by other boards and commissions and it would be next to impossible to find a location and day of week that was good for the entire board. All agreed.
Appointment of Representative to National Hazard Mitigation Committee:
Mr. Stevenson volunteered to be the representative from the BOF.
Chairman LaMay asked that the matter of liaisons to other committees be added to the agenda.
Motion: To add discussion of liaisons to committees to the agenda.
Moved: D. LaMay Second: B. Thorpe
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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The following liaisons volunteered and were appointed:
Police Commission: Grant Westerson; Barry O’Nell, Alternate
Board of Education: Brad Thorpe; Tom Stevenson, Alternate
Mr. O’Brien inquired again as to the Dispatchers contract negotiations. Selectman Fortuna reported that they would be at the Town Hall, January 25, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.
He also noted that his Selectmen meetings would be the 2nd Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and 4th Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. of every month.
At this time, Mr. LaMay asked for a motion to adjourn.
Motion: To adjourn at 8:11 p.m.
Moved: D. LaMay Second: B. Thorpe
Discussion: None
Approved: D. LaMay; G. Westerson; B. O’Nell; J. O’Brien; T. Stevenson; D. Kennedy; B. Thorpe 7-0-0
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Respectfully Submitted,
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
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