302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741 BOARD OF FINANCE MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JUNE 2, 2015 7:00 P.M. First Floor Conference Room Town Hall |
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BOF Attendant Members Absent Members
David LaMay, Chairman
Brad Thorpe, V. Chairman
Tom Stevenson
John O’Brien
Breck Lindley
Barry O’Nell
Greg Gernhardt
In Attendance
Carl Fortuna, First Selectman
Scott Giegerich, Selectman
Bob Fish, Treasurer
Barry Maynard, Tax Collector
Sarah Becker, Town Clerk
Michael Spera, Chief of Police
Mr. LaMay called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. LaMay led in the pledge.
III. MINUTES 5/5/15; 5/12/15;
A motion was made by Ms. Lindley, seconded by Mr. O’Brien to approve the minutes of May 5, 2015 and motion was so voted with two abstentions.
A motion was made by Mr. Thorpe, seconded by Ms. Lindley to approve the minutes of May 12, 2015.
Mr. O’Brien asked that these minutes be tabled due to a change in the budget number.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT; Several members of the audience had questions, comments on the Marine Patrol boat.
- Age of current boat; how many hours on the boat;
- Do we need a Marine Patrol boat; costs of repairing current boat;
- Board was reminded that the citizens of t he town voted no to big expenditures;
- Delineation between the fire boat and the patrol boat;
After a long public comment, the chairman noted that the public would have a chance to ask questions after the presentation. He also noted that there would be no decision that evening.
A motion to add “Public Comment” after Marine Patrol presentation was made by Mr. Thorpe, seconded by Mr. O’Nell was so voted unanimously.
V. TAX COLLECTOR – SUSPENSE ACCOUNTS
Mr. Maynard presented to the board a hand out of outstanding tax accounts, (PP, MV, MVS) to be changed from active status to “suspended” status for Grand List Year 2009. This is a function/process the auditors look for during the annual review of Tax Collector records. The accounts listed will remain collectible, and be collected when possible.
A copy of this list is in the Tax Office.
Mr. Stevenson inquired if an outside firm was used for collections. Mr. Maynard noted that outside firms are only used for real estate. Ms. Lindley inquired if this list was online to which the answer was no.
A motion to move the “Suspense” file was made by Mr. O’Nell, seconded by Ms. Lindley and was so voted unanimously.
Mr. Maynard noted that the tax bills were printed and he was going to pick them up. A possible mailing date is June 11th.
VI. FINANCE DIRECTOR: No report.
VII TREASURER REPORT
Mr. Fish noted that General Government expenditures are beginning to run a little higher than last year. Bonded indebtedness payments will finish above budget. We have one more WPCA bond payment of $10,165 due this fiscal year. We have paid an accrued interest payment for the “Preserve” bond of $42,146 that was not in the original budget.
Carryover expenses for roads and sidewalks are completed. These expenses are not part of this year’s budget, but they will affect the Unappropriated Fund Balance.
Mr. Fish noted that taxes continue to come in well. Total taxes received at year end will be above budget. State of CT payments to Old Saybrook are back on budget. Local revenues are normal, continuing to run higher than last year. Mr. Fish commented that we should end up with a surplus for the General Fund budget.
At this time, Mr. Fish gave a brief overview of the Mahoney Sabol agreement. The board was provided a copy of the agreement. Mr. Fish noted that they will start their services in July and work is done usually in October. Audit reports delivered in mid December. Fees are $44K; payment schedule is July 15th and October 15th. This is a four year contract.
Mr. O’Brien inquired if a memo to department heads who were running over their budget was sent out.
Mr. Fortuna noted that he did not send out a memo.
Mr. LaMay thanked Mr. Fish.
VIII. SELECTMAN REPORT
Mr. Fortuna directed the board’s attention to the Additional Appropriation to Retirement Pay-out memo dated May 27, 2015. He explained to the board that in order to keep the Contingency account from being skewed by this one payment, and to be fully transparent to the public in how much was spent on retirement payouts for the year, he asked the board to make an additional appropriation to Capital Outlay of $18,621 to be placed in Retirement Payout Account #840 to cover for retirement payouts during the year that went above the $10,000 appropriation. He noted that once that appropriation is made, a transfer will be made to remove the money from the Contingency line item to the replenished Retirement Payout account.
A motion by Mr. O’Brien, seconded by Mr. Gernhardt to appropriate to Capital Outlay $18,621 to be placed in Retirement Payout Account #840 and it was so voted unanimously.
Mr. Fortuna reported briefly on the following:
- Mr. Fortuna noted that he may do an auditors meet and greet possibly in July.
- Dispatcher negotiations;
- Attended grand opening of Yale New Haven branch in Old Saybrook;
- Library cost sharing;
- Dredging of North Cove;
- State budget; taxing more goods and services; car tax;
- Front of Town Hall painting; quote of $3,400;
- Mr. Stevenson inquired about an update on street/traffic lights; Mr. Fortuna will discuss at next meeting;
- Mr. O’Brien inquired re Emergency Management at the last Board of Selectman meeting; would like to see Attorney’s approval of this;
Mr. LaMay thanked Mr. Fortuna.
IX. POLICE DEPARTMENT – MARINE PATROL
Chief Spera addressed the Board noting that the Police Department Marine Patrol division was looking for a short term solution on obtaining a patrol boat eventually ending up in a long term solution. He turned it over to Sergeant DePerry and Sergeant Walsh.
The Board was in possession of the Marine Strategic Planning Committee Vessel Status Report dated 5/21/2015.
The Police Department had an independent survey conducted on the current police vessel. Based on those results, the vessel was deemed unsafe to be placed into service in its current condition. Safety repair estimates exceed current appropriations. There, the police vessel is currently out of service.
Chief Spera noted that he is extremely concerned that the Department is not providing law enforcement services on the water as they have done for decades. He noted that the marine community deserves these services. There is no current marine asset to respond to a law enforcement incident that may occur on the Connecticut River and/or Long Island Sound.
In the booklet delivered to the Board he noted that there is a current vessel survey report, two (2) repair estimates and three (3) lease proposals that would provide an asset for this season and purchase options.
It was noted that the present boat was at its end of “weld” cycle. Sgt. DePerry and Sgt. Walsh discussed the status report briefly and noted that the deficiencies were spelled out at the end of the report. They noted that they have reached out to boat auctions. It was noted that repairs would exceed $50K.
Mr. Stevenson questioned the purchase options and noted that there were two (2) conflicting statements in the surveyor’s report. Past Fire Chief Dunn explained the delineation between the Fire Boat and the Police Patrol Boat. Ms. Lindley noted that a patrol boat is the responsible thing to do but why not work mutually with Old Lyme. Mr. Thorpe suggested working together with Old Lyme since we share the same water. Mr. O’Brien asked about the engine and its repairs. Mr. Gernhardt noted that he supported a patrol boat and asked what the minimum requirements would be to meet the needs to support a patrol boat.
Chief Spera noted that he was not working on this full time. He felt that there was an immediate need to fulfill their responsibility of patrolling the waters of the Connecticut River.
Public Comment ensued for a long period of time covering the following questions and comments:
- What is the mission of Marine Patrol
- Cost to pay drivers of boat
- Is there a need for police presence
- No one is looking at the bigger issue; can town afford to invest $ in patrol boat
- Have Selectman call DEEP to patrol OS
- What can people of OS afford
- Read that Old Lyme received a gift of a boat; now they have two
- Talk to OL for short term remedy
- Boat should be policed by one (1) person
- Build on mutual aid between towns
- 9 major marinas; need for marine patrol
- River traffic has lessened; work with Old Lyme; Essex; Westbrook
- Sea Tow: Single Engine v Twin Engine; Single engine is a bad idea; police boat has broken down and the busiest recreational boating river is Old Saybrook Ct. River
At this time, a motion to close Public Comment was made by Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Ms. Lindley and it was so voted unanimously.
VI. CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS:
Mr. LaMay commented that the Board will digest all of the information and will talk at the next meeting. He thanked everyone for their input.
These minutes are recorded in their entirety on CD in the Town Clerk’s Office.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Thorpe and seconded by Mr. O’Nell at 9:50 p.m.
Submitted:
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
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