302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
BOARD OF FINANCE MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 5, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. |
BOF Attendant Members Absent Members
David LaMay, Chairman
Brad Thorpe, Vice Chairman Greg Gernhardt
Tom Stevenson
John O’Brien
Barry O’Nell
Breck Lindley
In Attendance
First Selectman Carl Fortuna
Selectman Carol Conklin
Bob Fish, Treasurer
Lee Ann Palladino, Interim Finance Director
Don Lucas, Building Inspector
Call to order
Mr. LaMay called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM
Pledge of Allegiance
Mr. LaMay led the pledge.
IV. MINUTES
A motion to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2015 meeting was made by Brad Thorpe and seconded by Barry O’Nell and the minutes were unanimously approved.
A motion to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2015 meeting was made by Barry O’Nell and seconded by Brad Thorpe and the minutes were approved with 1 abstention.
V. Finance Director Report
Ms. Palladino reported that they were in discussions with regard to the current budget and the contingency account will be over budget due to roof repairs that were not covered by insurance and retirement of a police officer of which there was not enough money in the retirement account. Engineering will be over budget for the Main Street project, due to the crosswalk change near Saybrook Country Barn. This change is due to DOT standards.
Ms. Palladino reported that she is in the process of preparing the 2017 budget. She noted that she is also working on accounting policies and procedures which was recommended by the auditors.
Mr. LaMay thanked Ms. Palladino
Treasurer Fish noted that the expenditures for Board of Education and General Government are approximately as expected, although it has been necessary to put more expenses in Contingency this year.
He reported that tax collections are running well ahead of last year, in which we finished with a revenue surplus. As usual, revenue from the State of CT is low relative to the budget at this time of the year. He noted that local revenues and total revenues continue to be strong.
He commented that although total expenditures are approximately 0.7% ahead of last year, total revenues are 1.6% ahead, and we finished last year with a good surplus.
Mr. Fish called the board’s attention to the reports from Mahoney Sabol that he gave to the board. With regard to the Federal & State single audit reports, he noted several pages for the board to look at the reports on page 7, “Schedule of Federal Findings and Questioned Costs for the Year Ended June 30, 2015 and page 13 for the summary of auditor’s results.
He noted in the supplementary information and independent auditor’s report to look at page 3, the 5th paragraph with regard to the unassigned fund balance noting the General Fund of 8.4% of total general fund budgetary expenditures was sufficient to cover 1.01 months of general fund budgetary expenditures. He noted the page 17, balance sheet; page 19, revenues and fund balances and pages 63 – 65 schedule of expenditures.
Mr. Stevenson asked if there were recommendations to which Mr. Fish replied that recommendations, if any, happen at the end of the year.
Mr. LaMay thanked Mr. Fish.
At this Mr. LaMay made a motion to add Vehicle Discussion Building Inspector, seconded by Mr. Thorpe and it was so vote unanimously.
Selectman Fortuna reported to the board that he received a memo from the Building Official on December 23, 2015 asking for a replacement vehicle for Building Department use.
The memo noted that the current vehicle was in need of significant repairs that did not appear to be warranted due to the age and overall condition of the vehicle. The current vehicle is a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria that was re-assigned from the Police Department to the Building Department in 2009 with 84,000 miles on the odometer. The vehicle has over 146,000 miles and needs both front wheel hubs, a complete set of tires, has several instrument panel lights inoperative, and ne3eds a windshield washer pump. Repairs are estimated at $2,000, possibly more.
Mr. Lucas noted that Saybrook Ford has agreed to meet the conditions of the State contract and will provide a vehicle at the state pricing. The discounted price is $26,858.00. The current building department budget has $10,000 allocated for vehicle replacement in this fiscal year. Consequently a request of $18,000 to fund the difference between the budget allocation and the vehicle cost is being requested. The request includes an additional $1,142 for installation of the town radio, safety lights, signage, and a spray on bed liner.
Mr. Fortuna noted that the Board of Selectmen had a meeting and authorized and recommends to the Board of Finance an appropriation of $18K for the vehicle.
A motion by Mr. Thorpe to approve the authorization and recommendation by the Board of Selectman an appropriation of $18K from the undesignated fund account for the purchase of a truck for the Building Official, seconded by Ms. Lindley was so voted with 1 opposition.
VIII. Selectman’s Report.
Selectman Fortuna commented and discussed briefly the following:
- Community Development Block Grant planning study; we received $125K for the planning study by the Land Use Department;
- Sea Level Rise Committee; suggested hiring an engineer;
- Y&FS building: could be more than $25K due to chimney removal; Rugs/walls covered by insurance; electric needs upgrading; no emergency lighting; lighting upgrade; ceiling repair;
Mr. O’Brien inquired about the stair cases and are they up to code; the stair cases are grandfathered but structurally sound;
- Dispatcher negotiations: complaint to Labor Board; the negotiating team was not disclosed beforehand by the town; we counterclaimed that they failed to bargain in good faith;
- Position in Assessors Office changed to contractor position; put out to bid;
- LED lights; we are part of a pilot Program Sheffield to Main down to College. Positive comments from the Public.
Mr. O’Brien inquired if there was anything new on retirement issues. Selectman Fortuna reported that Pension board made a switch to AIG.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Thorpe second by Mr. O’Brien at 8:30 p.m.was unanimously approved.
Submitted:
Gerri Lewis, Clerk
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