urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags013fMinutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the placePlaceNameOld PlaceNameLyme PlaceNameMemorial PlaceTypeTown Hall.
Present: Regular Members: Wayne Devoe, Mark Diebolt, H.P. Garvin, III,
Christopher Kerr, David Woolley
Alternate Members: Adam Burrows, Judy Read, Janet Sturges
Absent: Regular Members: Andrew Russell
Alternate Members:
Timothy C. Griswold, ex-officio
Guests: Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman
Skip Sibley, Selectman
Skip Beebe, Old Lyme Fire Department
Bob Pierson, Old Lyme Fire Department
Tom Swaney, Old Lyme Fire Department
Ellis Jewett, Old Lyme Fire Department
Mervin Roberts, Old Lyme Fire Department
Rob McCarthy, Chief, Old Lyme Fire Department
Dave Jewett, Deputy Chief, Old Lyme Fire Department
Rich Teixeira, Old Lyme Fire Department
Diana Atwood Johnson, Resident
Chris Oliveira, Resident
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Mr. Diebolt called the meeting to order at 7: 37 p.m. and stated that Mr. Kerr requested to be recused from voting this evening, therefore, a motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to have Ms. Read vote for Mr. Kerr. Mr. Diebolt stated that Mr. Russell cannot attend this evenings meeting, therefore, a motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Garvin and passed unanimously to have Mrs. Sturges vote for Mr. Russell in his absence.
47 Fire Services
47- 470 Old Lyme Fire Department
Mr. Diebolt thanked the Fire Department for preparing a detailed budget and attending this evenings meeting. He stated that both boards are made up of volunteers who give many hours of their time, keeping the town’s best interest in mind regarding the budget. Board members asked questions and provided comments for discussion to the fire department members. Board members requested a list of their immediate needs, making sure that safety remains a priority.
Chief McCarthy said that communication is essential between the two organizations. There was a discussion regarding a consultant to come in and assess the Fire Department’s budget and their equipment needs. Mr. Griswold stated that a third party consultant makes a lot of sense in order to make the Board of Finance more aware. Mr. Diebolt said that besides an outside consultant there should be a larger specialist group to concentrate year round on the Fire Department’s budget.
Board of Finance Meeting May 2, 2006
Mr. Woolley requested input from the Fire Department officials on which firm the Boards of Finance and Selectmen chose as a consultant. Mrs. Reemsnyder requested that the Fire Department officials communicate as to the various ways that they’re saving the town money on insurance and the different levels of their particular functions.
Ms. Read made a motion to add $4,160 back into the operating budget for heat and $760 back into the immersion suit line item. Mr. Garvin seconded the motion to restore those two items and the motion carried.
The next discussion was regarding $10,000 that was taken out of the Fire Department’s operating budget. Chief McCarthy stated that the scot air packs run approximately $5,300 per unit and their budget requested three, however, they are willing to take one out and only replace two air packs, which would be a savings of $5,300.
Mr. Devoe stated the pension plan incentive is important to maintain this year in light of the increase in gas prices. The incentive plan would assist in retaining qualified firefighters and not lose them to other departments. Mr. Diebolt requested for $5,300 to be reduced from the $10,000 cut from the operating. A motion was made by Mr. Garvin to restore $4,700 from the operating budget in unidentified cuts. Mrs. Sturges seconded the motion and motion carried.
The next item discussed is the necessity of the administrative assistant. Chief McCarthy stated that the position is for data entry for each of the calls that the fire department and not for writing letters, etc. Mr. Garvin asked what the amount of useable funds that the department has and if the administrative position could be funded by their outside solicitation efforts. Mr. Beebe stated that there is approximately $30,000 of useable funds, however, funds are used to finance safety equipment and other necessary items. Mr. Devoe stated that the incentive plan has retained members and brought members to achieve greater than the 50 points necessary in order to become vested in the incentive plan. Mr. Griswold wanted it to be on record that the incentive plan is important however cannot be a
necessity in each budget year. It is done discretionary and even though it’s presently only $19 per member annually, however, it can be eliminated from any given year. A motion was made by Mr. Woolley to restore $39,140, seconded by Mr. Devoe. Motion carried.
Chief McCarthy distributed several articles regarding the hazards of diesel exhaust within Fire Departments. Mr. Woolley stated that he feels that the exhaust funding is necessary, at least at the Lyme Street Station. Mr. Devoe stated that the school buses have received State funding to add emission equipment on the school buses, and suggested that there may be grant money available for the fire trucks diesel emission as well. The exhaust system captures the harmful exhaust and gets rid of it before it enters the garage area.
There was a discussion on the installation of the used generator that is in the budget for $18,000 and it was decided that $18,000 get carried over with additional funds added for a new generator next budget season.
Board of Finance Meeting May 2, 2006
Old Business
Mr. Griswold stated the next order of business would need to be added to the agenda for discussion and voting purposes, therefore, a motion was made by Ms. Read, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to add next item to the agenda. Mr. Griswold explained that $100,000 from surplus in the fiscal year 2005 budget for the first installment for the hose tender. It would be put into a separate account to fund an apparatus acquisition account and going forward, this account will have a balance of $200,000.
Mr. Garvin made a motion, seconded by Mr. Devoe, to take $100,000 from surplus to fund the apparatus acquisition account and to add this item to the Town Meeting call. Motion carried.
New Business
Mr. Griswold stated the next order of business is to add discussion on Shoreline Sanitation’s contract to the agenda for voting purposes, therefore, a motion was made by Ms. Read, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to add next item to the agenda. Mr. Griswold explained that the Selectmen received a letter from Gary Yuknat, President, Shoreline Sanitation, stating that it is time for them to place an order for a new truck. Shoreline Sanitation’s four-year contract period ends June 30, 2007. Presently the contract
Shoreline Sanitation picks up the refuse and their contract goes until the fiscal year 2007 and the 3rd year of the contract, Selectmen recommended that the contract be extended for four years to take it through July 2011.
A motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Devoe to extend Shoreline Sanitation’s contract through June 30, 2011 and to add the contract extension to the Town Meeting call. Motion carried.
Mr. Diebolt stated that the Annual Town Budget meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Auditorium with a short Board of Finance meeting to set the mill rate to follow.
A motion was then made by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Hayes-Finn
Secretary
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