Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall.
Present: Regular Members: Andrew Russell, Wayne Devoe, Mark Diebolt, Christopher Kerr, David Woolley
Alternate Members: Adam Burrows, Judy Read, Janet Sturges
Absent: Regular Members: H.P. Garvin, III
Alternate Members:
Timothy C. Griswold, ex-officio
Guests: Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman
Skip Sibley, Selectman
Alison Mitchell, Vice Chairman, Old Lyme Historical Society
Bob Dunn, Member, Old Lyme Historical Society
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Mr. Russell called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Mr. Russell stated that Mr. Garvin would not be attending this evenings meeting. Therefore, Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Woolley to have Ms. Read vote for Mr. Garvin in his absence, made a motion. Motion carried.
Minutes of March 6, 2007
The minutes of March 6th were reviewed.
Being no corrections noted Mr. Kerr made a motion, seconded by Mr. Woolley to approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.
Minutes of March 13, 2007
The minutes of March 13th were reviewed.
Being no further corrections noted Mr. Devoe made a motion, seconded by Mr. Kerr to approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.
Board of Finance Meeting April 3, 2007
52-640-537-005 Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc.
Mrs. Mitchell explained that the mission of Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and interpret the rich history of Old Lyme and its environs for the benefit of its residents and visitors. The OLHSI was incorporated in the State as a non-profit, non-stock corporation in February 2005. The IRS granted the society tax-exempt status in February 2005. An application for non-profit mailing privileges was approved by the United States Postal Service in June 2006. She has recently been approached from the State Library for its collection. Mrs. Mitchell distributed a revised budget and came this evening to question why the Board of Finance cut their budget by 30% when all other association budgets were level funded. Mr. Diebolt made a motion, seconded by Mr. Devoe to increase their budget
to $3,000. Motion carried.
52-640 Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library
52-640-537-000 Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Association
Mrs. Sturges and Ms. Read met with the library officials and reiterated that the usage of the library has increased over the past year; therefore, the staffing needs have increased as well. The Library initially requested $295,750 (an increase of $85,725 or 41%). Since then, the Library Board reviewed the individual line items and eliminated approximately $27,000 worth of expenses. There was a question raised about the increase in the payroll line. Mrs. Sturges stated that the increase included a cost of living increase for salaries and wages, the restoration of a part time assistant for young adult services and an increase of 4 hours weekly for the circulation supervisor. Presently the library employs 13 staff; 4 full time, 9 part time. The savings by utilizing volunteer staff in the
circulation department represents approximately $20,000 in wages during the past fiscal year. However, last month the Board of Finance could not reconstruct about $10,000 of salary expense. Mrs. Sturges stated that Mrs. Fiorelli entered the Fundraising salary of $10,000 in two separate places. The new amount requested from the Town of Old Lyme is $258,876. Mr. Sibley asked if the new fund-raising development person is working out. Mrs. Sturges stated that pledges in the amount of $300,000 have been secured and additional pledges are expected later in the fiscal year against a goal of $1,000,000.
There was extensive discussion on the budget and it was decided to increase the budget by 7% or $15,000. A motion was made by Mr. Diebolt, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to approve $225,000.
Board of Finance Meeting April 3, 2007
45-410 Old Lyme Volunteer Ambulance
Mr. Griswold outlined the Ambulance wages stating that utilizing part-time EMT’s, as opposed to a full-time employee with a benefit package is more cost effective. There was a discussion about a paid staff person vs. a volunteer staff member and the related legal issues. Mr. Russell stated that the requested increase of hours from 5,200 hours to 5,720 hours annually equates to 10 hours of coverage per week. There was discussion about obtaining a legal opinion regarding payments to volunteers.
Mr. Diebolt, seconded by Ms.Read, made a motion to approve $102,159, with the provision that a legal review of the matter is made. Motion carried.
Landfill Closure Coordinator
The salary committee previously discussed the landfill closure coordinator position. The landfill will be changed over to transfer station and additional staffing will be necessary to man scales, monitor the traffic, etc. There is still two years of work needed to complete covering of the landfill. It was discussed funding this temporary non-union position for two years with 50% of the cost (including benefits) coming possibly from the landfill closure account. There was a discussion about creating a job description and posting the job for the landfill closure coordinator. The Board of Finance’s function is to approve funding for the position and the Board of Selectmen will handle the hiring and contractual aspects.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mr. Devoe to change the previously approved line #53-680 Transfer Station amount to $265,898, with 50% funding from Landfill closure account. It is understood the Board of Selectmen will create an appropriate job description, job posting. Motion carried.
Capital Project Fund - $250,000 Fire Apparatus A/C
Mr. Griswold recommended that, in view of the moderate increase anticipated this year that the funding for the Fire Apparatus Capital Project Fund account be $350,000 in FY08 rather than $250,000. This will switch the FY08 and FY09 amounts in the Capital budget.
Board of Finance Meeting April 3, 2007
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Ms. Read that $350,000 be approved for the Fire Apparatus Account – Capital Project Fund for the quint ladder truck in the FY2008 budget. Motion carried. Mr. Kerr abstained from the vote.
Reconcile Emergency Management ($13,250 vs. $12,750)
There was a discrepancy of $500 in the amount approved that needed clarification.
A motion was made by Mr. Diebolt, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to approve $12,750.
45-390 Animal Control
Mr. Griswold was not at the February 27th meeting when the Animal Control budget was discussed. The minutes of that meeting stated that the salary committee needed to revisit the salary line. After consideration, it was agreed no action was necessary.
41-15 Insurance
Mr. Griswold said the Insurance group includes medical insurance, life insurance, property/liability insurance, workman’s compensation, fire department insurance and bonds for the Tax Collector, Town Clerk and Treasurer. Mr. Griswold reported that our insurance agent for life insurance has identified another company to provide the group life insurance at a lower rate ($10,536) versus the $13,200 we were quoted. The Insurance budget can therefore be reduced by $2,700.
A motion was made by Ms. Read, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to approve $679,500. Motion carried.
There was a discussion on putting monies in the budget to repair various road and drainage problems affecting individual residents property. Action will not be taken until an accurate dollar amount is supplied to the Board of Finance. Mr. Griswold stated it would be irresponsible to budget any amount without proper research. He noted the Public Works budget provides $20,000 for miscellaneous project and the Board of Finance can appropriate up to $20,000 as well.
Board of Finance Meeting April 3, 2007
Mr. Russell spoke to resident, Thomas Kahrl and apologized for not addressing him at the beginning of the last meeting. There is some confusion about the table that was attached to Mr. Kahrl’s letter concerning the impact the proposed High School bond financing will have on Old Lyme properties assessed at $300,000. Some thought the amounts in the chart should be reduced by 20%, but Mr. Griswold pointed out that First Southwest provided the mill rates for each town (Lyme and Old Lyme), so the amounts are correct. The maximum impact will be in year 2013 ($600). Adding this to the impact of the existing debt related to the $34 million project, causes an impact of $869.
Mr. Russell stated that the next Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. The final budget review and mill rate calculations will be discussed as well as approval of minutes.
A motion was then made by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Hayes-Finn
Secretary
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