Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall.
Present; Regular Members:~ Andrew Russell, Wayne Devoe, David Woolley
Alternate Members:~ Anne Coburn, Bob Jose
Bonnie A. Reemsnyder, ex-officio, Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director
Mary Jo Nosal, Selectwoman
Absent: Regular Members:~ H. P. Garvin, III, Christopher Kerr, Janet Sturges
Alternate Members:~~ David Kelsey
Guest: Board of Education members:
Elizabeth M. Osga, Ph.D., Superintendent, Regional School District #18
Lynn Warren, Business Director, Regional School District #18
James Witkins, Board of Education Chair
Vickie Lanier, Board of Education member
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Mr. Russell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Devoe made a motion, seconded by Mr. Woolley to have Mr. Jose vote for Mrs. Sturges in her absence. Motion carried. A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mr. Devoe to have Mrs. Coburn vote for Mr. Kerr in his absence. Motion carried.
Regional School District #18 – Board of Education
Mrs. Osga stated that at the Feb. 15 Board of Education meeting approved a budget for the 2012-13 school year in the amount of $31,010,964. This represents a 1.52% increase over the adopted budget for the current year. The overall increase can be attributed to debt service related to the high school renovation project.
The operations decrease is attributed to a combination of factors including declining enrollment, reductions in special education costs, bargaining unit agreements and reductions in administrative service expenditures.
It is important to note that the proposed budget just meets the Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR) as set by the State of Connecticut. The MBR takes into account the District’s declining enrollment. The District cannot reduce its budget below the MBR. Doing so would result in a penalty of $2 in state funding for every dollar below the MBR.
Board of Finance Meeting March 20, 2012
The final phase of the construction of the high school will take place next year. The bidding phase of the high school renovation project coincided favorably with the lack of construction work in the region. The first tranche of bonds was sold in January 2011 at the surprisingly low interest rate of 3.65% and the second sold in January 2012 at even lower rate of 2.53%. The total cost of the project, including financing, is now estimated to be $14 million less than anticipated in the pre-referendum market.
Future plan include redistricting and consolidation of programs and services. Because of a decrease in population, The consolidation plan will be implemented over five years consolidating down to four schools for the K-12 grades, with the 5th building being utilized for preschool and office space. The district is actively planning for increasing the role of technology through wireless and mobile technologies. A new math curriculum will provide high levels of rigor and challenge for students that are consistent with high community expectations and student abilities.
The district’s bargaining units agreed to zero increases in salaries for 2012-2013.
Minutes of March 06, 2012
The minutes of March 6th were reviewed.
There being no corrections noted, a motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Devoe abstained. Motion carried.
300 Capital Expenditures/Non-Recurring
Mrs. Stadjuhar distributed a revised Five Year Capital and Nonrecurring Budget. She itemized various changes including Info Tech., and police department. The Board of Finance reduced White Sand Beach pump repair to $5,000 from $12,000 and police office table chairs to $1,500 from $3,000.
1900 General Government
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to approve $109,690 for General Government. Motion carried.
1910 Public Works
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Woolley to approve $122,100 for Public Works. Motion carried.
Board of Finance Meeting March 20, 2012
1920 Public Safety
A motion was made by Mrs. Coburn, seconded by Mr. Woolley to approve $98,609 for Public Safety. Motion carried.
1930 Public Works Projects
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to approve $340,000 for Public Works Projects. Motion carried.
Tax Abatements
There was a discussion and review of financial documents submitted by Lymewood and Ryefield Manor.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mr. Devoe to approve tax abatements for the upcoming fiscal year at a level of 100% for Lymewood and 50% for Ryefield, with review and reconsideration annually, with submission of each of their annual financial statements. Motion carried.
100 Revenues
Mrs. Stadjuhar detailed the Revenue for Property Tax, Charge of Services, Investment Income, and Intergovernmental. She highlighted various line items within the charges for services, investment income, and Intergovernmental revenues. Based on analysis and submitted budgets, Town Clerk, Building Parks and Recreation revenues are anticipated to be up. She stated that under Intergovernmental various grant amounts are down.
Salaries
Salaries were tabled this evening.
Board of Finance Meeting March 20, 2012
201 General Government
0120 Special Deductions
Mrs. Stajduhar stated that Special Deductions represents Social Security, Unemployment, Pensions and the Buyback for sick/vacation time. Because Salaries are not yet available, Special Deductions will be tabled this evening.
202 Boards and Commissions
0280 Land Use
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to approve $143,826. Motion carried.
204-0410 Town Woods Park
Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that on Wednesday, March 21st, a Town Forum and presentation on organic land care, for the athletic fields will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School. Therefore, this item will be tabled for this evening.
Suspense List
The Suspense List was circulated.
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to accept the Suspense List in the amount of $ 16,429.62. Motion carried.
Mrs. Stajduhar looked through the budget to see which area can support the Sound View’s request for $2,000. It was discussed allocating the request from surplus to be added to the line item - Parks and Recreations: Repairs Sound View facilities. A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to approve this expenditure. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Coburn to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 pm. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Hayes-Finn
Secretary
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