Finance Committee Meeting
March 14, 2006
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Eric Munson, Jr.
Attendance: Present Ralph Ledger, David Barney, Ted Locke, Mira Munson, Wes Green, Jim Deming, Eric Munson, Jr. Absent: Margaret McClellan
Guest: John Panaia.
Eric asked approval for a possible increase in the Veterans Services Administrative Budget due a possible overlap in the Administrative Assistant’s position. The long time assistant is retiring and if possible they would like to hire a new assistant with a one or two week overlap. This would require one or two weeks extra salary that was not budgeted. The Finance Committee and Selectmen agreed that the small amount required for our share could be taken from reserves if necessary to cover this extra expense.
Margaret left all budgets that had not been turned in previously – the one or two budgets that did not get turned in will be level funded unless they come in lower than last year. She also left an updated budget sheet for the group.
The main agenda item for the meeting was to be the Public Works and Winter Roads Budgets. John was present to present his budget and answer any questions the committee might have about his requests.
John’s figures were reviewed carefully and reworked in a different format for the sake of clarity.(See attached budgets for Public Works and Winter Roads in the new format)
Capital requests for ’07 were reviewed. John felt a Loader would be a top priority in ’07. Eric pointed out that last year John also requested salt shed doors, carpeting for the library and a new roof for the Town Hall in his ’07 Capital Budget. John was asked to get an estimate on a Loader for the upcoming Finance Committee meeting as we would soon be discussing the Capital Budget.
John was asked about his Chapter 90 Plans for ’06-’07 He said he plans to blacktop, fill holes and cracks, do tree trimming, install some guard rails, do lines in the road and get some new signage.
Eric asked John the status of this year’s capital projects. He reported that the new truck should be here next week; that ventilation was “sort of done”; and that the electrical system had been updated. Several items had not been started as John felt Margaret did not have the money. He was told to complete all things approved by the Annual Meeting as long as the cost was at or below the amount that had been approved. He was reminded that Margaret would not borrow the money till she had bills. The group agreed that with the trucks arrival that Margaret should take out a note that would cover it and several other items so that we would have one note rather than several.
As there were no further questions for John, he left the meeting.
The Selectmen and Finance Committee then quickly reviewed any budget increases in the other budgets that Margaret had left for the group.
The assessors had put in $7,000 to be carried forward for a revaluation in three years. This had been suggested at the Annual Meeting to avoid a big expense all in one year.
Ted felt we should put in $37,000 for debt service and agreed to get a more exact figure as we moved closer to the Annual Meeting and most expenses were in.
We decided to increase the Fuel Budget to $30,000.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 20 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.
Ted reminded everyone that the Budget Hearing for the School Budget would be held in Tolland on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 6:30 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mira K. Munson
Secretary
| 
