MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
February 17, 2015
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday,
January 20, 2015.
Present were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, and Board of Finance members Bill Lamoin, Mark Bushka, Joshua Ferreira, Frank Rubino, and Laurene Pesce. Member Thomas Scoville was absent. Comptroller Alice Proulx was also present.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mrs. Pesce, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular meeting held January 20, 2015. Messrs. Bushka and Rubino abstained.
On a motion by Mr. Bushka, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special meeting held jointly with the City Council and WPC Authority on February 10, 2015. Mr. Lamoin abstained.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
DISCUSSION: Municipal Tax Collection
Mayor Carbone reported that the earlier RFQ process has been closed, and all proposers have been notified that their bids have been rejected. She said Special Counsel noted that the City could have a process with which it is comfortable. One possibility would be direct vendor interviews, she said, which could allow for additional proposers. She said she could allow them to provide more information, work through some of their proposal and bring forward a recommendation to the Board. Mayor Carbone said that another option would be to go back out to do an RFQ. She cautioned that it would require additional time, without a guarantee of any more interest. It may even result in fewer proposals, she said.
Mr. Lamoin asked what the required timeline is. Mayor Carbone said the current contract expires May 31, 2015 and noted that any new proposal or contract requires time for negotiation, execution and transition. Mayor Carbone said she would like to have a proposal before both Boards for acceptance and appointment by mid-March.
Mr. Lamoin asked if the three bidders were informed of the reasons they were rejected. Mayor Carbone said that two of those who submitted a proposal had contacted her office and she was able to inform them what their proposals’ deficiencies were.
Mayor Carbone said the direct vendor interview process is the recommended way to go and asked if the Board was comfortable with this.
Mr. Lamoin asked if the current contract allows for an extension after May 31st. Mayor Carbone said the Charter allows for an appointed four-year term or until a successor is appointed. She said if the current contract-holder were agreeable to continuing services beyond that date, that option would be available.
Mr. Rubino asked about the lengths of time for an extension signed as a separate contract. Mayor Carbone said the Charter is sufficiently vague regarding the time until that successor is appointed and added that the goal would be to fill it sooner rather than later. Mayor Carbone pointed out that she would rather do this slowly and do it right, than rush through this and find ourselves regretting or resenting the process or the outcome.
Mayor Carbone asked if she has the approval of the Board of Finance to proceed with this recommended next process, and offered to keep the Board informed on what is going on and where the process stands.
Mr. Bushka asked who else would be involved with it. Mayor Carbone replied that Special Council is researching this.
The Board indicated their approval without a formal vote. Mayor Carbone said she will proceed with the direct vendor interview process and will keep the Board informed.
BUSINESS: Dept. Heads
On a motion by Mrs. Pesce, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. No business was presented.
BUSINESS: Mayor and Board Members
On a motion by Mr. Bushka, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the Board of Finance.
Mr. Lamoin asked about the timing process for the budget cycle. Mayor Carbone said first draft budgets will be dropped on the Council’s desk today, in accordance with Charter. She said the initial vetting process will begin, so that on March 20th the budgets will be presented to the Board of Finance.
Mayor Carbone said that, in an effort to encourage more input from the Council, she is proposing to create a subcommittee consisting of two Board of Public Safety members, two City Council members and two
members of the Board of Finance. She said there would be three workshops that dive into the Department budgets and that product would be brought back to the full boards in the beginning of March, and then ultimately that first level approval budget for Board of Finance on March 20th. Mayor Carbone asked if two Board of Finance members would offer to work on that committee. There was no reply.
Mr. Ferreira asked about the winter cleanup status. Mayor Carbone reported that they were 85% expended on overtime and salt before this past storm. She said she will have the Public Works Director report to the Board at the next meeting.
Mr. Ferreira asked where the bond refunding stands now. Mayor Carbone said that because the current Tax Collector process may have a material impact on tax collection in the City of Torrington, the application has been held in abeyance. She said she continues to work on the Official Statement with Bond Counsel so that when the Tax Collector process is finished, she can move forward with refunding.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mrs. Pesce, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:17 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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