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Minutes 07/21/2009
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MINUTES BOARD OF FINANCE JULY 21, 2009
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A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance was held in the Main Room of the Senior Center on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.
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Present were Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, Board of Finance members Laurene Pesce, Mark Bushka, Thomas Scoville, and Wendy Traub, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Interim Superintendent of Schools Edward Arum and Comptroller Alice Proulx.
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Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
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MINUTES #13 On a motion by Mrs. Traub, seconded by Mr. Bushka, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held June 16, 2009.
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MINUTES #23 On a motion by Mrs. Pesce, seconded by Mr. Scoville, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special meeting held June 22, 2009. Mr. Bushka abstained.
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MINUTES #34 On a motion by Mr. Bushka, seconded by Mrs. Traub, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting with the City Council held June 29, 2009.
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OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #40 On a motion by Mr. Scoviille, seconded by Mrs. Traub, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one who wished to speak. |
DISCUSSION: COMMUNICATION #52 Interim Superintendent of Schools Arum reminded the Board of the good trust relationship they had in the past. He wants to build trust and confidence in the school district, promoting the positives. He wants to look at student growth and district outplacements. He pointed out three types of special education outplacements: Those from the Board of Education, from Juvenile Court, and from the Dept. of Children & Families, with the burden of financing them placed on the school system. Mr. Arum wants to look at 3 things to discuss with the Board of
Finance and the Board of Education together: 1) the excess cost grant and how to fund it, 2) establishing a policy on how to finance the benefits fund, and 3) a revolving city-wide capital fund. Mr. Arum reminded the Board that the Middle School is 15 years old already, and that enrollment projections need to be done. Mr. Arum said the City will be receiving an Education Cost Sharing Grant, which has special reporting processes. Mrs. Traub said it's important to note that the ARRA money was taken into account. Mayor Bingham said typically the Board appoints a liaison with the Board of Ed, and asked if additional Board members could help. He doesn't want to lose ground in between the monthly meetings. Mrs. Pesce offered to work on the Benefits Fund, Mr. Scoville on the Capital Fund, Mr. Bushka on the ECS. Mayor Bingham said it's important to be on the same page and not wait 30 days for the next meeting. Mr. Bushka asked if Mr. Arum could compare the out of district cost issue with that of other districts Mr. Arum has been involved with. Mr. Arum
replied that the first step is to ensure the student is a Torrington resident, and that 4 1/2 times the cost should be budgeted. Mrs. Traub asked for increased transparency in reporting out of district costs while respecting privacy rules. Mr. Arum said another change should be the encumbrance of contracts and payroll. Mr. Scoville suggested a lock box for capital improvements in the municipal budget. |
BUSINESS: MAYOR & BOARD MEMBERS #896 On a motion by Mrs. Traub, seconded by Mr. Scoville, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and members of the Board of Finance. Mrs. Pesce asked about our cash flow situation. Ms. Proulx replied Mr. Friday is keeping close tabs on it since he's looking into borrowing money for the Municipal Renovations, we are waiting for reimbursement from the
State on the Torringford School Project, and the cash flow is okay through October. Mrs. Traub referred to the newest issue, the jeopardy tax, and that the Mayor's been working very hard to keep the peace. Mayor Bingham said he is doing what he can within the confines of the contract. Mrs. Traub said, in hard times, we want to consider both sides.
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ADJOURNMENT #1005 On a motion by Mr. Scoville, seconded by Mr. Bushka, the Board of Finance voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:33 p.m. |
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC Asst. City Clerk |
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