MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
March 18, 2014
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday,
March 18, 2014.
Present were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, and Board of Finance members Thomas Scoville, Frank Rubino, Joshua Ferreira, Bill Lamoin and Laurene Pesce. Member Mark Bushka was absent. Also present were Comptroller Alice Proulx, Fleet Manager Emil Castro, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Police Chief Michael Maniago and Mayoral Aid Timothy Waldron.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Scoville, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held February 18, 2014. Mr. Lamoin abstained.
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held February 25, 2014.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
VEHICLE REPLACEMENT
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Scoville, the Board voted to consider authorizing the following scheduled vehicle purchases for the Police Dept. from MHQ (State Contract), having been approved by the Board of Public Safety on March 5, 2014 and City Council on March 17, 2014:
(1) Ford Explorer $33,200
(4) Utility Interceptors: (3) For Patrol $33,998 ea. (1) for the Deputy Chief $30,406
(1) Expedition for shift supervisors $38,182
Chief Maniago explained that the vehicle he drives now will be going to the Detective Bureau and the Deputy Chief's vehicle is going into the general pool to be driven. He said the replacements are for older vehicles but the vehicles' lifespan will be improved if the newer ones are assigned to administrative staff, thereby having less wear and tear.
Mr. Lamoin noted that on the plan, the vehicles to be replaced were much cheaper vehicles, although the gas mileage is the same. Mr. Castro said that the Explorer is $1500 more, but it is a better choice. He assured Mr. Lamoin that a vehicle will not necessarily be replaced just because it is noted on the vehicle replacement plan.
The motion was passed on a 3:1 vote with Mr. Lamoin opposed.
GENERAL FUND SALT OVERRUN
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Lamoin, the Board voted unanimously to authorize funding of the 2013/2014 General Fund salt overrun as per the Comptroller's memo of March 14, 2014.
Mr. Lamoin asked where the interest money would have gone if this wasn't being done and why the Street Department isn't helping to fund this from some of their other allocations. Mayor Carbone said the Street Department also has an overtime line item that has been over-expended. She said the interest has been accumulating over a number of years and would continue to sit in the Capital Reserve Account. Mayor Carbone added that she hopes the Board of Finance is comfortable with this proposal but doesn't necessarily lock us in to this funding plan.
Mr. Rubino asked what is sold to outside organizations. Ms. Proulx replied that we get revenue from the Board of Education, Torrington Area Health, and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Mayor Carbone said that if additional revenue were to offset the $39,000 allocation, she is looking for some latitude in the authorization given from the Board of Finance.
Mayor Carbone said the Public Works Director will encourage the Board to find a way to fund a line item for a Storm Contingency.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Mr. Scoville, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Mayor Carbone noted that the Vehicle Replacement Plan needs to be revisited as some of the dollar values are outdated.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND MEMBERS
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and Members of the Board of Finance.
Mr. Lamoin recommended a joint meeting with the Board of Public Safety. The other members and Mayor Carbone agreed.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Scoville, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at
5:19 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK |
Respectfully Submitted, Carol L. Anderson, CMC Asst. City Clerk |
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