MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
May 20, 2014
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday,
May 20, 2014.
Present were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, and Board of Finance members Frank Rubino, Joshua Ferreira, Bill Lamoin and Laurene Pesce. Members Mark Bushka and Thomas Scoville were absent. City Clerk Joseph Quartiero and Comptroller Alice Proulx were also present.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on March 18, 2014.
On a motion by Mr. Ferreira, seconded by Mr. Lamoin, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held jointly with the Board of Public Safety on March 25, 2014.
On a motion by Mrs. Pesce, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held on April 23, 2014.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Mrs. Pesce, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS/TRANSFERS FY13/14
On a motion by Mr. Lamoin, seconded by Mr. Rubino, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the budget amendments/transfers for FY2013/2014 described in the Comptroller's Memo dated May 7, 2014, approved by City Council on May 12, 2014.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Lamoin, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. No business was presented.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND MEMBERS
On a motion by Mrs. Pesce, seconded by Mr. Lamoin, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and Members of the Board of Finance.
Mr. Lamoin suggested the Board open a dialog on the Budget review process and consider doing things differently. Mr. Rubino recommended quarterly reviews. Mayor Carbone said she is open to any suggestions from the Board of Finance.
Mrs. Pesce said it is important to understand what services are affected by each budget cut. Mayor Carbone agreed that an impact analysis would help. Mrs. Pesce further suggested that a Board of Finance member meet with the Mayor during labor negotiations. Mr. Rubino said a subcommittee could do that and Mayor Carbone said she’d check on it and would appreciate receiving some parameters from the Board of Finance. Mrs. Pesce said that savings can be realized when all employees have similar benefit plans.
Mr. Rubino said the Boards are venting more, which is good. He said the process shouldn’t be passed on, and hopes the tax base will build up in the City.
Mr. Ferreira said he’s looking for more structure in the budget process, would like to be a little more involved with the Departments, and would like the process to be earlier. He said he would like a long-term perspective on where we are. Mayor Carbone agreed that would help with Capital projects. Mr. Ferreira added that knowing the growth rate of fixed expenses would be helpful.
Mrs. Pesce said that the Boards need to meet with their State and Federal government representatives because Board of Education obligations are a real challenge to the City. Mayor Carbone agreed that Torrington is not receiving enough money to move students forward, but we’re doing well enough that we don’t qualify for extra funding. Mrs. Pesce noted they cannot look at either the City budget or the Board of Education budget in isolation because we are one City.
Mayor Carbone said she appreciates all the work that Comptroller Proulx has done through this budget process.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Mr. Rubino, seconded by Mr. Ferreira, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:41 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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