BOARD OF FINANCE
REGULAR MEETING
August 18, 2005
7:00 pm
Members Present: Members Absent:
Lynn Brown, Chairman Bill Hodge
Kathy Blessing
Jim Harvey
Henry Becker
Lisa Kenderdine
Paul Schur – Alternate
Geoff Prusak – Alternate
Also present: Terry Hoffman, Accounting Supervisor; John Patton, Selectman
Chairman Brown called the Meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Motion was made by Henry Becker to seat Geoff Prusak for Bill Hodge. Jim Harvey seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve minutes of the June 16, 2005 was made by Kathy Blessing, Jim Harvey seconded. All were in favor, motion carried. Geoff Prusak abstained.
Motion was made by Geoff Prusak to approve the August 9th Special Meeting minutes will the following amendment (the amendment to the minutes are italicized). Jim Harvey seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Henry Becker asked whether the library board would request additional funds if the project went over what was allowed for contingency. A member of the library board stated that money from the North property can be used for unexpected construction costs. Chairman Brown informed the Library Board that the next time the well would be dry. He then called an end to the debate and called for a vote.
PRESENT TO SPEAK –
Terry Hoffman – Budget Transfers
Donna Latincsics – Memo concerning Mary D. Edwards Public Library Fund
John Patton, Selectman – Grant Administrator
Jim Poole – Concerns
OLD BUSINESS – None
BOARD OF FINANCE -2- August 18, 2005
NEW BUSINESS –
Terry Hoffman with a request for Budget Transfers.
Kathy Blessing motioned for the Board of Finance to authorize the transfers of the funds as follows:
~ $3,071 to Line Item 0141 Town Council
4,510 to Line Item 0351 Transfer Station Bulky Waste
527 to Line Item 0811 Social Security
75 to Line Item 0111 Selectmen Fill In Office Manager
175 to Line Item 0151 Town Clerk Purchase Services
125 to Line Item 0172 Zoning Board of Appeals
91 to Line Item 0182 Town Hall Operations
$6,400 from Line Item 0861 BOF Contingency
1,174 from Line Item 0831 Employee Health Insurance
1,000 from Line Item 0871 Miscellaneous
Lisa Kenderdine seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Terry Hoffman summarized for the Board of Finance the memo from Donna Latincsics. Discussion followed.
Lisa Kenderdine motioned that the Board of Finance recommends that the Board of Selectmen call a Town Meeting to appropriate to the Library Fund $241,911.30 plus any accrued funds. Geoff Prusak seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Selectman Patton addressed his concerns with the grants that the Town will be and are receiving. His concern is the management of the grants. It was suggested by the First Selectman that Donna or Terry in the accounting department manage the grants. Both Terry Hoffman and John Patton agree that they are not qualified to manage the grants. He requests that the Board of Finance talk with the First Selectman to suggest that a Grant Administrator be hired to manage these grants so that we will not loose them. The Board of Selectmen recently voted to accept a contractor that was not the lowest bid. Because of this decision we might loose the grant by not following the guidelines. A grant administrator would be able to advise and keep the Town on the straight and narrow with the grants.
Terry Hoffman added that we did hire a firm before and that was a large expense. The First Selectman wants to save money by not hiring anyone. She added that grants are very complicated and maybe we should see if we can hirer someone for less to be able to manage the grants.
Chairman Brown offered the following motion:
Since the Town is depending more and more on grant funds the Board of Finance highly recommends that the Board of Selectman contract a qualified Grant Administrator to over see the grant process.
Henry Becker seconded the motion. All were in favor, motion carried.
BOARD OF FINANCE -3- August 18, 2005
Jim Poole, a Willington resident asked in the 05/06 budget if all the staffing actions have been taken care of. Chairman Brown says that it has. He explained that his question is concerning the Business Managers position that the Board of Selectman approved at Monday nights Board of Selectman meeting. He asked that before any action is taken that a specific position be written and a survey be taken for an appropriate salary.
John Patton added that he thought that the creation of the Business Manager Position was premature. The Board of Finance, Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen should be involved in the decision of what the responsibilities would be, who the responsibilities would be taken from.
Chairman Brown asked if a job description has been created. Kathy Blessing said Terry should be compensated for the work she does. She then asked if the Board of Selectmen planned on how to fund the increase. Terry said that due to some contract negotiating there should be some extra funds to cover the increase. Kathy Blessing asked if the change in job title was to justify the raise. Selectman Patton said he believed so.
Discussion continued. Chairman Brown asked for a volunteer to form a committee to work with the Boards to research having and paying for a Business Manager. He will contact the Board of Education on this matter to see where it will go.
CORRESPONDENCE – none
GOOD & WELFARE –
Chairman Brown informed the Board that they are in process of negotiating the Public Schools Administrators salary. A volunteer is needed from the Board of Finance to attend the meetings. Kathy Blessing volunteered to attend the meetings.
Geoff Prusak mentioned that he was surprised that other members of the Board of Finance were not present at the Town Meeting.
Motion to adjourn made by Geoff Prusak at 8:31 pm…seconded by Lisa Kenderdine.~~ All in favor, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
~~
Debra Hlobik,
BOF Secretary
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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