BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT 06279
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Members Present: Members Absent:
Ken Schoppmann, Vice-Chair Dawn Semmelrock - Alternate
Ann Marie Brown Kathy Blessing, Chairwoman
Jim Poole Elizabeth Marco
Mark Jones
Chopeta Lyons – Alternate
Also Present: Selectmen Palmer; Annemarie Poole, Treasurer; Tyler Millix, Fire Chief Willington #1.
Vice-Chairman Schoppmann called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
Mark Jones motioned to seat Chopeta Lyons for Kathy Blessing, Ann Marie Brown seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2009 was made by Chopeta Lyons with the following amendments. Ken Schoppmann seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
The date of the minutes should be May 21, 2009.
Under approval of minutes the sentence should read: The second paragraph from the bottom, second line should read: up to unfounded mandates in the future.
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Tyler Millix, Chief of Willington #1 asked that the Board add the allocation of the $80,000 for the South Station to a future agenda. A Town Meeting will need to be called.
NEW BUSINESS
Transfers – A memo was left for the Board by Donna Latincsics, Business Manager, with Budget Transfers.
Ken Schoppmann motioned to transfer $5,000 to line Item #141 Town Counsel, from Line Item #851, Insurance and transfer $633 to line Item #232 Fire Protection, from Line Item #831, Employee Insurance. Ann Marie Brown seconded. Discussion followed. All were in favor, motion carried.
The Board asked that when requests are left for the Board with out a representative present that there be more of an explanation with the request.
Board of Finance -2- June 18, 2009
OLD BUSINESS
The Board discussed breaking up discussions concerning the Region 19, Fire Departments, Library and WYFSS between the August, September and October meetings before the next Budget Season.
The following schedule was suggested:
August - Fire Department & WYFSS
September – Library & Insurance benefits for Elected Officials
October – Budget Strategy Meeting & GASBY
The Departments that are being discussed will be notified ahead of time.
GASB 43/45 – Discussion was held. The following motion was presented:
Ken Schoppmann motioned that the Town of Willington will not fund for budget year 08/09 GASB 45 (a.k.a, Other Post-Employment Benefits (“OPEBs”)). This action will not have a negative impact on the Towns current Bond Covenants based upon information provided by the Towns Audit Firm (O’Connell, Pace, & Company, P.C.). The Town will in budget year 09/10; 1) develop a funding strategy and 2) implement the strategy to satisfy the requirements of GASB 45 (Other Post-Employment Benefits (“OPEBs”)) in 2010. Ann Marie
Brown seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Ken Schoppmann suggested that there be a meeting review added the Board of Finance’s monthly agenda. This will keep the Board up to date on what is happening with other department’s meeting the reflect on the Town’s finances.
CORRESPONDENCE – none
GOOD & WELFARE –
Chopeta Lyons gave the following report to the Board:
The Ad-hoc Regionalism Committee (an informal, as opposed to an "official," committee) has met twice, May 26th and June 11.~ The goal of the committee is to discuss 1) the possibility of regionalizing K-9 for Ashford, Willington and Mansfield and~2) explore less formal avenues and areas for cooperative sharing.~ Members from Willington are Kathy Blessing, Chopeta Lyons (Willington Board of Finance), Mark Makuch (Board of Education), Mark Palmer (Selectman) and David Harding (Superintendent of Willington Public Schools).
~
At the June meeting, Atty Ron Harris of the Connecticut State Board of Education reviewed what the Connecticut State Statues dictate about regionalization.~~~He also established~that school districts could enter into contracts with each other~as well as~form "cooperatives.~ He said that the state is currently pushing for "regionalism" rather than full-blown regionalization.~
The Board was also informed that the Region #19 Board will be back on track with the renovation to the fields in October/November for vote in February.
Board of Finance -3- June 18, 2009
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Hlobik
BOF Secretary
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