BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT 06279
SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Members Present: Members Absent:
Ken Schoppmann, Chairman Richard Littell - Alternate
Ann Marie Brown, Vice-Chair
Elizabeth Marco
Alan Ference
Peter Latincsics
Chopeta Lyons
Mark Wiggins – Alternate
Also Present: Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Lynn Nicholls, Public Works Dir.; John Patton, CIP; Mark Makuch, Board of Ed; members of the public.
Chairman Schoppmann called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES –
Chopeta Lyons motioned to seat Mark Wiggins for Lisa Marco, Alan Ference seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2010 Special Budget Meeting was made by Chopeta Lyons with the following amendments. Ann Marie Brown seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Under present to speak:
Second line should read: and said he….
Second paragraph, second line should read: The Town paid off.….
Second paragraph, third line should read: it should be used to cut….
Third paragraph, first line, last name is spelled: Welsh
Third paragraph, add to end: to protect us from Hartford’s irrational spending.
Chopeta Lyons asked that the comments that were made at the last meeting by James Yau. He thanked the Board of Finance for their time and efforts. He spoke concerning not getting a pay raise for the last year and a half as a municipal employee for the Town of Manchester and not asking for more funding for his department because of the way things were with the town and state. He asked that the Board consider the overall picture of what’s going on and the needs of our individual departments.
Peter Latincsics arrive at 7:15
Board of Finance -2- March 25, 2010
PRESENT TO SPEAK –
George Debski thanked the Board for the job they are doing. He spoke about the Board giving a raise to the employees but the Selectmen were left out. The 1st Selectman gets $40,000 with people reporting to her making a lot more with benefits. He feels that her salary should be raised to $65 to 70,000 with the same benefits afforded to the Union Employees.
NEW BUSINESS
Lisa Marco arrived at 7:20
CIP
John Patton presented the revised CIP proposal to the Board. He reviewed the plans for the next few years and what was included in the next fiscal year. Discussion followed concerning the purchase of two fire trucks at the same time. John Patton explained that there is a cost saving of 5 to 10% by doing them together. Discussion continued.
Chopeta Lyons motioned to approve the CIP as presented. Peter Latincsics seconded. Vote was taken: No (Ference, Lyons, Latincsics, Brown, Schoppmann), Yes (Marco), motion failed.
John Patton asked for direction to go back to the CIP board with. Chairman Schoppmann said to re-work the purchasing of the Fire trucks.
Mark Makuch arrived and asked to be added to Present to Speak. He spoke of the Board of Education looking outside to the State for ways to help. There are two Bills that they are watching and supporting: Senate Bill #198 which changes the vote on unfunded mandates to be two thirds instead of the majority. The second Bill is House Bill #5425 which concerns special education and the Federal Law that states that only the school has the burden of proof and not the person with the claim.
First Selectman Mailhos presented the Board with a request for the EECBG Grant Appropriation and explanation. Discussion followed.
Chopeta Lyons motioned that the Board of Finance recommends that the Board of Selectmen call a Town Meeting to appropriate $42,776 from the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant for the purpose as specified in the Grant Application. Lisa Marco seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Lisa Marco motioned to transfer $4,000 from Capital Projects Interests Unallocated to a new capital project, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant #03-3052. For the purpose of grant administration for the $42,776 EECBG, for a total project cost of $46,776. Alan Ference seconded. Peter Latincsics voted no, all others were in favor, motion carried.
Board of Finance -3- March 25, 2010
Donna Latincsics presented the Board with a Budget Transfer Request. Discussion followed.
Ann Marie Brown motioned that the Board of Finance authorizes the transfer of funds as follows:
$2,300 to line item 0181 Town Hall Operations
$ 750 to line item 0232 Fire Protection
$4,500 to line item 0183 Consulting Engineers
Chopeta Lyons seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Lisa Marco left at 9:17 pm.
Discussion started on the Collection rate and what to transfer from the General Fund.
Chopeta Lyons motioned to approve the use of $200,000 from the General Fund for the 2010/2011 budget year. Alan Ference seconded. Peter Latincsics and Mark Wiggins voted no. All others were in favor, motion carried.
Alan Ference motioned to set the collection rate at 99% for the 2010/2011 Budget year. Ann Marie Brown seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS – none
CORRESPONDENCE – none.
GOOD & WELFARE – none
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Hlobik
BOF Recording Secretary
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