BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT 06279
SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Members Present:
Ken Schoppmann, Chairman
Ann Marie Brown, Vice-Chair
Alan Ference
Chopeta Lyons
Elizabeth (Lisa) Marco (arrived 7:30)
Peter Latincsics
Mark Wiggins – Alternate
Richard (Butch) Littell - Alternate
Also Present: Christina Mailhos, First Selectman; Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Tyler Millix, Selectman; Lynn Nicholls, Public Works; Teri Gareau, Rec. Dir.; Library Board Members; WHFD Members; WFD#1 Members; Board of Education Members; Dave Harding, Superintendent; Members of the Public.
Chairman Schoppmann called the meeting to order at 7:08 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
Chopeta Lyons motioned to seat Butch Littell for Elizabeth Marco, Alan Ference seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the budget meeting minutes of March 3, 2011 was made by Ann Marie Brown, Chopeta Lyons seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
PRESENT TO SPEAK –
Teri Gareau asked that the minutes have more detail.
Lori Semprebon, told the Board that the Board of Education worked very hard to trim the budget without devastating programs.
Selectman Mailhos distributed a spreadsheet with information on the Training & Education for Town Departments that the Board requested.
Board of Finance -2- March 10, 2011
NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Schoppmann asked the Board on where they would like to end up with the budget. Discussion followed. Chairman Schoppmann asked the Board to include next year’s budget when making their decisions for this year’s budget. After discussion the consensus of the Board is to get as close as possible to a 0% increase. During the discussion of the Fire Marshal budget, it was decided by the Board that all Non-Union employees will not get an increase this year.
Lisa Marco arrived 7:30
BUDGET APPROVALS
Motion to accept the budget request for #0121 Probate Court of $2,092 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0126 Election Officials of $25,454 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Lisa Marco. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0131 Board of Finance of $3,713 was made by Alan Ference and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0132 Treasurer of $28,391 was made by Ann Marie Brown and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0133 Auditor of $35,000 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0135 Board of Assessment Appeal of $1,273 was made by Alan Ference and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0151 Town Clerk of $95,792 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Lisa Marco. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0161 Conservation Commission of $1,800 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0171 Planning & Zoning of $115,063 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0172 Zoning Board of Appeals for $4,170 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0175 Economic Development of $900 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0176 Inland/Wetlands Comm. of $2,250 was made by Alan Ference and seconded by Lisa Marco. All were in favor, motion carried.
Board of Finance -3- March 10, 2011
Motion to accept the budget request for #0221 Ambulance Grant of $255,000 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Ann Marie Brown. Discussion was held concerning the Town taking on the payroll to reduce costs. Reducing the original request from the Town of $291,200 by $36,200 ($5,200 for payroll related costs and an additional $31,000 contribution from Fund 17 Emergency Services for a total contribution of $59,700) is the Board’s recommendation. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0231 Fire Marshall of $21,823 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232 Fire Protection of $250,909 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Ken Schoppmann. Discussion followed to vote on the four lines individually. This motion was rescinded.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232–500 WFD#1 for $111,000 was made by Lisa Marco, seconded by Chopeta Lyons. Vote was taken: Yes – Brown, Latincsics, Lyons, No – Marco, Ference, Schoppmann. Motion Failed.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232-500 WFD#1 for $114,000 was made by Ann Marie Brown, Lisa Marco seconded. Discussion followed. The amount reflects a reduction of $1,200 from the original request. Alan Ference voted no, all others were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232-590 WHFD for $104,875 was made by Chopeta Lyons, Ken Schoppmann seconded. Discussion followed. Concerns were made on how the Good & Welfare was spent, the amount allocated for physicals and safety equipment being up to date. Mike Makuch assured the Board that their safety equipment was in good shape. Motion was amended to $105,000 by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Lisa Marco. Alan Ference voted no, all others were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232-810 Fire Dispatch Service Fees for $18,690 was made by Ken Schoppmann, seconded by Peter Latincsics. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0232-914 WFD#1 Mortgage for $10,144 was made by Ken Schoppmann, Chopeta Lyons seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0234 Emergency Management Dir for $7,000 was made by Lisa Marco and seconded by Chopeta Lyons. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0512 Recreation Commission for $39,498 was made by Ann Marie Brown and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for #0517 Library of $122,531 was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Ann Marie Brown. Discussion followed. The Board asked that $10,000 be added from their endowment to help with things this year. All were in favor, motion carried.
Motion to accept the budget request for the #0861 Board of Finance Contingency Fund for 0 (zero) was made by Chopeta Lyons and seconded by Alan Ference. All were in favor, motion carried.
Board of Finance -4- March 10, 2011
Motion to accept the budget request for the Board of Education for $7,685,286 was made by Alan Ference and seconded by Ken Schoppmann. All were not in favor, motion failed. Discussion followed. A comment from the Board was made that our Education Administration was top heavy and can our Town continue to support that.
Motion to accept the budget request for the Board of Education for $7,585,286 was made by Peter Latincsics, Alan Ference seconded. This would mean a reduction of $100,000 from the original requested amount. Vote was taken: Yes – Latincsics, No- Schoppmann, Brown, Lyons, Ference, Marco. Motion failed.
Motion to accept the budget request for the Board of Education for $7,610,286 was made by Ken Schoppmann, Alan Ference seconded. Discussion followed. Concerns were made about using the Federal Stimulus Funds all this year instead of spreading it out over two years. All were in favor, motion carried. This is a reduction of $75,000 from the original requested amount.
Motion to accept the budget request for Board of Selectmen Budget for $2,600,000 was made by Ken Schoppmann and seconded by Lisa Marco. Discussion followed. Motion was rescinded.
Motion to accept the budget request for Board of Selectmen Budget for $2,570,000 was made by Ken Schoppmann and seconded by Alan Ference. Discussion followed. Most of the discussion was about the condition of the Town’s roads. The change to the approved amount includes adding $50,000 to chip sealing, taking $50,000 from someplace else, reducing $14,970 from non-union salaries and reducing $30,000 from Line Item 930 Capital Expenditures in the CIP for FY 2011-2012. All were in favor, motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS - none
CORRESPONDENCE – none
GOOD & WELFARE – none
The CIP Plan, General Fund Balance Transfer and Collection Rate will be discussed and voted upon at our next meeting.
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Hlobik
BOF Recording Secretary
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