BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT ~06279
MEETING FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Members Present: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Members Absent:
Alan Ference, Chairman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Elizabeth Treiber~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Patton, Vice Chair~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter Latincsics
Jim Bulick
Robert Wiecenski
Geoff Prusak – Alternate ~
Annemarie Poole, Alternate
Also Present: ~Christina Mailhos, 1st Selectman; Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Dave Harding, Superintendent; Town Employees and Members of various Boards and members of the public.
Chairman Alan Ference called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
John Patton motioned to seat Geoff Prusak for Elizabeth Treiber, Robert Wiecenski seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Carl Pearson stated that the State is fiscally bankrupt and asked that we reconsider a 46% raise for the First Selectman.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the Budget Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2015 was made by Alan Ference, John Patton~seconded with the following changes and additions.~ All were in favor, motion carried.~~
Peter Latincsics asked that the following comments be added to the minutes:
Peter said that the board was not afforded an opportunity to receive, read and the discuss the salary study committees findings and asked the discussion and motion to increase the first selectmen's salary by the percentage amount of 45 % be reflected in the minutes. He also asked that those present to speak refrain from any discussion of the current first selectmen and limit all discussion of the first selectmen salary to the position itself. He asked selectmen Blessington and Kowalyshn if the other elected officials were considered by the board for any increase and if there was discussion by the board of selectmen on how this large increase would be funded.
Board of Finance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~-2-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~March 19, 2015
Annemarie Poole asked that the comments she made be reflected to be:
Annemarie Poole was a member of the Compensated Elected Officials Study Committee and indicated to the Board that the Committee found no data to support a change to the salary for the First Selectman's position. The Committee reviewed salaries for First Selectmen positions for 10-15 similar towns. Comparability was considered based on population as well as Grand List. Some of the town's considered were: Lisbon, Ashford, Pomfret, Chaplin, Lebanon, Marlborough, Andover, Canterbury and Franklin. The data the Committee reviewed from the CCM Survey indicates Willington's First Selectman position is not the lowest paid and is also not the highest paid but is about in the middle. The Committee also recommended the Board of Finance establish a process to review salaries for the elected officials
prior to the start of each new term.
During the subsequent discussion Annemarie suggested if the Board intends to extend benefits to the First Selectmen position (which is what the suggested stipend is doing) it do that rather than inflating the salary with what the Town would contribute if the person filling the position actually chose benefits.
NEW BUSINESS
Budget Discussions
Alan Ference motioned to adjust the amount we apply from the General Fund from $212,000 to $224,000, Peter Latincsics seconded. Discussion followed. Peter Latincsics voted no, all others were in favor, motion carried.
John Patton motioned to decrease the Board of Education budget by $51,000 and increase #181 Town Office Operations by $51,000 to reflect shared services It Support. Discussion followed. All were in favor, motion carried.
Peter Latincsics motioned to reduce the Board of Education by $50,000. Discussion followed Peter withdrew the motion.
Peter Latincsics motioned to reduce the General Government budget line #0111 Selectman by $10,000, Geoff Prusak seconded. Discussion followed. Peter stated the motion was because he feel that the increase to the Selectman's salary is unwarranted. Vote was taken, Peter Latincsics voted yes, all others voted no, motion failed.
Peter Latincsics voiced his opinion about the vote to the board. He then informed the Board that he is resigning his position on the Board effective April 15th and gave his reasons why.
OLD BUSINESS
First Selectman Mailhos updated the Board on the snow budget. We are $50,000 over but they have found money from vehicle maintenance. She commends the Public Works Crew for working the crazy hours.
Board of Finance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~-3-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~March 19, 2015
She also informed the Board that she is planning a June meeting for appropriations.
CORRESPONDENCE - none
GOOD & WELFARE
Chairman Ference thanked all the Boards for their hard work and bringing forward a responsible budget.
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary
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