BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT ~06279
BUDGET MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Members Present: Members Absent:
Jim Bulick, Chairman Robert Wiecenski
John Patton, Vice Chair Annemarie Poole - Alternate
Elizabeth Treiber
Peter Tanaka
Barry Wallett
Geoff Prusak – Alternate
Also Present: Donna Latincsics, Business Mgr; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; 1st Selectman Mailhos; Selectmen Blessington & Kowalyshyn; Dave Harding, Superintendent; Alex Moore, Chief WFD #1; BOE Members and members of the public
Chairman Bulick called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
Elizabeth Treiber motioned to seat Geoff Prusak for John Patton, Peter Tanaka seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Peter Tanaka motioned to approve the regular meeting minutes from December 17, 2015, Barry Wallett seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
7:04 pm John Patton arrived.
Elizabeth Treiber motioned to seat Geoff Prusak for Robert Wiecenski, Peter Tanaka seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
PRESENT TO SPEAK
First Selectman Mailhos updated the Board of the Board of Selectman's budget. ~They are looking at a less than 1% increase. ~The Region 19 is 3.1% increase with our share being 1.3%.
She then spoke about the last Board of Education meeting. ~This is her 7th time going through the budget process as First Selectman and before that on the BOE and has experience with the matter. ~After last week's meeting she has serious concerns about the Town and where it's headed and the health of the schools. ~What she saw at the last meeting was a blatant disrespect for the Superintendent and Board members. ~Distrust and spite prevailed. ~She hasn't seen this in the 10 years she has been involved. ~This is a difficult time and we are at a juncture that we've known is coming. ~Our Superintendent has been very helpful and everyone has been working together. ~She doesn't feel that the budget that was passed had a lot of thought put into it. ~She urged that everyone please keep an open mind and be thoughtful.
Board of Finance -2- February 4, 2016
Dave Tharp, 49 Old Farms Road said that he was not at the last meeting but came tonight to hear the budget. ~He has known Superintendent Harding for 15 years and he could make a lot more money other places and we should appreciate what he does. ~What he's heard was very disturbing and he hopes that people will act professionally.
Melissa McKinnin, Williams Road, said she has lived here for 8 to 10 years. ~She decided to stay here because of the school system. ~She hopes the Board will take our kids into consideration.
Alex Strong has lived here since 1976, and says that blame (for the budget increases) has been put on special education but should be put on the excesses of the school system,. Enrollment has been declining and the number of teachers hasn't.
NEW BUSINESS
FD #1 Apparatus Repairs
Fire Chief Alex Moore informed the Board that Rescue pumper #S-113 failed DOT inspection and has been taken off the road. ~It's the busiest truck next to the ambulance. ~The repair will keep the truck going for another 15 years. ~He has quotes for $39,000 to $45,000 to have it repaired. ~Discussion followed.
Donna Latincsics stated that Fund 17 can be used for funding if we're ok with it having a $60,000 balance in the third year of the CIP plan, the Reserve Fund and the General Fund are is another options. ~The General Fund had $2 million on June 30th and the policy is that it cannot fall below 8% or 1.3 million. ~Discussion followed.
John Patton motioned that the Board of Finance recommends that the Board of Selectmen call a Town Meeting to appropriate $45,000 from the Reserve Fund for the purpose of repairing S-113. ~Barry Wallett seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
Board of Education Budget Presentation
Superintendent Harding presented the Budget request. ~He wanted to start by saying that he agreed with the comments that the last meeting was not up to snuff. ~That was not normally how we do business and it shouldn't have happened that way, hopefully we're back on track. ~As a result of that meeting he is coming forward with a budget that is higher than he has ever presented to the Board before. ~The request is for $8,297,582, which is an increase of 5.93% over last year's request. ~He then broke down the request and took questions from the Board.
John Patton asked about the energy audit from Siemens and how we did. ~Superintendent Harding turned that question over to Donna Latincsics and 1st Selectman Mailhos. ~Donna said that we have to pay a $2,000 fee for the report. ~We had one report done. ~Selectman Mailhos said we have seen a savings and that it doesn't make sense to keep paying for a report and getting the same result. ~They have the result of the last report and will put it on the web and share it with the Board.
Superintendent Harding continued reviewing the request. ~They touched on class size and having paraprofessionals in the classroom. ~Superintendent Harding said that he has been an advocate for larger class size but the public does not want that.
Board of Finance -3- February 4, 2016
John Patton commented that he appreciates the work done on the budget request but he cannot support a 6% increase with a 3% decrease in student population. ~He suggested that as we all agree that the last meeting wasn't the BOE’s finest moment, that they take the opportunity to revisit this budget. ~The Board members agreed to send the request back to the Board of Education.
Chairman Bulick opened the meeting to comments from the audience.
Lynette Baylor, 28 Wilderness Way, thinks that the budget is very conservative. ~Her husband works at UConn and was told the school system here was good. ~She commented that one principal would be ludicrous and a safety concern. ~The Town of Willington needs to preserve the reputation of this school district.
Christian Bryant, 29 Y Road, spoke about cutting the Principal and class size. ~She said she moved here for the school system.
Michelle Cunningham, 41 Liska Road, wanted to clarify that the amount for the keyboards is for the whole classroom not just one keyboard. ~She agrees with marketing to outside people for $15,000 with the web site.
Ann Grosjean, Birch Mountain Lane, commented about the principal evaluating teachers and the instructional leader.
Selectman Blessington spoke about people coming to Willington because of the schools. ~The problem is paying for the schools and people leaving after they are done with the schools. ~Remember who pays for the schools.
Tracy Anderson, 151 Willington Hill Rd, values the education quality and our students having the same opportunities and education that other students have. ~She asks that they try not to cut what the kids need. ~She also said she is not in favor of one principal.
Carrie Kelley, Blair Road, spoke about para's in the Kindergarten classes and the importance of kids getting support. ~
John Patton informed the audience that the Board of Finance doesn't decide what specific cuts are made, rather the Board focuses on the bottom line that the town can afford balancing all needs. The Board of Education makes the detailed decisions.
Peter Latincsics, 97 Trask Road, has participated in the budget process for 25 years. ~Everyone here tonight has the best interests of the Town in mind. ~Questions asked of the Superintendent and of the BOE shouldn’t be taken as attacks. The BOF and the BOE have had a good working relationship in the past. The BOE returns leftover funds to the Town, the BOF appropriates additional money when needed. Perhaps we can build on this good working relationship and consider removing the (2) health insurance placeholders to help lower the BOE budget. The BOF can then appropriate the money back to the BOE should the need arise.
Board of Finance -4- February 4, 2016
OLD BUSINESS
Gun Range Update
Selectman Mailhos informed the Board that there is no update with the budget. The bill for January was $136. Expenses are hovering around $50,000. ~She will pass along the summary.
CIP Update
Chairman Kelly Trueb informed the Board that they have a reasonable plan for the next 5 years.
CORESPONDENCE
Recording Secretary passed out a contact list for the Board and asked the members to make any changes needed.
GOOD & WELFARE – none
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary
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