GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 16, 2009
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Allan D. Walker called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
ATTENDANCE: Allan D. Walker, John D. Garvey, James Korner, Ned Bixler, and alternates Wilrose Duguette & Dexter Kinsella. Excused absence Scott Tillmann and Donald Pardon. Also present, Selectmen Robert Valentine and Thomas Breakell, Goshen Town Treasurer James Bernard, Goshen Board of Education Members Bruce Larson and Chris Sanders. Region 6 Supt. of Schools Craig Dresek, Region 6 Business Manager Ed Drapp, Region 6 Board of education chairman Luke Tanner.
SEATING OF ALTERNATE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY John D. Garvey seconded by James Korner to seat Wilrose Duquette as a regular member, no discussion, SO VOTED.
Chairman Allan Walker welcomed and introduced Region 6 Supt. of Schools Dr. Craig Drezek and Region 6 Business Manager Ed Drapp, Chairman of the Board of education Luke Tanner and the two new Goshen members of the Education Board, Bruce Larson and Chris Sanders. The meeting was turned over to Dr. Drezek who presented those present with a handout listing where Region 6 was during the first quarter of the year and looking at the current operations of Region 6 (see attached). Dr. Drezek noted that the year started out with a negative budget increase from prior year. The Assessment to the Towns was level funded for the current year. ECS (stimulus dollars) received goes directly back to the Towns. Listed under the handout and addressed by Dr. Drezek is what Region 6 is doing to manage cost and invest in educational initiatives. Two key items of savings being the bond refinancing which results in a savings of $357,000.00 over the next 10 years and the strategic staff reduction based on
enrollment, staffing and services. The 2010/2011 Budget Challenges facing Region 6 are the Declining revenue shortfall, declining enrollment, economic climate, special education costs and rising costs. In spite of these challenges, the initial projection for Region 6 is to have a budget increase of less that 1%. Also included in the handout from Dr. Drezek was the Region 6 Spending Analysis by vendor for Fiscal Year 2009. It was noted that the top ten vendors of the District represent 2/3% of spending. Noted was the work that is being done in the areas of health insurance and Energy efficient programs as well as other areas to keep the cost down.
Dr. Drezek welcomed any questions or comments from those present.
Chairman Allan Walker expressed his appreciation to Dr. Drezek for all the work that has been done and continues to be done to keep the budget down while maintaining quality education for the Region 6 students. Questioned and discussed was the issue of cooperative classes program between Litchfield and Wamogo as a means of keeping cost down. Dr. Drezek reported that the cooperative program was dismantled by Litchfield when Litchfield abandoned the class schedule being used by the two schools making it difficult for the two schools to work together. It is believed that the any cost savings that Litchfield is interested in is that of a
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merger of classes which would allow for the closing of Litchfield facilities. Dr. Drezek stated that he would not as Supt. of Region 6, come to the Region 6 Towns recommending the merger of all three elementary schools which would result in the loss of neighborhood schools. Other members of the Board of Finance expressed their thanks and appreciation to Dr. Drezek for coming to the meeting and for the cooperative efforts being made to keep the communication open while working to achieve the goals of holding the expenses down while continuing to maintain quality education. Appreciation was also expressed to the Region 6 Board of Education for all their efforts. Dr. Drezek noted that it is his goal to work to keep the communication open. Looking at the 2010/2011 Region 6 Education Budget Dr. Drezek again noted the
need to deal with the shortfall in revenue but the goal on the expense side is to present a proposed budget at 0% increase. Dr Drezek noted the doing away with the No Child Left Behind Government Program and the recent allocation by Congress of $445 Billion dollars to be used to close the achievement gap. Available to Region 6 would be $79,000.00 from the $445 Billion but it is estimated that it would cost Region 6 $115,000.00 in man hours to be able to get the $79,000.00 and follow their guide lines. There were no other questions or comments, Dr. Drezek, Ed Drapp, Luke Tanner, Bruce Larson and Chris Sanders left the meeting at 8:02 P.M.
Before returning to the Order of business on the Agenda, Chairman Allan Walker addressed the issue of the 2010/2011 upcoming Budget process, the sending out to all Boards and Commissions the notice of submittal of their Propose 2010/2011 Budgets and the need to work with the Selectmen in addressing the proposed budget guidelines. Presented by Robert Valentine and discussed at length was the issue of pay raises for Town Employees for 2010/2011. Last year the employees agreed not to take a pay increase which resulted in a savings to the Town of approximately $33,000. In spite of the fact that the economic picture has not changed for the better, it was felt that the employees should not be asked to consider no pay raise again this year. Looked at was the use of the Paul Andrews Study for salaries, the use of the Fund Balance, prioritizing expenditures and still hold the mil rate. Looking at the state of the economy could there be justification for pay raises, if the mill rate were
to go up.
After weighing the pros and cons of pay increases vs budget cuts it was agreed that the Budget submission notice go out to all Boards and Commissions that have small budgets that do not include salaries, with a directive of coming in with a no increase budget for 2010/2011. Meanwhile work would be done to get the Employee evaluations done, the Paul Andrews study updated and a printout of what the results of the employee evaluation and the Paul Andrews matrix would give. Those numbers would be made available for the January Board of Finance Meeting and a decision would be made at that time as to what directives would be given to Boards and Commissions with budget increases for employees to be addressed. There was no further discussion on the 2010/2011 Budget Submission Directive letter.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A MOTION WAS MADE BY John D. Garvey seconded by James Korner to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2009 meeting. Noted for correction, Page 2, Para. 3, fourth sentence add (ed) to the word report., Page 3, first para. add the word more after the figure of $124,000.00. Page 3, Para. two, change the word of to read (from). Page 3, Para. 4, 7th sentence correct the word knows to read known. Page 3, 5th Para., the Motion should be corrected to read (the appropriation of $500.00 from Undesignated General Fund Balance to Capital Non-Recurring. There were no further corrections noted. The Minutes were APPROVED as amended.
SEATING OF ALTERNATE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by John D. Garvey to seat Dexter Kinsella as a regular member. No discussion, SO VOTED.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 11/30/2009: Robert Valentine reported that the Town Budget Expenses continue to remain in relative good standing. Review of Department Budgets has shown line items in some budgets reaching their max, he has met with those Dept heads asking them to be aware of their spending for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The Chair noted the receipt of the report from the Tax Collector for the period ending November 30, 2009 which again confirms the good work being done by the Tax Collector.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
REPORT FROM THE FIRST SELECTMAN: Robert Valentine reported that the Central CT. Solid Waste Authority had a conference call with approximately 40 Municipalities working to put bylaws together and that he should have further information for the Board in the near future.
Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant: All paper work necessary has been submitted by the Town for the receipt of said grant. Consideration is being given to utilize those Grant dollars for motion sensor lighting at the Fire house and Public Works. The total cost for lighting for public works is estimated at $15,000.00 with $31,500.00 estimated for the Fire house lighting. Work is being done through CL&P to try to get the balance over & above the $34,000.00 EFFC Grant from a CL&P Energy Grant.
Noted was the report from the Governor’s Office relative to the $84,000.00 to be cut from Municipal Grants. It is believed at this time that this would exclude the Education cost sharing grants. Robert Valentine also expressed his concern that the cuts to Grants for the current fiscal year will not be proportionate per municipality.
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Robert Valentine sought input from the Finance Board relative to the East Street North Micro Surfacing project. The cost of that project is $207,000.00. In was noted that it is a reimbursement grant under which the money needs to be spent before the Town can receive reimbursement. Remaining to be determined is the process for appropriation of those dollars under the budget process. If appropriation of those dollars is necessary, said appropriation will require a Town Meeting. Said project is not expected to be done until the 2011/2012 Fiscal Year.
Noted again was the ECS reimbursement of $32,128.00 to the Town from Region 6.
It was reported that the Cemetery Budget is doing well and is expected to be within budget by the end of the Fiscal year. The Town did receive reimbursement of the expense to repair the damage that had been done to some grave stones.
There was no further report from the First Selectman. There was no further business to come before the Board. A MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
Joan M. Lang, Board Clerk
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