GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES REGULAR MEETING
MAY 19, 2010
CALL TO ORDER: Allan D. Walker Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
ATTENDANCE: Allan D. Walker, John D. Garvey, Donald Pardon, Ned Bixler, James Korner alternates Wilrose Duquette and Dexter Kinsella. Excused absence Scott Tillmann. Also present First Selectman Robert Valentine.
SEATING OF ALTERNATE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler and seconded by John D. Garvey to seat Alternate Dexter Kinsella as a regular member. No discussion, SO VOTED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the April 28, 2010 meeting were presented for approval. A MOTION WAS MADE BY John D. Garvey seconded by Donald Pardon to approve said minutes: Noted for correction, Page 2, Para. 3, second sentence, amended to read (Of the eleven proposals received, three were chosen for consideration for the job). Page 2, Para. 5, first sentence, should be corrected to read Under CT General Statute 3153-(g) Page 3, Para. one, second sentence, correct the spelling of the word suite to read suit. Under discussion on the motion, Robert Valentine gave further clarification of the prevailing wage issue and the appropriation of $10,000.00 to fight the decision of the CT Dept of Labor on the issue. Noted was the backing of the CT Council of Municipalities and
Litchfield Council of Elected Officials and also financial support from North Stonington, CT. To clarify the intention of the Board regarding the action taken at the April 28th meeting to appropriate the $10,000.00, A MOTION WAS MADE BY John D. Garvey seconded by James Korner that the $10,000.00 be appropriated from the Undesignated General Fund to the Capital Non-Recurring. There was no further discussion, SO VOTED. There was no further discussion or amendments to the minutes, the minutes were APPROVED AS AMENDED.
Approval of May 5, 2010 Special Meeting: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the minutes of the May 5, 2010 Meeting. Noted for correction, Page 3, Para. 3 correct the figure of $9,159.00 to $9,150.00. No further corrections noted, the minutes were APPROVED AS AMENDED.
TAX COLLECTORS REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 4/30/2010: Said report shows a collection of
101.42% collected vs. total budgeted. Robert Valentine noted that the budgeted amount to be collected is based on 98% collection. A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Donald Pardon to accept the Tax Collectors Report. No further discussion, SO VOTED.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 4/30/2010: Said report continues to show Dept. Budgets doing well. Any problem areas that were previously reported to the Board still remain a problem. Robert Valentine is working with Debbie Franklin to provide the Board with projected year end numbers. The first draft, done by Debbie Franklin, shows the year end numbers at this time, coming in better than anticipated. Robert Valentine would review those
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES MAY 19, 2010 MTG.
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numbers with Debbie and provide the Board with projected year end estimates for the May 26th Finance Board Meeting. Questioned and explained was the year end Winter Salt/Sand stockpile. With the spend of some dollars and the amount being delivered, the town will be going into the winter season with the barn full of winter salt/sand. The Chair noted the Board appropriation of the $25.00 for the window shades for the Recreation office Sky lights and the fact that the cost came in under the $25.00. Questioned and explained was the Region 6 savings under the Education Cost Sharing Grants along with Federal Grant dollars that supplanted State dollars which were passed on to the Town. Savings were also found under the 2009/10 budget to offset the current budget. There was no further discussion or questions on
the April Budget Report and the Chair requested that the minutes note receipt and review of the April 2010 Budget Report.
REPORT FROM FIRST SELECTMAN: Robert Valentine reported that a Company had been selected to do the GIS Digitizing of the Town Maps with the bid coming in just under $13,000.00. With the use of the $10,000.00 Incentive Housing Grand dollars and the $1,500.00 appropriated under the Assessors budget for mapping expense it will not be necessary to come back to the Board of Finance for additional funds for the project. Negotiations were also made with the company to do web hosting for the remainder of this fiscal year as well as favorable rates for the following year with Vision data being incorporated into the mapping program. Once the mapping program is completed, the current Vision mapping program would be dropped. Noted were the benefits the program would offer to the Town Land Use Boards, Public Works and Planning & Zoning. There was no further report from the First Selectman.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTES: Questioned at the hearing was what if any consideration had been given for wage increases for the election workers. Under discussion, it was noted that none had been given for the Election workers or the Registrars with the last wage adjustment being made 4 years ago. Noted was the difficulty in projecting the election expense budget and the fact that the wages being paid to the Registrars was changes from salary to an hourly wage. After consideration of wage increase for election workers, it was agreed by the board that after review of the rates currently being paid and what rates are being paid to elections workers in area Towns that any reasonable increase could be made without reprint of the proposed 2010/2011 budget. No other comments made at the Public Hearing were addressed by the Board. The
minutes note receipt and review of the Budget Hearing comments.
Region 6 Well Issue: Robert Valentine noted the problems resulting from the drilling of the well the installation of the holding tank and the lines running through the wall of the Town Office Building.
Correspondence: None
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TOWN BUDGET MEETING: the Town Budget Meeting will be held on Wednesday May 26, 2010 at 8:00 P.M. Along with the adoption of the 2010/2011 Proposed Budget also on the agenda will be the election of a Board of Education Member and adoption of a Grant Resolution which would allow for Board of Selectman, with the consent of the Board of Finance to apply for and expend State or Federal Grants dollars. Robert Valentine explained the some area Municipalities have such a Resolution that is passed annually. The Resolution to come before the voters at the Town Meeting would include the words “with the consent of the Board of Finance”. Also on the Agenda will be the ordinance that governs land us fees. The current ordinance would be rescinded and the ordinance would be renewed to keep up with the State
requirements and any increase in such fees. All Finance Board Members were encouraged to be in attendance at the Town Budget Meeting.
The Chairman noted his recent comment relative to the potential for an increase in the mil rate and stated that when making that statement that it was his opinion and not the opinion of the Board. It is believed that it will be an issue of discussion at the Town Meeting and the Board needs to be prepared to address the issue.
The Finance Board will call a Special Meeting for Wednesday May 26th at 7:30 P.M. to meet prior to the Town Meeting, will recess and reconvene after the Town Meeting to take any action deemed necessary relative to the setting of the mil rate for 2010/2011 and what if any should be appropriated from surplus to offset the budget. Robert Valentine would again provide the Board with a year-end Fund Balance estimate for June 30, 2010.
Relative to Grant Ordinance, Wilrose Duquette questioned the potential for negative feed back based on strings being attached with the acceptance of some Federal Grant dollars. Robert Valentine stated he did not believe in going after extra money just to get money. The Town needs to continue to be prudent and to tighten our belts but if the Town has the opportunity to go after Grant dollars available in a pool for all Towns, that the Town should take advantage of getting use of some of those dollars. It was noted that all Grant issues would be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance and if deemed necessary the matter would be put before a Town Meeting.
There was no other business to come before the meeting. A MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Dexter Kinsella. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
Joan M. Lang, Board Clerk
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