Board of Finance Minutes

Members Present:                                      

• Jim Bulick, Chairman                         
• John Patton, Vice Chair                         
• Peter Tanaka                                            
• Geoff Prusak

  Members Absent:

•    Annemarie Poole - Alternate
• Alternate - vacancy
• Robert Wiecenski

Also Present: Christina Mailhos, First Selectman; Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; members of the public.

Chairman Jim Bulick called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.

SEATING OF ALTERNATES – none needed

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

John Patton motioned to approve the Special Meeting minutes of June 5, 2017 with the following amendment, Barry Wallett seconded.  Peter Tanaka abstained, all others were in favor, motion carried.

        Date changed to June 5, 2017

Barry Wallett motioned to approve the regular meeting minutes of June 5, 2017, Geoff Prusak seconded.  Peter Tanaka abstained, all others were in favor, motion carried.

PRESENT TO SPEAK

Laurie Semprebon expressed her interest in joining the Board to fill the alternate position.  Chairman Bulick informed everyone that we will be having a special meeting to vote on filling the position.

Michelle Doucette Cunningham, Board of Education, updated the Board on the Facilities study.  They will be reviewing the study at their September meeting.  The Board is welcome to review their budget and new hires but they are responsible for their budget.  “It’s their purview, not ours”.  They have union negotiations coming up the 2nd week of July.

NEW BUSINESS

LoCIP Projects

Public works found funds to repair the Transfer Station driveway.  The Transfer station found $35,000.  They have been more diligent monitoring dump stickers and compacting the dumpsters. There is also some lower dumping volume. The Board commends the work they are doing there.

Jim Bulick motioned to transfer $35,000 from #0351 Transfer Station to #0503 Capital Projects for the purpose of repaving the Transfer.  Barry Wallett seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

A question came up regarding issuing POs for work in one fiscal year and then having the actual work being performed in another. Donna will invite our auditor to our next meeting for discussion and clarification, including other year end practices.

Discussion: Managing our Finances

Chairman Bulick and the Board discussed a fact finding mission to see where and if there is any cost saving to be found with the Town Departments.  CCM, CABE, and other organizations have a lot of per capita per taxpayer cost information comparing other towns.  He asked what department each Board member would like to work on.  The following groups were formed:

Fire Departments - Peter Tanaka & Barry Wallett

Education – Barry Wallett and Annemarie Poole (or Jim Bulick)

        General Government - Geoff Prusak & Jim Bulick

        Public Works - John Patton & Robert Wiecenski

        Transfer station – John Patton & Peter Tanaka

The goal is to gather data, look and the pros and cons, and make recommendations of potential cost savings.  We should set a deadline to complete this by the end of October 2017. The Board asked their recording secretary to check with the Town Clerk to see if agendas and minutes are needed to hold the fact finding sessions.

Transfers

Donna Latincsics asked that Transfers be added to the Agenda.

Jim Bulick motioned to add transfers for Daleville Road Bridge and year end transfer to the agenda, Peter Tanaka seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

The Daleville School Road Bridge project has a shortfall of $55,183.  The lowest bid came in at $165,585 and the project has a current balance of $115,401.56.  Discussion followed.  

John Patton motioned that the Board of Finance authorizes the transfer of funds as follows:

• $25,000 from line #0831, Employee Insurances
• $  1,000 from line item #0821, Unemployment
• $  5,000 from line item #0811, Social Security
• $15,000 from line item #0930, Capital Expenditures
• $  3,500 from line item # 0183, Consulting Engineers
• $  2,900 from line item #0133, Auditor
• $  2,783 from line item #0141, Town Counsel
• $55,183 to line item #0503, Capital Projects

Peter Tanaka seconded.  Jim Bulick voted no, because there was not enough funds available for contingencies and therefore the project is not funded adequately in his opinion. All others were in favor, motion carried.

Donna Latincsics presented the Board with a Transfer request to cover a shortfall.

Barry Wallett motioned that the Board of Finance authorizes the transfer of $327 to line item #0841, Pension Fund from line item #0811, Social Security, Peter Tanaka seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS

School Building Study – update was given earlier in the meeting

Annual Report for FY 7/16 to 6/17 – letter will be going out with a deadline of September 30th

CORRESPONDENCE

WEA Teacher Negotiations: Peter Tanaka will be representing the Board of Finance at these discussions.

The Board agreed to send out a letter from the Town with a cost of $1,000 to explain to the Town the increase in the mil rate.

GOOD & WELFARE

The Board wants to thank Betsey Treiber for service on the Board and we wish her and Tom all the best.

A special meeting will be held on July 5th to fill the vacancy on the Board.

ADJOURMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary