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Board of Finance Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, August 17, 2017

Members Present:                                                

  • Jim Bulick, Chairman                                          
  • Barry Wallett                                                  
  • Peter Tanaka
  • Robert Wiecenski
  • Geoff Prusak
  • Mary Bowen – Alternate

Members Absent:

  • John Patton, Vice Chair
  • Annemarie Poole – Alternate

Also Present: Christina Mailhos, 1st selectman; Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; members of the public.

Chairman Jim Bulick called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

Seating of Alternates

Geoff Prusak motioned to seat Mary Bowen for John Patton, Robert Wiecenski seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Approval of Minutes

Peter Tanaka motioned to approve the regular meeting minutes of July 20, 2017, Robert Wiecenski seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Mary Bowen motioned to add the meeting minutes for the two sub-committee meetings to the agenda for approval, Peter Tanaka seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Geoff Prusak motioned to approve the Education Cost Review subcommittee special meeting, Peter Tanaka seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Peter Tanaka motioned to approve the General Government Cost Review subcommittee special meeting, Geoff Prusak seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Present to Speak

Selectman Mailhos requested the Board of Finance provide more detail in the minutes when the Board’s cost review subcommittees meet so that the public is not unnecessarily alarmed and understands what is being discussed.  Discussion was held.  He agreed this was a reasonable request and that we will include more details when our fact finding subcommittees meet going forward.

Stephanie Summers, Y Road, was at the meeting where it was discussed creating the sub-committees.  She is concerned that the public be informed of these meetings and have a say in what changes are being made.  She was informed that all the meetings have agenda’s that are posted.

Bill Rankin, 96 Fisher Hill Road, he received the recent Board of Finance mailing regarding the increase in taxes.  He is here tonight to find out what’s going on and see what he can do to help.  He’s lived here 32 years.  He knows that it’s a tough road ahead.

New Business  

State Budget update – because there is no state budget in place we are operating under executive order which gives us a revenue shortfall of about $1.9 million.  On the expenditure side there is a favorable $600,000 (since the executive order does not include the TRB payment).  That leaves a shortage of about 1.3 million.  

Revenue and Cash Flow update (including Donna’s analysis of 21-July-2017).  Donna distributed a Monthly Fund Balance Analysis for FY 2016-2017. We can run roughly through October before we need to dip into reserves.

Fiscal Year 2017 / 2018 budget transfers now that the union contract has been approved.

Peter Tanaka motioned that the Board of Finance authorizes the transfer of:

  • $2,476 to line item #0111 Selectman
  • $   331 to line item #0126 Elected Officials
  • $6,198 to line item #0130 Accounting Services
  • $   617 to line item #0132 Treasurer
  • $     21 to line item ##0135 Board of Assessment Appeals
  • $1,644 to line item #0151 Town Clerk
  • $1,850 to line item #0171 Planning & Zoning
  • $     67 to line item #0172 Zoning Board of Appeals
  • $   425 to line item ##0231 Fire Marshal
  • $6,872 to line item #0311 Public Works
  • $2,273 to line item #0351 Transfer Station
  • $1,000 to line item #0811 Social Security
  • $2,287 to line item #0841 Pension Fund
  • $   345 to line item #0511 Dog Fund
  • $1,047 to line item #0513 Human Service Fund
  • $4,683 from line item #0134 Assessor
  • $   649 from line item #0137 Revenue Collector
  • $22,119 from line item #0831 Employee Insurances

Mary Bowen seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

Policy Regarding Year End Encumbrances – waiting to hear from Auditor.

Schedule Cost Review Subcommittee Discussions for September and October.

Not sure if we have collected enough information.  Probably be able to schedule discussion for General Government in September.

Old Business

Annual Report for Fiscal Year July 2016 through June 2017 – Deb / Jim – working on – sending out reminder

Cost Review Subcommittees: 5-Areas for review to see if we can realize any cost savings after collecting fact about operations, comparative financial data.

Fire / Ambulance – Peter / Barry – haven’t met yet

Education –Barry / Annemarie / Jim – gave list to Superintendent, she will get back to us

General Government – Geoff / Jim – add to agenda for September meeting

Public Works – John / Bob – haven’t met yet

Transfer Station – John / Peter – haven’t met yet

School Building Study - Superintendent will get back to us on the study.

WEA Teacher Negotiations – Peter (to be discussed in executive session if there are any updates)

Peter Tanaka motioned to go into Executive Session at 7:40 pm.  Mary Bowen seconded.  All were in favor, motion carried.

The Board came out of Executive session at 7:55 pm.

Correspondence

Email from Selectman Mailhos regarding OPM Request for information.

Email from Superintendent Jacoby regarding her upcoming request to allocate 2% of the unspent funds from the FY2017 BOE budget to the non-lapsing account for future contingencies, and returning the balance to the Town.

Email from Selectman Mailhos regarding CIRMA member equity distribution $7,867.

Email from Selectman Mailhos regarding cash flow analysis (to be discussed below).

GOOD & WELFARE - none

ADJOURMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary