Board of Finance minutes from 01-31-2005

BOARD OF FINANCE MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joseph Mooney at 7:30 p.m. Also present were Lorraine Young, Charles Shelton, Jr., and Victor Cassella. Jeffrey Vailette joined the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Not present was Kenneth Kaminsky.

Also present were Selectmen Opie, Myjak and Kinney, Treasurer Bob Denhardt, Finance Director, Jim Finch and Assistant Finance Director Kathryn LaBanca.

1. Ms. Young made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton to accept the minutes of the November 29, 2004 Board of Finance meeting. The vote was unanimous.

2. The Board considered the Animal Shelter’s request for the following transfers which were presented by Wendy Joyce, Animal Control Officer.

From: 4206-421.10-00 Membership & Meetings ($l,000)

To: 4206-426.10-90 Overtime 1,000

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the R.T.M. a transfer of $l,000 as requested by the Animal Shelter. The vote was unanimous.

3. The Board considered the Police Commissioner’s request for the following transfers which were presented by Chief Gill and Chairman Joanne McGuigan.

From: 4201-421.10-00 Salary & Wages ($63,000)

4201-421.42-01 Telephone ( 12,000)

4201-421.42-02 Electric ( 6,000)

4201-421.10-05 Clerical ( 4,000)

To: 4201-421.10-90 Overtime $85,000

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the R.T.M. a transfer of $85,000 as requested by the Police Commissioners. The vote was unanimous.

4. The Board reviewed an animal control contract between the towns of Branford and North Branford as requested by the First Selectman and established a separate fund for the animal control operation.

Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance approves the establishment of an Animal Control Fund for the purpose of recording revenues and expenditures related to providing animal control services in Branford and North Branford. The vote was unanimous.

5. Gerry Paradise of Scully and Wolf presented the Auditor’s report for FY 2003-04. Discussion followed. Chairman Mooney thanked Mr. Paradise for his presentation and also thanked the Finance Department and the Board of Education for their help.

6. Finance Director Jim Finch discussed funding strategies with regard to Other Post Employment Benefits. Discussion followed. Chairman Mooney thanked him for his presentation.

7. The Board discussed the request from Jim Finch, Finance Director, to establish a capital projects fund for capital projects funded through the general fund. This was deferred.

8. The Board heard a presentation from Mr. Criscuolo on the plan to improve the athletic facilities at Branford High School he explained that he would like to have private donations and also be able to use future capital projects funds that are planned for the Board of Education’s bleachers. Discussion followed. Chairman Mooney thanked him for his presentation and acknowledged that this issue would be revisited during the budget process.

9. The Board reviewed a presentation from the Board of Education with regard to the current year special education costs. This was presented by Dr. Storm, Superintendent, Tashie Rosen, Business Manager, and Anthony Cavallaro, Director of Pupil Services. Discussion followed. Chairman Mooney thanked them for their presentation.

10. The Board considered the Board of Education’s request for the following transfer which was presented by Dr. Storm, Superintendent and Tashie Rosen, Business Manager.

From: 4904-494.59-13 Contingency ($23,160)

To: 4800-480.80-01 Board of Education 23,160

Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette.

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the R.T.M. a transfer of $23,160 as requested by the Board of Education. The vote was unanimous.

11. The Board of Education also made a presentation to the Board of Finance with regard to an early retirement incentive program. This was for informational purpose only. Chairman Mooney thanked them for their presentation.

12. The board approved the establishment of a Project Expenditures Account as required under the Small Cities Program with Webster Bank for improvements to Parkside Village. This was presented by Jim Finch, Finance Director.

Mr. Cassella made a motion, seconded by Ms. Young.

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance does hereby establish a project expenditure account with Webster Bank for the receipt of funds awarded for the 2003 Small Cities Grant. The vote was unanimous.

13. The Board approved authorizations and appropriations amending and increasing the amount required for sanitary sewer improvements required under the Consent Decree between the State Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency this was requested by the First Selectman and presented by Selectman Opie, Steve Dudley, Engineer, Janice Plaziak, Manager, Manny Furtado, Superintendent and Dennis Setzko, representative from Earth Tech.

Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.

WHEREAS, the Town of Branford by resolution adopted by the Representative Town Meeting at meeting held July 14, 2004 approved an appropriation of $4,495,000 for costs related to various renovations, upgrades and modifications to the sanitary sewer system pump stations, various corrective measures to prevent sanitary sewer overflows which may include relief sewer construction, and related work, improvements and land or easement acquisition (the “2004 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project”), said appropriation to be defrayed by the reappropriation of $140,000 unexpended proceeds of the Town of Branford’s $1,175,000 2001 sewer bonds issued as part of the Town’s $23,770,000 General Obligation Bonds, Issue of 2001, dated as of May 15, 2001, to finance in part the Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project, and the $4,355,000 balance of the appropriation to be defrayed from bonds, notes, temporary notes or obligations as authorized by said resolution; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Branford by resolution adopted by the Representative Town Meeting at meeting held July 14, 2004 approved an aggregate appropriation and an aggregate bond, note, temporary note and obligation authorization of $2,650,000 for the Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project, expanded the scope of said project, and reinstated $1,040,000 of such aggregate borrowing authorization used in connection with the issuance of the $1,175,000 2001 sewer bonds issued as part of the Town’s $23,770,000 General Obligation Bonds, Issue of 2001, dated as of May 15, 2001, to finance in part the Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project, to reflect the reappropriation of the proceeds of such $1,040,000 bonds to defray the appropriations for other sanitary sewer projects of the Town, such that there remained authorized but unissued $2,515,000 bonds, notes, temporary notes and obligations;

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Town to consolidate the separate appropriations and borrowing authorizations for the 2004 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project and of the Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project, and to redefine the scope of the consolidated project; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide additional funding for such consolidated project;

NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Branford:

(a) Consolidate the aforesaid $4,495,000 appropriation and $4,355,000 bond, note, obligation, temporary note and interim funding obligation authorization for the 2004 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project with the aforesaid aggregate $2,650,000 appropriation and $2,650,000 bond, note, obligation, temporary note and interim funding obligation authorization for the Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project; and increase the resulting $7,145,000 appropriation and $7,005,000 bond, note, obligation, temporary note and interim funding obligation authorization each by $2,375,000, for an aggregate appropriation of $9,520,000 and aggregate borrowing authorization of $9,380,0000, of which aggregate borrowing authorization $9,245,000 borrowings remain authorized but unissued.

(b) Redefine the scope of the 2004 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project and Rose Street Sanitary Sewer Project as consolidated hereby (hereinafter the “2005 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project”) as:

(1) Design, construction and installation of a pumping station on Cedar Street and related force main construction, sewer main construction and augmentation, and hydraulic capacity improvements to the sewer collection system in the Brushy Plains Road, Cedar Street, Palmer Woods Circle, Rose Street, Bradley Avenue, Main Street, Hopson Avenue and Meadow Street areas;

(2) Design, construction and installation of a pumping station near the intersection of Short Beach Road and Maple Street and related force main construction, sewer main construction and augmentation, and hydraulic capacity improvements to the sewer collection system in the Short Beach Road, Maple Street, Swift Street, Stannard Avenue and Indian Neck Avenue areas;

(3) Renovations, upgrades, improvements and modifications to the Damascus Road Pump Station and the Pages Pump Station on Shore Drive and various other pump stations as to be determined by the Sewer Authority; and

(4) related work, improvements and land or easement acquisition.

The appropriation may be spent for design and construction costs, land or easement acquisition, equipment, materials, administrative costs, testing costs, consultant’s fees, engineering fees, legal fees, net temporary interest and other financing costs, and other expenses related to the project. The Sewer Authority shall be authorized to reduce or modify the scope of the 2005 Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Project, and the entire appropriation may be spent on the reduced or modified project. The vote was unanimous.

14. The open space acquisition discussion was moved to the end of the agenda.

15. The Board considered the Legislative Department’s request for the following

transfer which was presented by Georgette Laske, Town Clerk.

From: 4904-494.59-13 Contingency ($2,000)

To: 4101-401.52-01 Update Law Ordinances 2,000

Ms. Young made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella.

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the R.T.M. a transfer of $2,000 as requested by the Legislative Department. The vote was unanimous.

16. The Board approved the pension consulting agreements with Wachovia Securities and Merrill Lynch after a presentation was made by Finance Director, Jim Finch.

Mr. Casella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.

RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance upon recommendation of the Police Pension Trustees authorizes an amendment to the agreement with Wachovia Securities and to approve a consulting agreement with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith. The vote was 4yes 1 abstention. Mr. Mooney abstained.

Mr. Cassella made a motion, seconded by Ms. Young to go into executive session at 9:40 p.m. to discuss open space acquisition item #14. The Board returned from executive session at 10:06 p.m. No votes were taken.

Mr. Cassella made a motion, seconded by Ms. Young to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m. The vote was unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

Georgette A. Laske, Clerk