The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joseph Mooney at 6:10 p.m. Also present were Lorraine Young, Charles Shelton, Jr., Victor Cassella and Jeffrey Vailette and Kenneth Kaminsky.
Also present were First Selectman Anthony ‘Unk’ DaRos, Selectmen Fran Walsh and John Opie, James Finch, Finance Director, Kathryn LaBanca, Asst. Finance Director, Joyce Forte, Human Resources Director and Marianne Kelly, Town Clerk.
1. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Director of the Blackstone Memorial Library to increase existing bond authorization for exterior renovations by $220,000 to $1,095,000. Mr. Finch noted that the amount requested is lower than the original appeal for $281,000.
Mr. Mooney read the title of the following resolution for the above request which he received from the Town’s Bond Counsel:
RESOLUTION AMENDING A RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING $875,000 FOR THE EXTERIOR RENOVATION OF BLACKSTONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUE OF $875,000 BONDS OF THE TOWN TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE” be adopted and recommended for adoption by the Representative Town Meeting.
Following the reading Mr. Mooney asked for a motion to waive the reading of the resolution and incorporate the full text into the minutes of the meeting.
Chairman Mooney requested that a motion be made to waive the reading of the entire resolution.
Mr. Vailette made the motion; seconded by Ms. Young.
Pursuant to a motion from Ms Young and seconded by Mr. Cassella, the resolution passed unanimously.
2. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Director of the Blackstone Memorial Library to amend existing bond authorization language to allow the library to award a contract for schematic design services and to increase the authorization an additional $150,000 for a total authorization of $1,248,000.
Mr. Cassella urged the Board to act on this item and recommended that Board appropriate funds from the Town’s undesignated fund balance and to make these funds available in the current fiscal year (2007-08). Ms Young cautioned that approval of this item should not be construed as an approval for the addition and that future Board decisions regarding the addition will be evaluated in light of other commitments and liabilities.
Mr. Cassella made the following motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette to appropriate $150,000 from the 2007-08 Undesignated Fund Balance.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an increase in appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2007-08 General Fund Budget from $85,298,351 to $85,448,351. This increase will be funded through a transfer from undesignated fund balance and will be used to fund schematic design services for a building addition to the Blackstone Memorial Library. The vote was unanimous.
3. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Registrars of Voters for the following transfer to cover expenses for the February Presidential Preference Primary:
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency $(17,204)
From: 101-4112.412.33-24 Moving and Storage $( 2,010)
From: 101-4112.412.61-01 Misc. Operating Supplies $( 2,528)
TOTAL $(21,742)
To: 101-4112.412.11-01 Primary & Special Elections $ 21,470
To: 101-4112.412.11-02 Election Workers $ 72
To: 101-4112.412.60-01 Misc. Office Supplies $ 200
TOTAL $ 21,742
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $21,742 as requested by the Registrars of Voters. The vote was unanimous.
4. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Registrars of Voters for the following transfer for GIS redistricting costs:
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency $( 4,500)
To: 101-4119-419.41-01 IT Account $ 4,500
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
Discussion followed. The Registrars of Voters explained the need to redistrict due to the fact the present polling stations do not have enough space to set up the new voting system and that two districts have no suitable buildings to accommodate the equipment necessary to carry out elections.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $4,500 as requested by the Registrars of Voters. The vote was unanimous.
5. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Human Resources Director for the following transfers:
From: 101-4120-420.10.00 Salaries $( 18,000)
101-4120-420.10.90 Extra Help $( 3,000)
TOTAL $( 21,000)
To: 101-4110-410.36.01 Labor Relations $ 21,000
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette.
Resolved: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $21,000 as requested by the Human Resources Director. The vote was unanimous.
From: 101-4120-420.54.10 Conferences & Meetings $( 900)
101-4120-420.57.00 Travel Expense $( 100)
TOTAL $( 1,000)
To: 101-4120-420.32.01 Physicals & Inoculations $ 1,000
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette.
Resolved: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $1,000 as requested by the Human Resources Director. The vote was unanimous.
6. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Town Clerk for the following transfer:
From: 101-4108-408.60-01 Office Supplies $( 2,000)
101-4108-408.59-21 Vitals Statistics $( 500)
101-4108-408.33-06 Computer Indexing $( 1,000)
TOTAL $( 3,500)
To: 101-4108-408.10-19 Expanded Hours $ 3,000
101-4108-408-58-01 Training & Education $ 500
TOTAL $( 3,500)
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky.
Resolved: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $3,500 as requested by the Town Clerk. The vote was unanimous.
7. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Finance Director for the following transfer:
From: 101-4109-409.35-02 Expenses & Claims $( 80,000)
101-4109-409.35-06 Tax Appeals $( 15,000)
TOTAL $ (95,000)
To: 101-4109-409.10-19 Counsel & Legal $ 95,000
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky.
Resolved: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $95,000 as requested by the Finance Director. The vote was unanimous.
8. To consider an appropriation from the Town Undesignated Fund Balance for various non-recurring items. This item was removed from the agenda as the only non-recurring item was addressed under item 2 which appropriated funds for the James Blackstone Memorial Library to consider.
Ms. Young made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m. The vote was unanimous.
Dated this 26th day of March, 2008
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Kelly, Clerk
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