The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joseph Mooney at 7:38 p.m. Also present were Lorraine Young, Charles Shelton, Jr. and Victor Cassella. Jeffrey Vailette and Kenneth Kaminsky were absent.
Also present were First Selectman Anthony ‘Unk’ DaRos, Selectmen John Opie, James Finch, Finance Director and Marianne Kelly, Town Clerk.
1. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young, to approve the minutes of the March 17, 18, 20 and 24, 2008 budget hearing and the March 24, 2008 Special meeting. The vote was unanimous.
2. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Inland Wetlands Commission for the following transfer (FY2008):
From: 101-4116-416.61-01 Operating Supplies ( 500)
To: 101-4116-416.53.02 Legal Notices 200
101-4116-416-58.01 Training and Education 300
TOTAL 500
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $500 as requested by the Inland Wetlands Commission. The vote was unanimous.
3. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Public Works Department for the following transfers (FY2008):
From: 101-4301-431.10-00 Salaries & Wages ( 44,001)
To: 101-4301-431.10-90 Overtime 5,730
101-4301-431.11-21 Seasonal Employees 38,271
TOTAL 44,001
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $44,000 as requested by the Public Works Department. The vote was unanimous.
4. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Recreation Department for the following transfer (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4501-451.40-01 Buildings R&M ( 3,000)
101-4501-451.42-10 Utilities ( 10,000)
101-4501-451.70-34 Power Equipment ( 3,000)
TOTAL ( 16,000)
To: 101-4501-451.40-03 Grounds R&M 10,000
101-4501-451.41-01 Service Contracts 3,000
101-4501-451.41-03 Equipment R&M 3,000
TOTAL 16,000
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $16,000 as requested by the Recreation Department. The vote was unanimous.
5. The Board of Finance heard request from the Board of Police Commissioners to designate capital project funds previously authorized for equipment purchases in the police department to be used to supplement the firing range project.
Chairman Mooney said that, in the past, requests of this nature were not approved by the RTM since they did not involve line item transfers. However he recommended the RTM review and approve this item to foster openness and transparency.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young. The vote was unanimous.
6. To approve a request from the Finance Director to increase the General Fund Budget by $1,267,275, and to approve the related transfer:
From: 505-0000-302.05-03 Miscellaneous State Grants (1,267,275)
To: 101-4701-471.90-21 2002 Clean Water Fund 1,267,275
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an increase in appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2008 General Fund Budget from $85,448,351 to $86,715,626. This increase will be funded through increased estimated revenue resulting from a Supplemental Nitrogen Removal Grant of $1,267,275.
7. The Board of Finance heard a transfer request from the First Selectman to adjust salaries for the following non-union positions (FY08):
From: 101-4120-420-59-14 Incentive Pay ( 75,537)
101-4113-413.10-00 Salaries ( 488)
101-4117-417.10-00 Salaries ( 21,041)
TOTAL: ( 97,066)
To: 101-4102-402.10-00 Salaries 1,211
101-4104-404.10-00 Salaries 4,199
101-4105-405.10-00 Salaries 1,077
101-4116-416.10-00 Salaries 2,794
101-4119-419.10-00 Salaries 1,611
101-4120-420.10-00 Salaries 2,092
101-4201-421.10-00 Salaries 1,684
101-4204-424.10-00 Salaries 5,985
101-4205-425.10-00 Salaries 1,239
101-4206-426.95-00 Trans Out 4,165
101-4301-431.10-00 Salaries 2,293
101-4303-433.10-00 Salaries 1,603
101-4304-434.10-00 Salaries 5,057
101-4305-435.10-00 Salaries 2,142
101-4401-441.10-00 Salaries 35,108
101-4402-442.10-00 Salaries 12,331
101-4501-451.10-00 Salaries 6,550
101-4602-462.10-00 Salaries 5,925
TOTAL: 97,066
8. The Board of Finance discussed and made recommendations regarding the FY08 audit, changes in audit standards, related procurement issues and appointment of the auditors.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.
Finance Director, Jim Finch, pointed out that Scully & Wolf, the firm that audited the town for at least the past ten years, merged with BlumShapiro in 2007, Finance Director Finch suggested that the board approve a multi-year contract for BlumShapiro for FY 2007-08. He also noted that the Board of Selectman must waive the bidding requirements because the audit costs will exceed 50,000 for the FY 2007-08 audit (pursuant to the Branford Town Code, auditing services less than $50,000 are not subject to competitive bidding). It was also noted that changes in auditing standards are causing the audit costs to increase.
RESOLVED: The Board of Finance appoints BlumShapiro to perform the annual audit (FY08) subject to the Board of Selectman’s waiving of the bid requirements. The vote was unanimous.
Ms. Young made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The vote was unanimous.
Dated this 5th day of May, 2008
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Kelly, Clerk
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