January 26, 2009
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joseph Mooney at 7:40 p.m. Also present were Victor Cassella, Kenneth Kaminsky, Charles Shelton, Jeffrey Vailette and Lorraine Young.
Also present were First Selectman Anthony ‘Unk’ DaRos, Finance Director Jim Finch, Human Resources Director, Joyce Forte and Town Clerk, Marianne Kelly.
1. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky to approve the amended minutes of the November 27, 2008. The vote was unanimous.
2. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Board of Fire Commissioners for the following transfer (FY08-09):
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency (39,047)
To: 101-4204-424.10-90 Overtime 8,881
101-4204-424.10-93 Sick 30,166
TOTAL 39,047
Discussion followed. Ms. Young asked if $39,047 couldn’t be taken out of the Fire Dept’s salary line item, not contingency, and re-addressed at the end of the fiscal year, if necessary.
Mr. Cassella made the motion to change the contingency line item to the department’s salary line item, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky. The vote was unanimous.
From: 101-4204-424.10-00 Salary (39,047)
To: 101-4204-424.10-90 Overtime 8,881
101-4204-424.10-93 Sick 30,166
TOTAL 39,047
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $39,047, as requested by the Board of Fire Commissioners. The vote was unanimous.
3. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Board of Police Commissioners for the following transfer (FY08-09):
From: 101-4201-421.10-00 Salary and Wages (150,000)
To: 101-4201-421.10-90 Overtime 150,000
Mr. Kaminsky made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $150,000, as requested by the Board of Police Commissioners. The vote was unanimous.
4. The Board of Finance heard a presentation from the Town’s actuary Timothy Ryor, of Hooker and Holcombe regarding the Town’s liabilities and funding requirements related to Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB). The actuary noted that prior funding efforts by the Board of Finance and RTM will allow the Town to phase in the annual required contributions and avoid a net (OBEB) obligation and that the credit agencies would be pleased with this outcome.
5. The Board of Finance heard a presentation from the Director of Human Resources for the following transfer:
From: 101-4904-494.59.13 Contingency (226,033)
To: See attachment: listing departments and line items affected 226,033
Discussion followed. HR Director Forte explained that this money was for retroactive wages and to carry us through the current fiscal year.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $226,033, as requested by the Director of Human Resources. The vote was unanimous.
6. The Board of Finance heard a request from Director of Human Resources for the following transfer:
From: 101-4301-431.10.00 Salaries ( 33,820)
To: 101-4304-434.10.00 Salaries 21,293
101-4116-416.10.00 Salaries 12,527
TOTAL 33,820
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM a transfer of $33,820 as requested by the Director of Human Resources. The vote was unanimous.
7. The Board of Finance heard a request from the Finance Director to consider and act on the following resolution:
“Resolution with respect to the authorization, issuance and sale of not exceeding $15 million Town of Branford general obligation refunding bonds, authorizing combining into one issue and making determinations with the refunding bonds any other authorized but unissued bonds of the Town, authorizing agreements for the investment of refunding escrow and its reinvestment over its term, and repealing all prior refunding bond authorizations” and to recommend the resolution for adoption by the Representative Town Meeting.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton to waive the reading of the complete resolution. The vote was unanimous.
Chairman Mooney read the resolution as prepared by the Town’s bond counsel.
Pursuant to a motion from Ms. Young and seconded by Mr. Cassella, the resolution passed unanimously.
8. The Board of Finance heard a request to approve a resolution authorizing additional funds for the Tabor Drive appropriation.
Ms. Young made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella, to waive the reading of the complete resolution. The vote was unanimous.
Chairman Mooney read the following excerpts from the resolution as prepared by the Town’s bond counsel:
“Resolution amending a resolution appropriating $4,950,000 for the costs related to the acquisition through negotiated purchase or through the exercise of eminent domain, of the 48-86 Tabor Drive property and authorizing the issue of bonds and notes to finance said appropriation by increasing the appropriation and financing authorization to $5,550,000” (The purpose of the amendment is to increase the appropriation and bond authorization by $600,000 from $4,950,000 to $5,550,000 and to ratify, confirm and adopt all prior authorizations and resolutions in connection therewith) and to recommend the resolution for adoption by the Representative Town Meeting.
Discussion followed. Finance Director, Jim Finch, gave a review of the Tabor Drive expenditures.
Town Attorney William Clendenen gave a summary of the four appeals heading to the Connecticut Supreme Court:
· Amount of the valuation awarded
· Jury decision
· Valuation case-owners feel they are entitled to extra interest; they lost previously
· Owner and option holders claim that Branford acted illegally in taking Tabor
Atty. Clendenen stated that he felt confident in the Town’s appeals but remains cautious.
A resident, Wayne Cooke, spoke out against increased funding for Tabor legal fees.
Ms. Young stated that positive results could come from going forward with these cases. Both Ms. Young and Chairman Mooney acknowledged that these defense efforts are a costly endeavor for the taxpayer and directed Attorney Clendenen to take any and all reasonable measures he deems appropriate to minimize these costs going forward.
Pursuant to a motion from Mr. Vailette and seconded by Mr. Kaminsky, the resolution passed unanimously.
Ms. Young made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella to adjourn. The vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Dated this 30th day of January, 2009
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Kelly, Clerk
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