MARCH 23, 2009
Chairman Joseph Mooney called the budget hearing to order at 7:00p.m. Other members 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, Finance Director James Finch, Asst. Finance Director Kathryn LaBanca, Human Resources Director Joyce Forte and Marianne Kelly, Town Clerk.
Chairman Mooney asked Ms. Young to speak before the budget reviews started. Ms. Young spoke of the Triple A bond rating that Branford had achieved this year, as a result of many factors that make Branford economically strong. One of only ten towns of the 169 towns in Connecticut to achieve this high rating during tough economics times says a lot about the Town of Branford. We are able to support our Debt Service; has a trend of fiscal performance and control; well-built management and other decision makers; a solid structure of oversight; strong leadership with elected officials able to build of each other from one term to the next; elected officials willing to take 0% increases when the times call for it; a quality finance director; citizens who really support their town; and our great asset-the shoreline,
where we were successful in meeting the challenges of Islander East and Broadwater..
1. The Board of Finance reviewed the Board of Education budget and voted.
Mr. Vailette made the motion, seconded by Mr. Cassella.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $47,580,719 to the Board of Education (Operating Budget + Capital) for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
2. The Board voted on each town budget individually.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $41,335,828 for all other Town departments for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
3. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Shelton.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance hereby passed the following budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous
Board of Education: $46,903,219
Board of Education Capital: $ 677,500
Subtotal Board of Education: $47,580,719
Town Departments: $41,335,828
Total: $88,916,547
4. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $58,683 to the Open Space Fund Budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
5. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $39,643 to the Sewer Assessment Fund Budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
6. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $38,599 to the Water Assessment Fund Budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
7. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $96,200 to the Board of Education Special Fund Budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
8. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $49,500 to the Board of Education Summer Studies Fund Budget for fiscal year 2008-09. The vote was unanimous.
9. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $691,250 to the Board of Education Daycare Budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote unanimous.
10. Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young.
RESOLVED: That the Board of Finance recommends to the RTM an appropriation of $3,468,611 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant budget for fiscal year 2009-10. The vote was unanimous.
Chairman Mooney thanked everyone involved in the budget process for keeping their budget’s low so that services and employment were not affected.
Chairman Mooney recognized First Selectman Unk DaRos, who said that the department heads were asked to keep their budgets low and this budget reflects their efforts. He, also, acknowledges the Board of Finance for recognizing that there were important services cut from department budgets that the Board felt were essential and added them back into the budget. First Selectman DaRos thanked the Board of Finance, the elected officials who accepted no pay raises and department heads, especially Finance, for a job well done.
Mr. Shelton made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. The vote was unanimous.
Dated this 26th day of March, 2009
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Kelly, Clerk
Board of Finance
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