The RTM Ways and Means Committee met on Monday, October 6 2008, at Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT. The meeting came to order at 7:32 PM. Present were Rep. Nardella, Rep. Prete, and Rep. Thayer. Rep. Keefe and Rep. Avitable were absent. Also present was Rep. Twohill.
The following were heard:
1. To discuss the Finance Director's request for $16,100 to be transferred from Contingency to Transfer Out Town Projects. The $16,100 is to reimburse the Branford Land Trust for its pro rata share of a state grant to the Town, in proportion to the Land Trust's contribution toward the purchase of the Queach property. This was approved by the RTM on July 30, 2008 with the proviso that there be further discussion at the next regular meeting of the Ways and Means Committee.
Atty. Jim Perito, who represented the Land Trust in negotiations for the 2006 purchase of the Queach property presented, and answered questions from the Committee about this subject. Finance Director Jim Finch's letter of July 28, 2008 on the subject of the Queach Transfer request was also reviewed. The Committee members were satisfied that the situation had now been explained to their satisfaction.
As pointed out by rep. Twohill, the RTM voted to authorize the Queach purchase in March of 2006. The Committee agreed that the RTM should have been informed about this side-letter agreement at the time of the closing on the Queach purchase in June 2006, and updated again later when the grant was approved.
2. To consider, and if appropriate, approve an ordinance establishing a Community Forest Commission.
The Committee voted 3-0 to rerefer.
3. To hear and if appropriate, approve a transfer request from the Finance Director (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4902-492.20-09 Health Insurance Premiums ( 60,000)
To: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency 60,000
The Committee voted 3-0 to approve.
4. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Director of Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library for the following transfer (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4602-462-10-00 Salaries ( 218)
101-4602-462-41-14 Library automation ( 22)
101-4602-462-54-01 Meetings & memberships ( 240)
101-4602-462-61-01 Operating materials ( 676)
101-4602-462-60-01 Office supplies ( 15)
101-4602-462-61-05 Library supplies ( 191)
101-4904-494-59-13 Contingency ( 2,129)
TOTAL ( 3,491)
To: 101-4602-462-11-27 Library staff 2,186
101-4602-462-42-02 Electricity 333
101-4602-462-42-03 Fuel 897
101-4602-462-42-04 Water 75
TOTAL 3,491
The Committee voted 3-0 to approve.
5. To hear and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Tax Collector for the following transfer (FY 2008-09):
From: 101-4702-472.91-12 Bonding Costs ( 15,000)
101-4902-492.20-09 Insurance Premiums ( 95,000)
101-4903-493.51-01 Property Casualty Insurance ( 75,000)
101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency ( 95,000)
TOTAL (280,000)
To: 101-4107-407.59-07 Tax Refunds 280,000
Tax Collector Joanne Cleary presented. She had estimated that there would be about 25 tax appeals, averaging about $4,000 each that would likely be resolved and this is why she requested $100,000 for Tax Refunds in the FY 2008-09 budget. The $280,000 transfer is to pay for refunds resulting from the settlement of tax appeals on the Svenningson properties, most notably Rogers Island. She had not expected any appeals as large as this to be settled, and is already working on improving communication with the Assessor - who had a previous commitment and was not able to appear - so that she will be able to budget more accurately in the future. Less what is due or paid from resolution of a few smaller appeals in this FY, the $100,000 is still available to cover the needs for 2008-09 that were identified at budget
time.
It was noted that the Finance Director had anticipated that there would be a number of large tax appeals resolved would have to be paid for in FY 2008-09, which was why had requested approximately $350,000 more in Contingency for 2008-09 than was in the 2007-08 budget.
The Committee voted 3-0 to approve.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Thayer
Ways and Means Committee Chair
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