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BOARD OF FINANCE
MARCH 19, 2002
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance was called to order at 6:01 P.M. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. The following members were present: Chairman Paul Henault, Peter Askham, Candace Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Mason and Michael Wade. Also present were First Selectman Thomas Vincent, Finance Director/Treasurer Kevin Kane, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Townsley, Board of Education Business Manager David Holden and other interested parties. Board of Finance member Kevin North was absent, and Mr. Wade left at 8:55 P.M.
Mr. Wade moved to amend the agenda order to make #2 first, #5 second, #6 third, #1 fourth, #3 fifth and #4 sixth. The motion was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick and carried unanimously.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 2002/2003 BUDGET PRESENTATION (PURSUANT TO SECTION 905 OF THE TOWN CHARTER)
Mr. Vincent began by thanking the members of the Board of Selectmen, Assistant to the First Selectman Brandon Robertson and Kevin Kane for all their time and energy in helping him to prepare the budget. He reviewed the Budget Presentation binder and noted that the increase over last fiscal year’s budget would be 3.49%. Some reduction in the level of municipal services was necessary to achieve this percentage which is within the BOF guideline of 3.5%.
Discussion ensued with Mr. Askham expressing concern about the possibility of over-budgeting of revenue and interest on investments. Mr. Kane explained how the figures were developed and reminded Mr. Askham that the BOF has the right to adjust line items if they feel it necessary.
Mr. Henault asked if all the grants were applied for that we were eligible for. Mr. Vincent confirmed that they were and noted that several are outstanding. BOS member Anita Mielert stated that the DEP is terribly understaffed.
Mr. Wade suggested having a workshop to discuss the budget further. Monday, April 1,2002, at 5:00 P.M. was decided upon.
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to move the presented Board of Selectmen Operating Budget to the Public Hearing on April 2nd. The motion was seconded by Mr. Askham and carried unanimously.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS
Board of Selectmen
Mr. Kane reviewed his memo dated March 13, 2002, “Financial Performance Report – Eight Months Ended February 28, 2002”. He noted that a deficit of $71,753 is projected for expenditures. His revenue report indicated a projection of a $165,621 net surplus. Mr. Askham noted that in the past, revenues have been as high as $1,000,000.
Mr. Henault asked that if the high school project is approved by the voters, will the $450,000 appropriation from RESERVES come back to the Undesignated Fund Balance. Mr. Kane said that it would.
Board of Education
Mr. Holden reviewed his March 19, 2002 memo “February 28,2002 Budget Analysis Projected Through June 30, 2002” which showed a projected surplus of $20,954. Mr. Askham questioned the $70,000 projected deficit in Legal Services. Mr. Holden stated that, for the most part, this is due to Special Education hearings, collective bargaining and personnel issues.
ACTION ON CAPITAL PROJECTS
Mr. Henault reviewed Mr. Kane’s “Proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan” totaling $73,670,083.
Mr. Kane reviewed his March 19, 2002 memo “Affordability of Future Capital Projects”.
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to take a five-minute recess at 7:45 P.M. The motion was seconded by Mr. Askham and carried unanimously.
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to reconvene at 7:50 P.M. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade and carried unanimously.
Item 1:
Mr. Wade introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Mason :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $43,178,567 for design and construction of additions and alterations to Simsbury High School so that the school will accommodate approximately 1,700 students, including the addition of approximately 100,000 square feet for instructional space, a media center, arts rooms, science laboratories, physical education facilities and cafeteria expansion, together with certain renovations to existing facilities; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $43,178,567 to finance the appropriation.
Lengthy discussion followed.
The resolution was approved by 5 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 2:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $26,840,083 for expansion of the sewer treatment plant to increase capacity from an average annual daily flow of 2.85 mgd to an average annual daily flow of 3.84 mgd and to make a variety of additional improvements; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $26,840,083 to finance the appropriation.
Mr. Henault asked if Avon and Granby have signed the agreement. Mr. Vincent said that it would be signed Monday night.
The resolution was approved by 5 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Fitzpatrick moved that the Chairman of the Board of Finance send a letter to the Water Pollution Control Authority outlining the Boards’s understanding of the funding of the expansion of the Sewer Treatment Plant and that it is the Board’s intent that the project would not go forward if the outlying funding were not to take place. The motion was seconded by Mr. Askham and carried unanimously.
Mr. Wade moved to waive the reading of the individual projects’ legal language provided by bond counsel. The motion was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick and carried unanimously.
Item 3:
Mr. Mason introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $1,000,000 for the purchase of development rights and acquisition of land for open space and municipal purposes as determined by the Board of Selectmen after approval by the Board of Finance and the Planning Commission pursuant to C.G.S. Section 8-24; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 5 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 4 :
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $500,000 for infrastructure improvements needed for the completion of economic development projects, including roads and road improvements, sewers, drainage, and traffic control devices or signals. The infrastructure improvements shall be determined by the Board of Selectman after approval by the Board of Finance and the Planning Commission pursuant to C.G.S. Section 8-24, and any sewers shall be approved by the Water Pollution Control Authority after a public hearing pursuant to C.G.S. 7_247a; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $500,00 to finance the appropriation.
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved that the Board of Finance endorse this bonding language. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade and carried unanimously.
The resolution was approved by 5 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Mr. Wade had to leave the meeting at 8:55 P.M.
There was considerable discussion on item #5 before a motion was made. The original request of $500,000 was agreed to be lowered to $135,000. The issue was discussed that perhaps computers should be included in the Operating Budget or CNR Budget rather than Capital Projects.
Item 5:
Mr. Askham introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $135,000 for replacement and/or expansion of computer network servers, to the extent of available funds; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $135,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 6:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $340,000 for the addition of three modular classrooms at Simsbury High School and two modular classrooms at Tootin’ Hills School, to the extent of available funds; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $340,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
Mr. Henault mentioned to Mr. Holden that he heard from some residents that the heat in the modular classrooms didn’t work properly and that rain on the roofs was noisy. Mr. Holden stated that any heating problems were being corrected but that he had not heard any comments about loud rain.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 7:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $250,000 for flooring replacement at various locations within six of the Town’s schools (the elementary schools and middle school), to the extent of available funds, including asbestos floor tile removal, tile and/or carpet replacement and stair tread replacement; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 8:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Mason :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $220,000 for window replacement, door replacement and new window treatments in sections of the Town’s five elementary schools, to the extent of available funds; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $220,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 9:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $230,000 from the Sewer Assessment Fund for the design and construction of sanitary sewers, including the installation of sanitary sewer mains and related laterals and appurtenances and the rehabilitation of existing sewer lines. The sewers to be constructed shall be determined by the Water Pollution Control Authority after a public hearing pursuant to C.G.S. 7_247a and approval by the Planning Commission pursuant to C.G.S. Section 8_24.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Item 10:
Ms. Fitzpatrick introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Mason :
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $200,000 for improvements to various town parks including Town Forest Park, Tariffville Park, West Mountain Park, Weatogue Park, Memorial Park and Simsbury Meadow, to the extent of available funds; and that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $200,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 4 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to table the remaining agenda items. The motion was seconded by Mr. Askham and carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 P.M. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mason and carried unanimously.
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Paul W. Henault, Chairman Roxanne Farrell, Clerk
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