These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
BOARD OF FINANCE
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
REGULAR MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance was called to order at 6:02 P.M. in the Board of Education Conference Room at the Simsbury Town Hall. The following members were present: Chairman Paul Henault, Peter Askham, Candace Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Mason, Kevin North and Michael Wade. Also present were Board of Education Business Manager David Holden, Director of Special Services Gregory Little, Board of Education member Mary Donna Lyons, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Townsley, First Selectman Thomas Vincent and other interested parties.
APPROVE MINUTES
February 10, 2004 Regular Meeting
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to approve the minutes from the February 10, 2004 Regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Askham and carried unanimously.
REVIEW SIX-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
Board of Education
Ms. Lyons reviewed the BOE portion of the worksheet prepared by Director of Finance Kevin Kane, "Town of Simsbury Proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan Fiscal Year 2004/05 Through 2009/10" (Addendum I). She went over all six years and then went back to prioritize FY 04/05.
For FY 04/05, the maintenance projects are both considered necessary: the Central School roof replacement and the Simsbury High School auditorium update. The improvement items were prioritized thusly: 1.) elementary modular classroom space, 2.) computer technology, 3.) SHS track and stadium field.
In response to Mr. Askham's question, Dr. Townsley stated that they weren't sure where the modular classrooms were going to go but that they would all be at the same school. Mr. Henault asked what the need was for the modular classrooms. Dr. Townsley stated that the pre-school Special Ed program has outgrown all of the space for it at Tootin' Hills School.
Dr. Little explained that pre-school is required under State and Federal regulations for people with disabilities beginning at age three. He stated that there has been an explosion of students with autism in this community and added that Simsbury is sending 15-17 students out to area pre-schools because there is no space left in the Tootin' Hills program. This is very costly, and the BOE is trying to plan efficiently and cost effectively in town for Simsbury's children.
Mr. Wade asked what percentage of the BOE operating budget is driven by Special Needs. Mr. Holden answered that it is a little over 14%. Dr. Little informed the Board that Simsbury has 13.2% of students with special needs, and similar to the regular education performance, Simsbury's students with disabilities achieve at either #1 or #2 in the State.
Much discussion ensued concerning the individual 2004/05 projects. Mr. Askham expressed concern that the worksheet shows that everything will be bonded. He stated that in the old days the Town used to pay half cash. Mr. Holden stated that the SHS field would be a multi-use field which would be used for an extensive number of hours during the day. Mr. Askham asked if the field would have lights. Dr. Townsley answered that the budget does not include lights. Ms. Fitzpatrick commended the BOE for doing an incredible job with special needs students, as with all of the students, with less rather than more.
Mr. Henault had to leave the meeting at 6:50 P.M. He asked Mr. Askham to take over as Acting Chairman.
Mr. Mason asked how many seats would be in the HJJHS auditorium. Dr. Townsley answered that there would be around 425, or half the student population. He added that everything currently happens in the gym, and it disrupts other activities.
Board of Selectmen
Mr. Vincent handed out the detailed "Town of Simsbury Capital Projects' Forecast" for fiscal years 04/05 through 09/10 to go along with what the Board members had received in their meeting packets including Mr. Kane's "Town of Simsbury Proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan Fiscal Year 2004/05 Through 2009/10" (Addendum I). He reviewed the projects and commented on each. He noted that he, Mr. Kane, Assistant to the First Selectman Brandon Robertson and Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke have tried to adhere to the six-year plan pretty much and kept moving projects forward.
Mr. North asked if the Golf Maintenance Facility (2005/06 project) and the Parks Maintenance Facility (2007/08 project), both at Simsbury Farms, were one in the same building. He wanted to be sure a building being renovated in 2005/06 wasn't scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt in 2007/08. Mr. Vincent assured him that they were two separate buildings.
Mr. North wondered whether the Town has a good handle on what it costs to run the Simsbury Farms facility in total and whether there are alternative ways to run it. Ms. Fitzpatrick voiced agreement. Mr. Askham added that the BOF needs to discuss the whole concept of the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund in the near future. Mr. Mason stated that he feels Simsbury Farms should be paying for itself and that the Town shouldn't be continually subsidizing it.
Mr. Mason stated that he has a problem with the recreation area off of Iron Horse Blvd. in that they seem to be dealing with the whole project on a piece meal basis. He added that there has never been a comprehensive plan of what's being done there nor has the Town ever taken the whole thing in front of the voters.
Mr. Askham stated that the BOF needs to have a debate on the prioritizing of capital in the future between the BOE and Town projects. He added that adhering to the 7% policy needs to be discussed also. He noted that the Library Expansion project is slated for 2005/06 and stated that the Town of Farmington had a joint fund-raising effort, and if Simsbury did something like that, it would be easier to fit it into the capital plan.
Mr. North wanted clarification that any approval of Capital requests would be for 2004/05 only, and the rest is just for planning purposes. The Board agreed. Mr. North also noted that, according to Mr. Kane's memos, the Capital Plans for all the years are substantially over the BOF's 7% cap.
Mr. Askham asked Mr. Vincent why the six-year plan didn't include any road work or paving. Mr. Vincent answered that there is some money set aside for this in the Operating Budget.
Mr. Mason questioned why they weren't sticking to the 5% debt service that they had agreed to when the high school project was begun. The high school project would produce 5% debt service by itself, and everything else was to be limited to 5%, not 7%. He wondered whether the BOF wanted to go back to the 7% so soon.
Mr. North suggested bringing forward some combination of projects to be agreed upon between the BOS and BOE that complies with the 7% policy. Anything higher would result in a tax increase greater than they were striving for.
Mr. Askham referred to Mr. Kane's February 4, 2004 memo "Affordability of Proposed Six Year Capital Improvement Plan" and the accompanying worksheets. Worksheet D projected debt service on approved capital projects that would maintain an annual debt service budget of no more than 7%. To adhere to the 7% cap in 2004/05, the dollar amount of bondable capital projects would be $4 million. There was much discussion of whether the 7% cap should be maintained and approving which projects would accomplish this. There was also discussion as to whether the BOF should approve certain projects at this meeting or bring them all forward to the Public Hearing, listen to the public's ideas of priorities and then choose which projects to approve. Ms. Fitzpatrick suggested telling the public at the
Public Hearing what the estimated tax increase will be at 7% and also what the estimated tax increase will be if all the capital projects are approved.
Mr. North moved to limit the 04/05 capital expenditures, consistent with the way the Board of Finance capped operating expenses, at $4 million (Town expense) which is consistent with our 7% Debt Service Policy. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade.
Discussion ensued.
A vote was taken with one "yes" vote (Mr. North) and four "no" votes. The motion did not pass.
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to accept the Six-Year Capital Plans from the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade.
Ms. Fitzpatrick amended her motion. She moved that the Board of Finance accept the proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plans for fiscal years 2004 through 2010 for purposes of airing before Public Hearing on March 9th.
Mr. North recommended moving the submitted budgets on to the Public Hearing and making no suggestion about accepting.
Ms. Fitzpatrick withdrew her motion.
The Board agreed to move the proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan forward to the Public Hearing and that a motion to do so was not necessary.
BUDGET TRANSFER FROM RESERVES
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to approve the request for supplemental appropriation pursuant to 908 (c) of the Simsbury Town Charter in the amount of $249,000 as outlined in the memo dated February 17, 2004 (Addendum II), from the First Selectman to Kevin Kane for the purposes of Meadowood legal expenses. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade.
Mr. Askham asked Mr. Vincent to explain the request. Mr. Vincent stated that this does not fall in their operating budget. Mr. Askham noted that in the past they managed their budgets quite well through transfers. He asked if there were hardships this year. Mr. Vincent answered that there had been reductions over the past few years. Mr. Askham asked if other requests would be coming forward. Mr. Vincent responded that this request goes through January, and in June they will put through a request for the February through June billing.
A vote taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Fitzpatrick moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 P.M. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade and carried unanimously.
_________________________________ ___________________________________
Paul Henault, Chairman Roxanne Farrell, Clerk
| 
