BOARD OF FINANCE
MARCH 11, 2008
SPECIAL MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Special Meeting of the Board of Finance was called to order at 8:30 P.M. in the Simsbury High School Auditorium, 34 Farms Village Road, Simsbury, Connecticut. The following members were present: Paul Henault, Peter Askham, Candace Fitzpatrick, Nicholas Mason, Anita Mielert and Kevin North. Also present were Director of Finance Kevin Kane and other interested parties.
2. ACTION ON PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS
Mr. North introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Mason:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $720,000 for the Laurel Hill/Gersten land acquisition of approximately 50 acres located along the Talcott Mountain ridgeline for open space, recreation and other municipal purposes; that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $720,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Mielert introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Fitzpatrick:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $2,750,000 for acquisition of approximately 77 acres of land bounded by Firetown Road, Holcomb Road and Barndoor Hills Road, subject to certain conservation restrictions as to the use of the land, as provided in certain Settlement Agreements approved or to be approved by the Board of Selectmen; that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $2,750,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Mr. North introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Mielert:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $325,000 for design and construction of streetscape improvements at the Rts. 10/167/Drake Hill Road intersection associated with certain State DOT Projects, including traffic flow improvements, center area improvements, turning lane reconfiguration, traffic signal modernization, pedestrian access and safety improvements through construction of sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks and traffic calming treatments, lighting, plantings, landscaping and completion of the Greenway trail; that the Town issue bonds or notes and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $325,000 to finance the appropriation; and that the term of the bonds or notes not exceed ten years.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Mr. North 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 improvements to Eno Hall, including safety, code, accessibility and preservation improvements such as installation of a fire suppression system, front entry walks and surrounding feature improvements, architectural code construction, handicap access improvements and repairing and repainting of clock tower and columns; to be funded by $200,000 from the Eno Memorial Fund, State or federal grants and the remainder from General Fund Reserves.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Mr. North introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Askham:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $170,000 from General Fund Reserves for water main extensions and fire hydrant service for fire protection into portions of Whitcomb Drive, The Glade, The Butterchurn, Wyngate, or, after referral to the Planning Commission for a report pursuant to Section 8-24 of the General Statutes, other equivalent areas.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Mielert introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. North:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $260,000 from the Sewer Assessment Fund for sewer main extensions on Cornfield Road, High Hill Circle, portions of Bushy Hill Road near Joseph Drive or, after referral to the Planning Commission for a report pursuant to Section 8-24 of the General Statutes and a public hearing and approval by the Water Pollution Control Authority, other equivalent areas.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Mr. North introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Ms. Mielert:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $450,000 from the Sewer Use Fund for design and reconstruction of the South Pump Station, including rewiring and repiping, replacement of existing pumps with three dry pit submersible pumps, replacement of motor controls, construction of a hatch between levels for equipment removal, replacement or refurbishment of railings, replacement of access hatch on the wetwell, installation of a flow meter and necessary connections to computer system.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Mielert introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Mason:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $1,257,500 from any available state grants and the remainder from General Fund Reserves for replacement of the roof on the original section of Tootin’ Hills School and the roof on modular classrooms.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
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Ms. Mielert introduced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. North:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Finance recommends that the Town of Simsbury appropriate $700,000 from General Fund Reserves for replacement of boilers and controls at Tariffville School and Henry James Memorial School.
The resolution was approved by 6 votes in favor and 0 votes opposed.
3. TRANSFER FROM RESERVES
Mr. Henault referred to a letter from Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke to the Board of Selectmen regarding the Simsbury Airport Study (Addendum I). The total amount of the study is to be $125,000, $118,750 of which would be paid by the FAA, $4,687 from the State of Connecticut and $1,563 from the Town.
Ms. Mielert made a motion to transfer $125,000 from General Fund Reserves to the Board of Selectmen Central Administration, Consultant Services account for purposes of the preparation of an Airport Study for the Simsbury Tri-Town Airport, located on Wolcott Road. Ms. Fitzpatrick seconded the motion.
Mr. Mason, who is on the Airport Study Committee, stated that this appropriation is a result of the initial request that was made last summer to start the study and indicated that the next meeting of the Committee would be in mid-March. At the last meeting, which was 6-8 weeks ago, the Committee went through planning documents and the progress of various studies. Mr. Henault asked about how financially committed the Town is to this project; Mr. Mason responded that no decisions have been made at this point.
The motion passed 5-0 (Mr. North abstained).
4. ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Fitzpatrick made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 PM. Mr. Mason seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
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Paul Henault, Chairman Debra L. Sweeney, Clerk
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