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Board of Finance Meeting Minutes-3/25/14

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, March 25, 2014

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

REGULAR MEETING - 6:00 PM

MINUTES

MARCH 25, 2014

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mr. Askham, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance to order at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.  The following members were also present: Nicholas Mason, Barbara Petitjean, Linda Schofield, Jeff Blumenthal and Moira Wertheimer. Also present were Mary Glassman, First Selectman, Sean Kimball, Deputy Director of Administrative Services, Lisa Heavner, Board of Selectmen Liaison, Joseph Mancini, Director of Finance/Treasurer, Burke LeClair, Board of Education Business Manager, Jeff Shea, Town Engineer and other interested parties.

 

 

1.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

2.         Approve Minutes

  • March 12, 2014

Mr. Blumenthal made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the March 12, 2014 Regular Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Mason and was passed 5-0.  Ms. Wertheimer abstained.

 

  • March 12, 2014

Mr. Blumenthal made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the March 18, 2014 Regular Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Petitjean and was passed unanimously. 

 

 

3.         Board of Selectmen – 2014/2015 Budget Presentation (pursuant to Section 807 of the Town Charter)

 

Ms. Glassman spoke on the 2014-2015 Board of Selectmen budget.  She noted the numerous Budget Workshop meetings the Board of Selectmen held and some of the items that were considered in their 2014/2015 budget.  Ms. Glassman noted that the Town’s Grand List from January 30, 2013 M13 Grand List to January 30, 2014 M13 the Grand List growth was.59% and .9% for planning purposes.

 

Ms. Glassman presented the following slides to the Board of Finance:

  • Pressures on Town Budget
  • Recent Board of Selectmen Budget History
  • Budget Increase/Decreases

 

 

  • Mill Rate Distribution
  • Median Net Taxable Assessments
  • Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go
  • Board of Selectmen Budget History
  • Cost Saving Efforts
  • Budget Planning Checklist
  • Board of Selectmen Budget
  • Board of Finance Requested 0.5% Budget Further Reduction

 

Ms. Glassman reviewed items that would be removed from the 2014-2015 Board of Selectmen budget to bring it down to a 0.56% increase.  This would require cutting an additional $95,245 from their budget.

 

Ms. Glassman and the Board of Finance discussed items to be added or removed to the Board of Selectmen budget.

 

Mr. Blumenthal asked if the Board of Selectmen could provide a projection for what is coming down the pipeline to offset the loss of tax revenue if The Hartford property does not sell.

 

Mr. Blumenthal wanted to know if there was any information on the Fire District budget and if their mill rate has been decided.  Ms. Glassman stated that she would get this information for the next Board of Finance meeting.

 

Ms. Glassman discussed the Culture, Parks and Recreation budget and stated that this budget balances.  She reviewed the items that were changed to increase revenue for Culture, Parks and Recreation.  Ms. Glassman also stated that the Board of Selectmen will be monitoring the Simsbury Farms revenue/expenses on a monthly basis and will provide this information to the Board of Finance.

 

Ms. Glassman thanked the IT Task Force members and asked the group to introduce themselves to the Board of Finance.  The IT Task Force reviewed some of the items they have been working on for the past year.  Ms. Glassman also discussed the GIS Mapping and Data Management System Internet services.

 

Ms. Glassman reviewed the following Capital Non-Recurring fund items:

  • Plow Truck (without a new plow)
  • Highway Plate Compactor
  • Repair and Upgrade at the facilities at the Community Farm
  • Three patrol vehicles
  • Fixed speed sign
  • Golf course maintenance equipment
  • Park maintenance equipment

 

 

 

 

4.         Board of Selectmen – 2014/2015 Capital Improvement Plan Presentation (pursuant to Section 803 of the Town Charter)

 

Mr. Jeff Shea reviewed slides for the following Capital Improvement Plan Projects:

  • Ethel Walker Open Space – Parcel C
  • Multi-Use Trail Connections – Various Locations – Master Plan Update
  • Simsbury Farms Golf Course Improvements
  • Bridge Improvements
  • Alternative Energy Efficiency Projects
  • Longview Pump Station SCADA Controls and Pump Upgrade
  • Sewer Main Extensions
  • Inline Grinder and Screen Replacements

 

Mr. Burke LeClair reviewed slides for the following Capital Improvement Projects for the Board of Education:

  • District Network Infrastructure
  • Henry James Renovation – Phase I – Main Office Security Project
  • Henry James Phase I B Interior Hallway Improvements – First Floor
  • Simsbury High School Turf Field/Synthetic Track Replacement Project
  • Squadron Line Main Office Relocation/Renovation

 

Ms. Petitjean requested a cash flow analysis from the Board of Selectmen.

 

 

5.         Discussion about budget and possible action

 

Mr. Mancini assisted the Board of Finance to illustrate different scenarios on the mill rate projection spreadsheet slide.

 

Mr. LeClair informed the Board of Finance that Mr. Curtis indicated that the Board of Education discussion resulted in a decrease in the Board of Selectmen budget amount by $40,000 with no change to the Board of Education budget.  

 

Mr. Blumenthal made a motion to move to a Public Hearing the Board of Selectmen 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $18,751,363, the Water Pollution Control 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $2,953,372, the Residential Rental Properties 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $48,230, The Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,877,200, the Capital and Non-Recurring Fund 2014-2015 Budget in the amount of $416,250 to include an additional appropriation for the Highway-Paving Management in the amount of $155,184 for the LOCIP reimbursement grant, the new projects in the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2014-2015 (in accordance with Charter Section 803(b)), and the 2014-15 Non-Public Schools budget.  Ms. Schofield seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

 

 

Mr. Askham noted that there will be a Public Meeting on April 10, 2014 at Simsbury High School with a Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance to follow.  He also stated that anything over 1% of the Operating budget in requested Capital expenditures has to go to referendum (approximately $900,000).

 

 

6.         Discussion about Goals

 

There was nothing discussed at the meeting.

 

 

7.         Other Business

 

There was nothing discussed at the meeting.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Mr. Blumenthal made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15p.m. The motion was seconded by Ms. Petitjean and was unanimously approved.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

_______________                  __________________________

Peter Askham, Chairman        Leslie Brigham, Commissions Clerk