Board of Finance Public Hearing Minutes-4/10/14

Meeting date: 
Thursday, April 10, 2014

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

PUBLIC HEARING - 6:00 PM

MINUTES

APRIL 10, 2014

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mr. Askham, Chairman, called the Public Hearing for the Board of Finance to order at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 10, 2014 in the Amphitheater at Simsbury High School located at 34 Farms Village Road, 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, Joseph Mancini, Director of Finance/Treasurer, Matthew Curtis, Superintendent of Schools, Burke LeClair, Board of Education Business Manager, Michael Goman, Secretary, Board of Education, Leslie Brigham, Commssions Clerk and other interested parties.

 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

BUDGET OVERVIEW BOARD OF FINANCE

 

Mr. Askham gave an outline of the meeting agenda and then thanked Ms. Glassman and the Board of Selectmen for all their efforts.  He also thanked Mr. Curtis and The Board of Education members as well as Burke LeClair for all their hard work.  Mr. Askham introduced Mr. Mancini as the new Finance Director for the Town and Sean Kimball as the Acting Director.  Mr. Askham introduced the Board of Finance members and also thanked them for all their work.

 

Mr. Askham gave an overview of the Board of Finance with a slide presentation.  Mr. Askham covered the following topics:  Setting Goals and Establish Mill Rate, Approve Operating Capital Budgets and Set Mill Rate, Goals, Operating Budgets Expenditure, Proposed FY 2015 Budget, Operating Budgets Revenue, Estimated Revenue, Annual Allocation of Budget, Estimated Revenue Summary, Annual Tax Collection Rate, Mill Rate & Grand List Change %, Budget Overview, Mill rate and Date for Future Meetings.

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION OPERATING BUDGET

 

Mr. Goman gave an overview of the Board of Education schedule throughout the year and then presented the 2014-2015 Board of Education Budget.  Mr. Goman covered the following topics:

Overview of the Presentation, Board of Education Budget, Downward/Upward Pressures, Recent Budget Increases, Compare Enrollment to Budget Increases 1983 - 1984 to 2014 - 2015, Connecticut Board of Education Percentage of Budget Increases for 2014 - 2015, Operational Efficiencies Utilized in Proposed Budget, K – 12 Staffing History, Return on Investment, Top Towns Simsbury, CT, Return on Investment, Simsbury High School Learning Clusters, Ongoing

 

Efforts to Mitigate Cost, Cooperative Efforts on Insurance Carrier Consolidation to Yield Significant Savings, Drivers of the 2014 – 2015 Budget, Budget Drivers, Responding to Educational and Organizational Needs, Out of District Tuition/Settlements, Access to Technology and Non-Public School Budget 2014 – 2015.

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN OPERATING BUDGET

 

Ms. Glassman thanked the residents for attending the Public Hearing and their input.  She also thanked the Town staff and the Board of Selectmen for all their hard work.  She thanked Sean Kimball for stepping up as the Acting Finance Director and introduced the new Finance Director, Joe Mancini.  Ms. Glassman presented the Operating Budget for the Board of Selectmen.   Ms. Glassman covered the following topics:  Overview, Budget Goals, Pressures on Town Budget, Recent Board of Selectmen Budget History, Budget Increases/Decreases, Mill Rate Distribution, Median Net Taxable Assessment, Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go, Board of Selectmen Budget History, Cost Saving Efforts, Budget Planning Checklist, Board of Selectmen Budget and Referendum

 

CAPITAL NON-RECURRING & CAPITAL BUDGET PRESENTATION

 

Ms. Glassman presented the Capital Non-Recurring & Capital Budget presentation.  Ms. Glassman covered the following topics:  Bushy Hill Open Space – Ethel Walker – Parcel C, Top Five Conservation Values, Open Space Context, Multi Use Trail Connections – Construction and Master Plan Updates, Multi Use Trail Connections, Simsbury Farms Golf Course Improvements, Bridge Improvements Analysis & Design, Highway Pavement Management, Town Wide Technology Infrastructure, Alternative Energy Efficiency, Scada Controls & Pump Upgrade – Longview Pump Station, Sewer Main Extensions and Inline Grinder and Screen Replacement.

 

Mr. LeClair presented Simsbury Public Schools 2014 – 2015 Capital Project.   Mr. LeClair covered the following items:  District Network Infrastructure, Henry James Memorial School Phase 1A – Main Office Security, Henry James Memorial School Phase 1B – Interior Hallway Improvements, Simsbury High School Turf Field / Synthetic Track Maintenance and Squadron Line School Main Office Security Project.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE ON OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS

At this point, Mr. Askham opened the floor up for public comment.

Ms. Anita Mielert, 57 East Weatogue Street, noted that many people have worked very hard to come up with a responsible budget.  She voiced her concern on the 98.5% collection rate and believes it should stay low.  Ms. Mielert stated that she would like to see where debt policy percentage was over a long period of time and believes the Board of Finance could lower it to 5% to save residents on taxes.  She also questioned where the Reserve Policy stands and if the Town will spend cash for some of the projects.

 

Mr. Askham answered the questions from Ms. Mielert on the Reserve Fund, Debt Service and the Debt Collection Rate.

 

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, voiced her concern on the budget presented as inconsistent with the recommendations of the Board of Finance.  She questioned why the Town should support Main Street Partnership as well as a golf course that is mainly used by non-residents.  Ms. Coe stated that she would not support the 2014 - 2015 Board of Selectmen or the Board of Education budgets.  She also noted that the Town has the highest mill rate to towns similar to Simsbury.

 

Mr. Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street, noted that he attended most of the Town’s meetings on the budget but not for the Board of Education budget meetings.  He voiced his concern on the collection rate, new technology as well as the hiring of new police officers in Town.

 

Mr. Goman addressed the issues from Mr. Kalechman regarding the Board of Education budget.

 

Ms. Debbie Driscoll, 10 Kings Road, thanked the Town for their outstanding reputation for excellence in education.  She noted that her oldest child, who is a freshman in college, was complemented by how well he was prepared for the challenges that college presents.  She supported the 2014 – 2015 budget presented.

 

Mr. David Bush, 4 Catherine Lane, thanked everyone who presented the budget.  He asked that the Board continue to support the expenditures for the Simsbury Farms revenue fund as well as any Capital projects.

 

Ms. Carol Clark-Flannigan, 8 Seminary Road, wanted to thank the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance for preserving the Town’s most vital resources.

 

Dr. Michael Rinaldi, 32 Pinnacle Mountain Road, noted that this is the first year since 2007-2008 that he supports the Town’s budget and expects no tax increase for residents in this budget.  Mr. Rinaldi voiced his concern and questioned what happened to the Board of Education budget between 2007 – 2008 and 2013 – 2014.  He also questioned the all-day kindergarten program and whether it was done in a cost effective way by the Town.

 

Mr. Goman addressed Mr. Rinaldi’s concern on the all-day kindergarten program.

 

Ms. Katie Galt, 41 Madison Lane, stated that she does not believe the Town should be spending funds to add new lockers on the first floor at Henry James Memorial School.  She noted that the lockers work fine all her items fit in her locker.

Dr. Michael Rinaldi, 32 Pinnacle Mountain Road, stated that he supports Open Choice program but has a problem as to why the Board of Education used this program to fund the all-day kindergarten program.  He believes that this was not cost effective.

 

Mr. Askham closed the public hearing and paused for a five minute break.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

___________________         _____________________________

Peter Askham, Chairman         Leslie Brigham, Commissions Clerk