Board of Finance Meeting Minutes-3/12/14

BOARD OF FINANCE

REGULAR MEETING - 6:00 PM

MINUTES

MARCH 12, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Askham, Chairman, called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance to order at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 12, 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 and Jeff Blumenthal.  Also present were Mary Glassman, First Selectman, Sean Kimball, Interim Finance Director, Lisa Heavner, Board of Selectmen Liaison, Matthew Curtis, Superintendent of Schools, Burke LeClair, Board of Education Business Manager and other interested parties.

1.         Pledge of Allegiance

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.         Police Pension Update

Ms. Glassman updated the Board regarding the status of the Police Pension.  She noted that the Town has stopped deducting employee contributions to the Pension Plan for officers who have either reached age 53 or completed 25 years of service, whichever comes first.  Ms. Glassman stated that the budget reflects the amount that had to be refunded to some of the officers.   She also noted that the Town is confirming with counsel in settling any additional obligations that the Town may have and it will be reported back to the Board.

3.         Board of Education 2014/2015 Budget Presentation (pursuant to Section 806 of the Town Charter)

Mr. Curtis stated that the Board of Education is requesting a 1.05% increase for their 2014/2015 budget.  This would increase their budget by approximately $683,000.   He reviewed and discussed several slides with the Board including:

• Superintendent Budget Request
• Operational Efficiencies Utilized in Proposed Budget
• Comparison of Per Pupil Expenditure and CAPT Performance in DRG B (At/Above Goal)
• Ongoing Efforts to Mitigate Cost
• Cooperative Efforts on Insurance Carrier Consolidation to Yield Significant Savings
• Drivers of the 2014-15 Budget
• Financial Knowns as of 2/25/2014
• Program Improvement Cost Drivers
• Out-of-District Tuition/Settlements
• Access to Technology

Mr. Curtis answered questions from the Board regarding the Board of Education budget.  Some of the items asked by the Board included:

• Teacher salaries
• Student population and projections
• Open Choice program
• Inheritance received by the Board of Education
• Additional Chromebooks
• Musical instrument fees compared to the athletic sports fees for pay-for-play
• What were the items not funded in the Board of Education budget
• How often is the data and research on class size reviewed
• Special needs costs
• Eight-period day for high school students

Mr. Curtis distributed a Budget Reduction handout to Board members illustrating what could be eliminated from their budget to lower it from 1.05% to .5%.  An additional handout was given to members illustrating the maintenance areas that exist for cooperation.

Mr. Askham stated that the Board members need more information on additional pieces of the budget before any decisions can be made.

4.         FY 13-14 Budget Update

Mr. Kimball distributed and discussed two handouts with the Board members which included:

• Estimated Year End Transfers for FY 2014 Budgeted Payroll Line Items exhibit.  This showed the impact over the past three years of the budgeted amounts reserved for un-negotiated salaries, the ultimate amounts needed once the expired contracts were settled, and the amounts returned from Town expenditures to the General Fund Reserves in prior years.
• Estimated Year End Transfers for FY14 memo, which is intended to consolidate the previously discussed FY14 reserve transfer items referenced in the February 18^th Finance Director’s report with the recently completed analysis of the estimated amount needed to transfer to cover salary line item shortfalls due to settled collective bargaining agreements.

Mr. Askham noted that Simsbury Farms is in a deficit position and the Town has to either make it whole before the end of the year or transfer funds in the summer.

Mr. Kimball questioned whether the Board of Finance would still like to see a 1% and .5% budget.  The Board stated that they have not yet seen a budget presentation from the Board of Selectmen and would still like the Board of Selectmen to present a 1% and .5% budget.

Mr. Kimball and Board members discussed the school Resource Police Officer and the possibility of sharing the cost with the Board of Education.

5.         Approval of Minutes

• December 17, 2013

Mr. Mason made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the December 17, 2013 Regular Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Blumenthal and was unanimously approved.

• January 23, 2014
• Mr. Mason made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the January 23, 2014 Regular Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Schofield and was unanimously approved.

• February 18, 2014
• Ms. Schofield made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the February 18, 2014 Regular Meeting.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Blumenthal and was unanimously approved.

6.         Other Business

Mr. Askham noted that Ms. Schofield has been appointed as the Board of Finance representative for the Economic Development Task Force.

Mr. Askham, Ms. Glassman and Mr. Curtis will be speaking about the budget on SCTV on March 28^th.

Adjournment

Ms. Petitjean made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mason and was unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________        __________________________

Peter Askham, Chairman        Leslie Brigham, Commissions Clerk