Board of Finance Minutes-Public Hearings-4/9/13

BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC HEARING - 7:30 PM
APRIL 9, 2013

CALL TO ORDER

Paul Henault, Chairman, called the Public Hearing for the Board of Finance to order at 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 in the Amphitheater of Simsbury High School located at 34 Farms Village Road, Simsbury, CT. The following members were also present: Peter Askham, Jeff Blumenthal, Nicholas Mason and Barbara Petitjean. Also present were Mary Glassman; First Selectmen; Mary Ann Harris, Finance Director; Tom Cooke, Director of Administrative Services; Burke LaClair, Board of Education Business Manager; Lydia Tedone, Chair of Board of Education; Matt Curtis, Superintendent of Schools; Leslie Faraci; Commissions Clerk and other interested parties.

Mr. Henault introduced the members of the Board of Finance and then provided an outline of the meeting agenda. Mr. Henault gave a presentation covering the following topics; Budget Context, Operating Budgets, Proposed FY 2014 Budget, Estimated Revenue Summary, Estimated Revenue (non-property tax), Annual Allocation of Budget, Annual Allocation of Budget, Comparison of Key Indicators and Tax Implication Estimates. 

At this point, Mr. Henault turned the meeting over to First Selectmen Glassman. 

Ms. Glassman thanked the Boards and Town Staff for their work on the budgets. She noted all of the projects being proposed tonight within the CIP fit within the 7% guideline. She then went through the following projects, providing details on each: Emergency Generator Improvements, Center Area Charrette Infrastructure Improvements, Senior Community Center Design Development, Automated Truck Wash, Town Offices Update, Town Teledata Infrastructure Modernization, Flat Roof Replacement Town Offices, Roof Repairs - Eno Memorial Hall, Farmington River Stream Bank Stabilization and Squadron Line School Elementary School Boiler Replacement. Ms. Glassman noted that the Farmington River Stream Bank Stabilization project is the one project that will have to go to referendum.

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

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, spoke about reduced property values and said the town should create a budget reflecting the drop in property values. She then said the Senior Center should be incorporated with the Library. Ms. Coe then spoke about the loss of jobs in the area and the resulting diminished grand list. She expressed her concern about the money spent on studies and the charrette. She asked that the capital improvements be taken to referendum.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN OPERATING BUDGET

Ms. Glassman presented the Operating Budget for the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Glassman covered the following topics in detail; Budget Goals, Pressures on the 2013-2014 Budget, Budget History, Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?, Cost Saving Efforts, Board of Selectmen Adopted Budget, and Next Steps in Budget Process.

Mr. Henault then asked for public audience.

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, said she is disappointed that there are not more Simsbury residents at the Public Hearing. Ms. Coe asked about CNR, saying most projects are for maintenance and should be in the operating budget. She then said the tax payers should not be subsidizing golfers. She then spoke about the operating budget and Simsbury Farms. She asked why the town is funding SMSP and they should be funded by the Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Coe asked about the recycling collected and where those funds go. Ms. Coe then said the interest rate assumption is still too low regarding the pension plan. Ms. Coe concluded by saying any increase in the budget is unacceptable.

BOARD OF EDUCATION OPERATING BUDGET

Ms. Lydia Tedone then presented the 2013-2014 Board of Education Budget. She thanked the administration and board for their work on this budget. Ms. Tedone covered the following topics: Major Cost Drivers, Board of Education Budget Details, Downward/Upward Pressures, Major Budget Drivers, Revenues/Grants, Expenditures Including General and Restricted Grant Funds, Recent Budget Increases, Benchmarking CT BOE Budget, Ongoing Efforts to Contain Costs, Enrollment Trends, Return on Investment, Per Pupil Expenditure Comparisons, CAPT Performance, Student Learning Clusters at Simsbury High School, Responding to Education Reform Mandates, and Certified Staff Proposal.

Mr. Henault then opened the floor to public audience.

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, commented on declining enrollment and said there should not be three Vice Principals at the High School. She expressed her concern about the allocation of funds to out of town Charter Schools. Ms. Coe then spoke about all-day Kindergarten and the resulting problems from that program implementation. She said the Board of Education budget should be reduced and she will be voting against the budget.

Mr. Henault then summarized the budget process and said the Board of Finance is still going to look at the issues that are of concern to them. He closed the Public Hearing at 8:33PM. 

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________________  ______________________________
Paul Henault, Chairman                                   Leslie U. Faraci, Commissions Clerk