TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE MEETING
MINUTES OF MAY 12, 2008
PRESENT: Michael Guarco, Chairman; B. Scott Kuhnly, Frederick Moffa, OD, and Francis Brady
OTHER ATTENDEES: William F. Smith, Jr. Town Manager, J. Cal Heminway, BOE Chairman; Gwen Van Dorp, Superintendent of Schools, and Harry Traver, BOE Business Manager
Board of Finance Chairman Guarco confirmed a quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
MINUTES
The Board reviewed several sets of minutes.
ON A MOTION by B. Scott Kuhnly, seconded by Frederick Moffa, OD, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the special meeting minutes of March 24, 2008 as presented.
ON A MOTION by B. Scott Kuhnly, seconded by Frederick Moffa, OD, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the public hearing minutes of April 14, 2008 as presented.
ON A MOTION by B. Scott Kuhnly, seconded by Frederick Moffa, OD, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the special meeting minutes of April 14, 2008 as presented.
ON A MOTION by B. Scott Kuhnly, seconded by Frederick Moffa, OD, the Board voted 3-0-1 to approve the special meeting minutes of April 30, 2008 as presented. Mr. Brady abstained.
STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS
Town Manager Smith reported on Budget Operations for April 2008. He indicated that revenues are on target and current property taxes are doing better than budget projections. Approximately $200,000 more is expected to be received. The ECS account shows an excess of $815,000, which is an assist for the mill rate recently passed with the budget. Town Manager Smith noted several other areas of interest for budget operations including receipt of school transportation funds on May 8th and excess revenues for the 2007-08 projection budget for town clerk fees and short-term interest. Short-term interest rates are down so this account will not be as high next year. There has been discussion about the state payment for Granby Homes for Senior Citizens. It may be forthcoming but there is no
guarantee.
Transfers most probably will be needed in expenditure areas for Insurance (unemployment and workers compensation audit), Equipment Maintenance (cost of gas, diesel, and equipment parts), Planning and Engineering (engineering services), and Building Maintenance and Town Grounds (cost of heating oil and electricity). Town Manager Smith indicated that a healthy amount of money is expected to be returned to surplus at the end of the year. Town Manager Smith indicated Planning and Engineering needs a transfer because of a heavy volume of requests for reviews.
A discussion was held about both, town and school, budget operations not reporting the same dollar amounts and if this can be resolved. Town Manager Smith indicated we can only report what’s actually been received in the finance office.
An unrelated matter was discussed with the Board inquiring whether the police would be looking into bringing back the police on bike patrol given the current gasoline increase (+3.94 per gallon) and no expectation that the gas prices will be going down. Town Manager Smith indicated this program has some restrictions. They include staffing and a limited bike patrol area.
Mr. Traver reported on the February and March Board of Education Statement of Accounts. The total expenditure budget shows a favorable amount of approximately $20,000. This amount is earmarked to purchase accounting software (Budget Sense) for the school. Mr. Traver indicated that both the school and town are in discussions about combining resources to purchase this software. More review of the software and its capabilities are being conducted. The school indicates a decision needs to be made by June 30, 2008. Mr. Traver indicated that tuition from other towns is up in the April Statement of Accounts. However, this report has not yet been discussed with the Board of Education. He commented on the employee benefits account having an in and out transfer because of a number of people leaving.
APROPRIATION REQUEST FOR CONSULTING FUNDING FOR STORAGE AND VEHICLE WASH BAY COMMITTEE
James Sansone, a member of the Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee, presented some background for this appropriation request. J. Cal Heminway, Board of Education Chairman, commented the already formed committees are missing the school’s need for a vehicle and storage building, along with an athletic facility and central custodial maintenance offices. Town Manager Smith indicated the appropriation request also includes this committee examining potential land purchase and possibly obtaining one property appraisal, which should address Mr. Heminway’s concerns.
A further discussion indicated there are two committees charged with the study of an athletic field facility and storage and wash bay building. These initial building studies reported from the two committees indicated that Granby Athletic Field Long-range Advisory Committee is looking into the field house (portion of the athletic facility) and the Storage and Wash Bay Committee is looking into a cold storage, vehicle bay, and custodial office space for the school.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Brady, seconded by Dr. Moffa, the Board voted 3-1-0 to approve the appropriation in the amount of $7,500 from General Fund to Administration-Boards, Regional Programs, and Staff Development. Chairman Guarco voted no.
APPRORPRIATION REQUEST FOR STATE OF CONNECTICUT AGING SERVICES DIVISION GRANTS
Chairman Guarco commented from the memo dated May 12, 2008 that this appropriation request was for producing a video and purchasing a LCD projector and equipment cart, along with some additional funds for hosting an “Open House” in September 2008.
Town Manager Smith indicated this appropriation is a straightforward request, which would be a pass through of accounts. No matching funds are required for these grants.
ON A MOTION by Mr. Kuhnly, seconded by Dr. Moffa, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the appropriation in the amount of 8,450 from General Fund to Senior Activities Fund.
DISCUSSION OF UPCOMING BUDGET YEARS
Chairman Guarco distributed information about wages and insurance from both the school and town, BOF budget worksheet FY09-Rev 1, and Finance Model LT 2008-4 for to the Board.
Several different discussions ensued, which included subjects such as rejection of budgets on the rise with surrounding towns, when is the next wage negotiation period - (Fall 2010 and 2012), the pros and cons on the state’s discussion about combining insured lives (municipalities and schools) into a large group in an effort to reduce medical fees, and fiduciary responsibilities. In response to the fiduciary responsibility discussion, Mr. Heminway indicated his job involved protecting and advocating for education.
ADJOURNMENT
ON A MOTION by Gordon Bischoff, seconded by B. Scott Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia I. Chieski
Recording Secretary
| 
