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TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MARCH 15, 2010
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by First Selectman John Adams at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, and Nicholas Moon and Nicholas Ohannessian, Student Liaisons
I. PUBLIC SESSION
No public addressed the Board.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted (4-0-1) (abstention Selectman King) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 1, 2010 as presented.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted (4-0-1) (abstention Selectman King) to approve the minutes of the workshop meeting of March 3, 2010 as presented.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted (3-0-2) (abstentions Selectmen King and Kuhnly) to approve the minutes of the workshop meeting of March 4, 2010 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
No unfinished or tabled business was before the Board.
IV. BUSINESS
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to add to the agenda, item IV. Business Item C. -Consideration of Appropriation to Purchase Development Rights of the Bushy Hill Orchard with the State.
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations or appointments were received. First Selectman Adams reminded the public that there is one vacancy on the Library Board as well as on the Commission on Aging. Anyone interested in serving on a board should contact Town Manager Smith’s office or one of the town committee chairmen, B. Scott Kuhnly (R) or Margaret Chapple (D).
B. Consideration of Adoption of Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget and Transmittal to Board of Finance
First Selectman Adams thanked Town Manager William F. Smith, Jr., Administration Finance Officer Barbarajean Scibelli, Department Heads, and other staff for all their hard work putting this budget together, especially with all the difficult decisions that had to be made to make it work. The proposed resolution pertaining to transmittal of the 2010-2011 Municipal Budget to the Board of Finance is as follows:
WHEREAS, the Board of Selectmen is required to present a budget to the Board of Finance for the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Finance has requested a guideline asking that the operations portion of the budget remain at zero percent from the 2009-2010 budget; and,
WHEREAS, various revenues are included in the budget to offset expenditures including Intergovernmental and Local Revenues; and,
WHEREAS, following a review of the proposed budget by the Board of Selectmen, an operations budget of $8,761,920 or 0.0% has been developed to meet the guideline for the new fiscal year,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Selectmen forward a 2010-2011 REVENUE BUDGET to the Board of Finance consisting of the following items:
GENERAL FUND REVENUES
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ORIGINAL TMGR PROPOSED
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BOS RECOMMENDED
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Property Tax (excl. Current Levy)
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$565,000
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$565,000
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Intergovernmental Revenues
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7,043,085
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7,043,085
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Local Departmental and Fund Revenues
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2,437,625
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2,437,625
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TOTAL
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$10,045,710
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$10,045,710
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That the Board of Selectmen forward a 2010-2011 EXPENDITURE BUDGET to the Board of Finance consisting of the following items:
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES
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ORIGINAL TMGR PROPOSED
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BOS RECOMMENDED
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Administration
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$3,143,387
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$3,143,387
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Personal & Property Protection
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2,165,437
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2,165,437
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Libraries, Recreation, & Social Services
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730,173
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730,173
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Public Works & Environment
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2,722,923
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2,722,923
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Capital Budget
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765,000
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765,000
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CNEF Levy
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0
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0
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Debt Service
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4,036,212
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4,036,212
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Economic Development Funds
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10,000
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10,000
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TOTAL
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$13,573,132
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$13,573,132
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That the Board of Selectmen forward a 2010-2011 OTHER FUNDS BUDGET to the Board of Finance along with the 2011-2020 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM consisting of the following:
OTHER FUNDS
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ORIGINAL TMGR PROPOSED
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BOS RECOMMENDED
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Dog Fund
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$15,600
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$15,600
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Recreation Events
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335,000
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335,000
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Sewer Utility Fund
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147,826
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147,826
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Capital Equipment/Improvement
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1,154,845
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1,154,845
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Education Quality & Diversity
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365,060
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365,060
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2011-2020 Capital Improvement Program
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(detail in Budget document)
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(detail in Budget document)
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ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted (5-0-0) to approve the Revenue Budget, the Expenditure Budget, the Other Funds Budget, and the 2011-2020 Capital Improvement Program to be presented to the Board of Finance.
Selectman Desrosiers commented that since there is a zero base budget and $65,000 is being cut from the Library part-time personnel budget to help meet that goal, he would hope the Board of Finance would be able to find funds elsewhere so the Library cuts would not be so severe. After a brief discussion among the Selectmen, it was decided an amendment was needed to be made to the fourth “WHEREAS” in the preceding RESOLUTION.
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to add the words “increase over the current budget” after 0.0% in the fourth “WHEREAS” of the preceding RESOLUTION.
First Selectman Adams clarified that the General Fund Expenditures total of $13,573,132 includes Debt Service.
C. Consideration of Appropriation to Purchase Development Rights of the Bushy Hill Orchard with the State
The town and state have entered into a contract to purchase the development rights of the Bushy Hill Orchard from Mrs. Law. The total purchase price is $454,369. The State Department of Agriculture will contribute $294,369, and Granby’s “Local Share” amounts to $158,528. The town has $25,000 in its open space fund to help support the purchase. The Land Trust has graciously agreed to donate $80,000 towards the purchase. The balance of $55,000 would come from the General Fund. This purchase of Development Rights will keep the land in agricultural use only. If the property sells, the buyer’s deed would stipulate that the land is for agricultural use only, no subdividing or housing developments would be allowed. An appropriation request to the Board of
Finance for the monies is needed.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Kuhnly, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appropriate $55,000 from the General Fund for the purchase of the Development Rights of Bushy Hill Orchard. This request will be forwarded to the Board of Finance for their approval.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Kuhnly, seconded by Selectman Neumann the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appropriate $25,000 from the Open Space fund for the purchase of the Development Rights of Bushy Hill Orchard. This request will be forwarded to the Board of Finance for their approval.
Selectman Desrosiers asked when this transaction would be complete. First Selectman Adams responded it should be complete in approximately 30 days.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Budget Operations Report – February 2010
Town Manager Smith reviewed Tax Collections and reported them to be at 100% for the current year. Short-term investments have not done well with the market rates being very weak now, and it will probably continue that way through the fiscal year. Overall though, revenues are in good shape. Operational expenditures are on target as long as there are no surprises. We may have a couple of transfers later on, but if the good weather holds out, maybe not. This is the picture we have right now.
Selectman King asked about any flooding we may have had in town as a result of the storm we had over the weekend. Town Manager Smith responded things were not too bad. There was a little pooling at the park but no water spilling over the banks of the brook or the roads. No severe damage has been reported.
Town Manager Smith reviewed Standard & Poor’s Rating Report Summary that has again given Granby an “AA” rating. This is very good news for now and for Granby’s future. If this rate is continued, it will save Granby a substantial amount of money on future borrowing, as well as attracting high-quality development and residents. This is good for the town, as well as for the community.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
First Selectman Adams reviewed the remainder of the Budget Calendar starting with the Board of Education and Board of Selectmen presenting their budgets to the Board of Finance on March 29th. The public hearing for the Board of Finance will be on April 12th. The Annual Town Budget Meeting will be on April 26th. The Public Hearing and Town Meeting are at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. There must be at least 230 eligible voters checked in at the meeting in order to hold a vote at the Town Meeting, and there needs to be at least a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in order to pass the budget. If the budget is not passed by ballot, it will go to a machine vote on the following Monday. A majority vote is all that is needed to
pass with a machine vote. If it doesn’t pass by machine vote, the annual town meeting shall continue on the next succeeding Monday and the process shall continue in a like manner until a budget is adopted.
First Selectman Adams congratulated Town Clerk, Karen Hazen for earning the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), which is awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc. IIMC grants the CMC designation to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements, and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community, and state.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, & Mark Neumann, and Nicholas Moon and Nicholas Ohannessian Student Liaisons)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
ON A M0TION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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