GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 5, 2010
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Allan D. Walker called the meeting to order a5 7:28 P.M.
ATTENDANCE: Allan D. Walker, Ned Bixler, James Korner, Donald Pardon, Scott Tillmann and Alternate Wilrose Duquette. Excused absence John D. Garvey. Absent Dexter Kinsella. Also Present First Selectman Robert Valentine and John McKenna, reporter for Republican American.
Under a review of the proposed Town Department Budgets, Robert Valentine gave the Board an update on questions asked on several budgets previously reviewed by the Board and the minor changes made to those budgets. Employee Benefits Budget health insurance line item- Based on further review by the Fiscal Office a ($3,120) reduction in Health Insurance was realized. Adjustments were made due to the fact the Public Works Employees are no longer union under which they were required to pay a 7.5% contribution. Once they rolled over into the Town Insurance program that contribution was no longer required. A former Town Employee is currently being covered under COBRA and the Town should receive, under the Obama dollars 65% reimbursement of the health cost. Previously questioned was the number of employees factored in the line item for
Public Works Winter Seasonal Wages. Review of that line item showed the line item included more employees than it should have and that line item was adjusted down accordingly. Noted again was the $1,000.00 reduction in the Board of Finance Budget line item for Annual Audit Fees. Based on the +/- adjustments to the proposed 2010/2011 Town Budget brings the Budget in $5,212.00 less than the current budget and research showed the proposed budget including capital is less than the 2006/2007 Budget.
As directed by the Board adjustments were also made in the salaries for elected officials.
SEATING OF ALTERNATE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner, seconded by Scott Tillmann to seat Wilrose Duquette as a regular member. No discussion, SO VOTED. The Chair asked that based on the fact that Ned Bixler was in China that these minutes show Ned Bixler excused from the April 28, 2010 B of F Meeting.
BOARD APPROVAL OF PROPOSED 2010/2011 TOWN DEPARTMENT BUDGETS: As recommended by the Auditor, each department budget was voted on an individual basis.
DEPT 18 – Animal Control Officer: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the 2010/2011 Animal Control Officer Budget in the amount of $10,997.00.
No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 32 – BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the Board of Assessment Appeals 2010/2011 budget in the amount of $1,400.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
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DEPT 31 – BOARD OF ASSESSORS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Board of Assessors Budget in the amount of $58,047.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 10 – BOARD OF FINANCE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Board of Finance budget in the amount of $15,650.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 05 – BUILDING OFFICIAL: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Donald Pardon seconded by Allen Walker to approve the 2010/2011 Building Official Budget in the amount of $40,985.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 56 – CEMETERIES: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Cemeteries Budget in the amount of $3,293.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT. 29 – CIVIL PREPAREDNESS – A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the 2010/2011 Civil Preparedness budget in the amount of $7,225.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 44 – CONSERVATION COMMISSION: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Conservation Commission budget in the amount of $302.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 51 – CONSERVATION OF HEALTH: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Conservation of Health Budget in the amount of $71,563.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT. 59 – CONTINGENCY: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Contingency budget in the amount of $40,000.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 72 – DEBT SERVICE: -0- Budget, No Action required.
DEPT 14 – ELECTIONS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Elections budget in the amount of $19,596.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 71- EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler
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to approve the 2010/2011 Employee Benefits Budget in the amount of $408,721.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 27 – FIRE COMMISSIONERS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Fire Commissioners budget in the amount of $400.00.
No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 25 – FIRE MARSHAL: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Fire Marshall Budget in the amount of $9,159.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 04 – FISCAL OFFICE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Fiscal Office Budget in the amount of $40,625.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 26 – FIRE PROTECTION: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Donald Parson seconded by Allan Walker to approve the 2010/2011 Fire Protection Budget in the amount of $70,250.00. No discussion, SO VOTED. James Korner and Scott Tillmann abstained from voting.
DEPT 45- INLAND WETLANDS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Inland Wetlands Commission budget in the amount of $2,650.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
INSURANCE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the
2010/2011 Insurance budget in the amount of $104,928.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 43 - LAND USE ENFORCEMENT: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Land Use Enforcement Budget in the amount of $17,040.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 21 – LIBRARY: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Library Budget in the amount of $127,428.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 55 – MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDIDTURES: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette, seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Miscellaneous Expenditures budget in the amount of $8,041.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
NEWSLETTER: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Donald Pardons seconded by Allan Walker to approve the 2010/2011 Newsletter budget in the amount of $6,400.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
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DEPT 41- PLANNING & ZONING; a motion was made by Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Planning & Zoning Budget in the amount of $2,500.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 07 – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the 2010/2011 Professional Services Budget in the amount of $22,578.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 2 – PUBLIC WORKS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Public Works Budget in the amount of $962,721.00 No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 22 – RECREATION: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Recreation Budget in the amount of $120,001.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 28 – RESCUE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Rescue Budget in the amount of $19,500.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
James Korner and Scott Tillmann abstained from voting.
DEPT 01 – SELECTMEN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Donald Pardon seconded by Allan Walker to approve the 2010/2011 Selectmen Budget in the amount of $117,642.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
STREET LIGHTS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Street Lights Budget in the amount of $11,930.00 No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 19 – SUPPORT SERVICES: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the 2010/2011 Support Services Budget in the amount of $6,600.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 12 – TAX COLLECTOR: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Tax Collector Budget in the amount of $37,147.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 11 – TOWN CLERK: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Town Clerk budget in the amount of $76,990.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
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DEPT 13 – TREASURER: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded by Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Treasurer Budget in the amount of $7,611.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 61 – TOWN OFFICE BUILDING: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Donald Pardon seconded by Allan Walker to approve the 2010/2011 Town Office Building Budget in the amount of $58,810.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 03 – WASTE REMOVAL: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Allan Walker seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Waste Removal Budget in the amount of $177,485.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 46 – WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY: A MOTION WAS MADE BY James Korner seconded by Ned Bixler to approve the 2010/2011 Water Pollution Control Authority Budget in the amount of $100.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 58 – WELFARE: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by Scott Tillmann to approve the 2010/2011 Welfare Budget in the amount of $2,650.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
DEPT 42- ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Scott Tillmann seconded by Wilrose Duquette to approve the 2010/2011 Zoning Board of Appeals budget in the amount of $1,600.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
#58 – CAPITAL & NON RECURRING TRANSFER: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Wilrose Duquette seconded Donald Pardon to approve the 2010/2011 Capital & Non Recurring Transfer in the amount of $269,000.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
2010/2011 TOTAL BUDGET: A MOTION WAS MADE BY Ned Bixler seconded by James Korner to approve the 2010/2011 Town Budget in the amount of $2,959,556.00. No discussion, SO VOTED.
Under Discussion on the status of the Current Budget Robert Valentine noted the fact that the Town is budgeting $648,877.00 out of Fund Balance which represents approximately (1) one mil. Fiscal Year ending 6/30/2009 ended with approximately 1.5million in Fund Balance. Estimated Year End projected expenditures are estimated at this time to come in approximately $230,000.00 under Budget. Robert Valentine stated that he would keep the Board informed of any change in that number. It remains the decision of the Board as to what level of Fund Balance to use and to leave. There are some bills under consideration in the State Legislature that could provide some relief relative to Health Insurance expense but the shortfall in receipt of State Grant Revenue is expected to continue for sometime.
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Discussed was the upcoming Public Budget Hearing and the fact that the Board needs to be prepared to defend its position of the giving of salary increases while also giving consideration to an increase in the mil rate. Pointed out was the fact that there has been no mil rate increase for the past three years and the time is coming when there is going to have to be a tax increase.
Sought for clarification was what the total percentage of salary increase is, as it is applied against the overall budget. Discussed was the use of minimal mil rate increase vs protecting the fund balance this year by use of a bigger increase in the Mil rate.
The date of the Public Budget Hearing is set for Wednesday May 12, 2010, 7:30 P.M. and will be held in the School Cafeteria.
There was no other business proper to come before said meting A MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY Donald Pardon seconded by James Korner. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
Joan M. Lang, Clerk
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