BOARD OF FINANCE
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 28, 2017
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DRAFT
Attendance: Chairman
John Grabowski, Robert Brinton Jr., Melissa Spear, Sally Huyser, Sharon Huxley,
John Ford IV
Visitors: Alan Green,
Fran Doba, Tom Broesler, Jerry Turner, Kate Sylvester, Susan Bedron, Calico
Harrington, Pat Martin, Fin Hirschoff, Hank Vogeli, Barbara Haag, Melissa
Cadham-Clyne
Charman Grabowski called the meeting of the Board of Finance
to order at 7:05 p.m. The meeting was
held in the Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Chairman Grabowski called for a motion to approve the
modified draft minutes of the meeting of February 14, 2017. The motion was moved by Robert Brinton Jr.
and seconded by Sharon Huxley. There
were no changes. The minutes were
approved on a unanimous vote.
Chairman Grabowski called for a motion to approve the
minutes of the meeting of February 21, 2017.
A motion was moved by Sharon Huxley and seconded by John Ford IV. The minutes were approved on a unanimous vote
without modification.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Grabowski reported that the Amity Finance Committee
special meeting scheduled for February 23, 2017 was canceled due to lack of
quorum.
PUBLIC WORKS
BUDGET
Alan Green presented the Public Works budget. Alan indicated that he had kept most line
items in his budget to a 2% of less increase.
The Board had questions regarding Contracted Services and Tree removal. The $100,000 tree work budget was
discussed. They discussed Major Road
work and how we are not keeping up with the recommendations of the Road
Maintenance Program Study of two years ago.
The Board requested a detailed Major Road repair list for fiscal year
2017-18. They want a list of the roads
and the cost of repair in detail.
The Public Works is requesting a small tractor as their
Capital Expenditure for fiscal year 2017-18.
Their request is $90,000 for this machine. They would use this tractor to do small road
and trail repairs.
Alan was questioned about the overage costs for the Salt
Shed. He indicated that the cost for
excavation of the base for the salt shed was not part of the Capital
Expenditure request of $350,000. That
request was for the Salt Shed only. The
construction for the base was to have come out of the regular operating budget
and the work done by the Highway Department.
The expense ran over the planned estimate. When excavation began it was
discovered that many stumps from the excavation of the Town Garage had been
buried there. They had to be removed and
properly disposed of. Mesa was hired to
do this work as the Highway Department did not have the proper equipment to do
this. At this time the Board of Finance is
requesting exactly how much this construction has cost to date and to see if it
can be absorbed within the regular operating budget. Chairman Grabowski indicated that the Board
of Finance should have been notified of this problem.
LIBRARY BOARD BUDGET
Barbara Haag thanked the Board of
Finance for their generous support last year.
She explained some of the new programs they have been able to have
because of it. They have hired a full
time children’s Librarian. Due to State
budget cuts, failing physical plant, and added expenses such as the internet
which they now have to pay for, the extra money in last year’s budget has been
spent. They have hired an engineer
hoping to improve the heating system and save on energy costs. The Board of Finance will look at the budget
submitted by the Library and see if some of their request can be met.
BUDGET 2017-18
The Board discussed the options
they would have if the budget was not complete in time for the Annual Town
Meeting. Attorney McSherry had advised
that the meeting could be adjourned to another Special Town Meeting when the
budget was complete. If it was not
complete in time to get the tax bills out on time then a temporary mill rate
would be set and a supplemental tax bill would be sent out at a later
date.
The regular meeting of the Board
of Finance will be held on March 14, 2017.
There will be no special meeting next Tuesday. Sharon Huxley was concerned about the budget
for Contracted Services and wanted to see a line item just for trees and not in
Contracted services.
The Board requested from Tom
Broesler current salaries, revenues to date especially any revenues related to
building permits for Rocky Corners and the Soccer field.
DR. PLUMMER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Approval of the resolution for
the Dr. Plummer Scholarship Fund was tabled.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment was called at 9:00
p.m. after a motion was moved by Sally Huyser and seconded by Chairman
Grabowski.
Respectfully
submitted,
June
G. Riley
Clerk,
Board of Finance
