Monday, March 2, 2009

BOARD OF FINANCE
FEBRUARY 10, 2009
Page 1 of 2

Attendance: Chairman Janet Brunwin, Robert Brinton Jr., Richard Van Horn, Eric Gallant, Stephen Squinto

Visitors: First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski, Larry Eisner, Arnold Riley, Brian Laubstein

Chairman Brunwin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Brunwin called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the meeting of January 13, 2009. The motion of approval was moved by Van Horn and seconded by Squinto, to approve with one exception, to correct the date at the top of the page. The vote was called. There were four yes votes and one abstention that of Van Horn as he was absent from that meeting.

Chairman Brunwin called for a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of January 26, 2009. The motion of approval was moved by Brinton Jr. and seconded by Squinto. The motion was called. There were four yes votes and one abstention that of Squinto as he was absent from that meeting.

DISTRIBUTION OF AUDIT
The final audit for fiscal year 2008-09 was distributed. Since Board members had not had a chance to review it no vote was taken for its acceptance.

VISITORS
Brian Laubstein was present requesting answers to questions he had previously brought to the Board regarding the budget of the Elementary School. Board members explained that the answers should be best given to him by the school as they were not confident to comment without knowing all the rules and regulations of the Board of Education.

REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER - TOWN INVESTMENTS
Larry Eisner, Town Treasurer was present to discuss with the Board of Finance what he projected would be interest earned on the General Fund for fiscal year 2009-10. Eisner also gave a report to the Board on the security of Town investments in the various funds and the interest rates that they were presently paying.

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN
Chairman Brunwin reported on her attendance at the Amity financial meeting. The Amity budget for fiscal year 2009-10 has been recommended by the Board of Education with a .77% increase over all. The increase to the Town of Bethany will however be 3.27% due to increased enrollment for the Town of Bethany. The parking permits for students will increase from $50 to $100 per year.



BUDGET REPORT AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008-09
A letter was received from Alan Green, Public Works Director stating that he was trying to hold all budgets, so that his overall budget would not be over spent by the end of the fiscal year.

Revenues for the Town Clerk and Building Department are down. Gallant questioned whether staff could be reduced in the Town Clerk’s Office since the number of transfers and other Town Clerk related revenues are down?

A transfer of $5,000 to General Insurance will need to be done to offset an insurance reimbursement. The expenses for the Pine Brook Crossing repair need to be moved from the road account and a debit made to the General Fund for this repair work. The grant for Human Services needs to be moved from the budget to a special account.

ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment was called at 8:45 p.m. after a motion was moved by Brinton Jr. and seconded by Squinto. The vote taken was unanimous.


Respectfully submitted,


June G. Riley
Clerk, Board of Finance