BOARD OF FINANCE
DECEMBER 8, 2009
Page 1 of 2

Attendance: Chairman Janet Brunwin, Sally Huyser, Stephen Squinto, Chip Spear, John Grabowski, Robert Brinton Jr., First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski

Visitors: Greg Schuyler, Michael Battista

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 moved a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of November 10, 2009. The motion was seconded by Huyser. The vote taken was unanimous for acceptance without change.

CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence with checks, was received by Chairman Brunwin from Superintendent Connellan, for the Education Stimulus Grant. The agreement between the Board of Finance and the Board of Education was that this money would be turned over to the Town, since the grant had been considered in the ECS Grant to the Town for the 2009-10 budget.

AUDIT 2008-09
Greg Schuyler from Marien & Company LLC gave a presentation to the Board of Finance of the Audit for fiscal year 2008-09. In his presentation Greg covered Balance Sheets, the Capital Nonrecurring Fund details, the Budget vs. Actual Tax Collections, Expenditures and Revenues, Tax Collection rate of just under 99%, and the Budget vs. Actual ending budget. The Fund Balance at the end of this fiscal year including the surplus will be $2,601,844 or 12% of Expenditures. The Board talked about transfers to close the books. Chairman Brunwin moved to appropriate $20,000 of Revenue for Contingency Needs Grant and to appropriate $20,000 of Expenses for the Contingency need Grant. Huyser seconded the motion. The vote taken was unanimous. Brinton Jr. commended that he objected to after the fact approval. Brinton also requested periodic reports from the Selectmen on Capital Expenditure items. Chiarman Brunwin made a motion, to move all the balances of all under expended accounts to the Contingency Fund, and to then take money from the Contingency Fund to balance all over expended accounts. This motion was seconded by Squinto. The vote taken was unanimous. A motion was then moved by Chairman Brunwin to accept the audit for fiscal year 2008-09 as presented excluding the Management Letter which will be sent to all members tomorrow. Squinto seconded the motion. The vote taken was unanimous.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Brunwin reported that the Annual Report requests have been sent out.

The Tax Collections at this time are .3% under last year’s collections.

The meeting schedule for the 2010-2011 Budget Timetable, the Budget Request Form and the Yearly Meeting Schedule were distributed.

Chairman Brunwin shared with the Board members information that she had gathered from the CCM Conference that she recently attended.

The Chairman opened discussion regarding Capital Expenditures to be closed out. No final decision was made on any closures. The Board suggested that First Selectwoman Gorski present a list in writing, for the next meeting, of items to be closed out, and a vote of the Board will be taken to properly close the account.

The Board discussed guidelines to be set for budget preparation. It was determined that the request letter would be sent out indicating no salary increases, and then final consideration to be given when budget is complete, and the mill rate is known. First Selectwoman Gorski felt that since the Town Hall Staff had no increase last year and all other departments did, that it would be unfair to withhold a cost of living increase from them.

SELECTMEN’S REPORT
First Selectwoman Gorski reported a leak on the side gym stage from an air handler in the heating system. This leak had caused a pipe under it, covered with to break away. An environmental company has inspected the damage. An insurance claim will be submitted.

A special Town Meeting will be held December 14, 2009 to discuss the Airport Hangar.

BUDGET REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2009-10
The Board reviewed the revenue and expenditure budget report for November. Board members noted expenditures for Pine Brook Crossing in the Highway Department budget. It will be necessary to make a transfer from the Highway Department budget to the Pine Brook Crossing account.

ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment was called at 8:50 p.m. after a motion was moved by Huyser and seconded by Squinto.
Unanimous approval.

Respectfully submitted,

June G. Riley
Clerk, Board of Finance