BOARD OF FINANCE
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 30, 2019
Page 1 of 3
DRAFT
Attendance: Chairman
John Grabowski, Betsy Thornquist, Sharon Huxley, Katie Erickson, John Ford IV,
Sally Huyser
Visitors: Fran Doba,
Sheila Lane
Chairman Grabowski called the special meeting of the Board
of Finance to order at 7:08 p.m. The
meeting was held in the Selectmen’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town
Hall.
BUDGET 2019-20
Chairman Grabowski opened discussion on comments from the
Budget Hearing. The Board agreed that
the Hearing was well received. The Board
was surprised with the reaction of those attending regarding the mill rate, and
the opinion of the majority, that rather than a reduction in the rate they
would rather have the money put into the repair of roads. The teacher’s retirement issue with the State
of Connecticut, and how much the Town will owe the State is still unresolved. At this time it seems that the State of
Connecticut’s suggestion to regionalize schools is unresolved. The only
possible savings to towns, if this were to become law, would be possible savings
in Special Education programs and possible participation in self-insuring of health
insurance. First Selectwoman Gorski felt
that sticking with a flat mill rate would be the best solution. Betsy Thornquist agreed that was the feeling
she had gotten from the Hearing. The
Board reviewed the suggestion of Katie Erickson regarding spending the General
Fund down leaving 12% in it to do more paving.
It was the consensus of the Board that this would not be a good
idea. The question came up about the
State collecting the car tax and giving a portion back to the Town. If this were to be enacted the Town of
Bethany would lose a considerable amount of revenue. Betsy Thornquist questioned what not bonding
for roads all at once would have on the budget.
Since the town would go with BANS for the first three years it would not
make a significant change.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
The cost to renovate the Annex for use by the Park and Recreation
was discussed. The total cost of
renovation would be $235,000.
The following motion was moved by Sharon Huxley and seconded
by Betsy Thornquist to authorize the expenditure of $235,000 from the General
Fund for repair of the Annex, the project to be approved at the Annual Town
Meeting. The vote was called. The vote taken was unanimous.
The motion to take $282,906 for the re- paving of the
Bethany Community School parking lot from the General Fund, and the sum of $163,634
for the re-paving of the Town Hall parking lot and sidewalks, and $50,000 for
repaving of wheelchair access ramps at Town Hall, all from the General Fund,
with project being approved at the Annual Town Meeting, was moved by Betsy
Thornquist and seconded by Katie Erickson.
The vote taken was unanimous.
The following Capital Expenditures were approved for
recommendation to the Town Meeting on a motion moved by Betsy Thornquist and
seconded by Sharon Huxley.
6 Yd. Dump Truck with plow $220,000 total leased over three
year period for $77,829 per year.
Generator for Town Hall $125,000, Alarm Monitoring for
Bethany Community School $20,000, Replacement of floor at Lakeview Lodge
$40,000. Approval to purchase
Rescue/Pumper truck for Fire Department for a total cost of approximately $850,000
plus interest with the first payment due fiscal year 2021-22, total cost with
interest yet to be determined will be on the call for the Annual Town Meeting. The total of Capital Expenditures for fiscal
year will be $904,369
The vote taken was unanimous.
A motion to approve total Revenues at $23,772,531 was moved
by Sally Huyser and seconded by Katie Erickson.
The vote taken was unanimous.
A motion to approve total Expenditures at $23,865,324 was
moved by Betsy Thornquist and seconded by Sally Huyser. The vote taken was unanimous.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
Chairman Grabowski called for a motion of approval for the
minutes of the meeting of April 2, 2019.
A motion was moved by John Ford IV and seconded by Sharon Huxley. Chairman Grabowski questioned the amount of
the Amity Surplus as written in the minutes.
Since the amount was not available approval of the minutes were tabled.
Chairman Grabowski called for a motion of approval for the
minutes of the April 22, 2019 Budget Hearing.
Some members had not read the minutes therefore approval was tabled.
FIRST SELECTWOMAN
GORSKI
First Selectwoman Gorski made a request to the Board of
Finance, to approve the expenditure of $24,927.91 from the Contingency Fund to
pay the State of Connecticut Pension Fund for Sean Warner’s pension dating back
to his time of eligibility. The State
had calculated the amount due. The
motion was moved by Sally Huyser and seconded by John Ford IV. The vote was called. There were five yes votes and one abstention
that of Sharon Huxley.
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Sheila Lane reported that the new computer software for
accounting and bill paying will be put into operation September 1, 2019.
APPOINTMENT OF
AUDITOR
Sharon Huxley moved to appoint the auditing firm of MAWC
Certified Public Accountants to conduct the audit for 2018-19. Betsy Thornquist seconded the motion. The vote taken was unanimous.
POLICE CAR
Resident Trooper Merriam has requested that the Board of
Finance approve the purchase of a new police car with funding to be taken from
the Police Revenue Account to purchase the vehicle. Sharon Huxley moved the motion that the Board
of Finance approve up to the sum of $45,000for the purchase of a new police car
with monies taken from the Police Revenue with final approval voted on at the
Annual Town Meeting. John Ford IV
seconded the motion. The vote was
called. The vote taken was
unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment was called at 8:12 p.m. after a motion was moved
by Sharon Huxley and seconded by John Ford IV.
Respectfully
submitted,
June G. Riley
Clerk,
Board of Finance
