Board of Finance

Minutes of the Meeting of March 15, 2007

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Tom Bechtle, Sally Hart, Earl Brecher, Anne Ingvertsen, members. John LaPorta and Ginger Betti, members. Barbara Gold, chairman of the Board of Education and Gordon Ridgway, first selectman.

John LaPorta was asked to sit for Celia Senzer who was absent.

In a roundup of news about changes in the education and town budgets, Barbara Gold reported that choices by staff about levels of health insurance have reduced the education budget increase to a flat 2.0%. For the town office side of the budget, the clerk noted that a slight decrease in health insurance had been partly erased by a 3% increase in worker’s compensation.

The Board discussed sending a member to observe the negotiations with the non-classified staff. No one openly volunteered.

Gordon commented on the hefty increases in the penalty payments for sale of property protected by tax deferrals offered by Public Act 490. Presently about $185,000 has been received by the Finance Office.

There were no further comments on the FY 2008 budget.

The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.

Lisa Lansing

Clerk