Board of Finance
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of
December 16, 2004
Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Celia Senzer, Thomas C.
Bechtle, Earl Brecher, Roger L. Kane, members; David Grossman and Anne
Kosciusko, alternates. Gordon Ridgway, first selectman, and Barbara Gold, Board
of Education. Absent: Sally Hart.
Chairman Gold asked David Grossman to sit for Sally Hart, who was absent.
The November 18 minutes were approved as presented.
Gordon Ridgway reported on several town projects including a takeover of about
six streetlights from the former Cornwall Lighting District and reminded the
board of the December 19th open house for the new CCS gymnasium. Barbara Gold
reported on a number of Board of Education matters, including (1) the progress
of the almost-complete CCS expansion; (2) the search for a new superintendent
that is about to begin and which will be a Òlimited search,Ó details to come;
(3) the planned addition of one school bus in January to shorten the ride to
school for some CCS students; and (4) the pending union contract for the CCS
classified staff. Gold answered questions from the board on the latter.
At 7:58 p.m. Earl Brecher made a motion, seconded by Celia Senzer, to move to
executive session in order to discuss the union contract for the CCS classified
staff. The vote to do so was unanimous.
The executive session ended at 8:30 p.m. No recommendations concerning the
union contract were made.
The board discussed a ÒRequest for ProposalÓ written for the purpose of seeking
bids from qualified accounting firms for the Town of CornwallÕs audit, as the
multi-year contract with Robert E. King and Co. is expiring after FY 2005.
Roger Kane questioned the wording of a number of passages in the proposal.
Celia Senzer moved, seconded by David Grossman, that the board, Òpending a
discussion among Chairman Gold, Lisa Simont and John Green in order to clarify
the matters raised by Roger Kane, would request that the invitation be
circulated to eligible firms.Ó The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Gold appointed an Audit Committee to consist of Celia Senzer and Tom
Bechtle. They will be asked to evaluate proposals for the town audit and to
recommend an auditor to the board.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Tom Bechtle
Clerk pro tem