Board of Finance

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 15, 2004

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Celia Senzer, Sally Hart, Earl Brecher, Roger Kane, members. David Grossman and Annie Kosciusko, alternates. Wynne Kavanaugh. Board of Education. Gordon Ridgway, first selectman.

Chairman Ralph Gold asked David Grossman to sit for Tom Bechtle who was out of town.

Chairman Gold reported that a meeting on the “No Child Left Behind” legislation will be held at the high school on February 10. Wynne Kavanaugh spoke briefly to the Board about the intent of the session and the concerns of the Board of Education.

Gold invited ideas for selection of a Cornwall representative to sit on the high school building committee, an on-going group which tries to keep up with maintenance issues at the school. In addition he suggested that the BOE consider forming a similar committee to allocate use of the funds, currently about $40,000, given to CCS each budget year to care for maintenance. Wynne said that the BOE had agreed to postpone this until after the new addition is in place.

Gordon Ridgway updated the Board on progress on the Foote Fields recreation area and at CCS. Wynne added that the BOE has begun to meet to consider the budget for FY 2005; work sessions have been set up. Phil Hart will be the negotiator for the Town in the AFSCME talks on a new contract for the non-classified staff.

The clerk presented the budget proposed for the Finance Office in FY 2005. The total, $17,650 does not include salaries. It is a mild, 4% increase over FY 2004, chiefly because of compliance costs for GASB 34 asset enumeration.

Celia Senzer moved and Earl Brecher seconded a motion

To approve the budget proposed for the Finance Office and recommend it to the Board of Selectmen.

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

Gordon talked about the Homeland Security effort in the state which has two emphases: 1) Terrorism, which is being covered by the Office of Emergency Preparedness and the National Guard; and 2) Biological Incidents for which Cornwall is part of a seven-town region which has developed a plan for mass inoculations. Cornwall will inventory its resources and be eligible for liberal distributions of new gear to the CVFD such as bio-suits, useful for oils spills and derailments as well as anthrax. David Grossman pointed out the implications of living within two hours of New York City: Refugees.

Brecher moved and Roger Kane seconded a motion to go into executive session to discuss real estate.

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

The Board went into executive session at 8:05 and emerged at 8:25. No votes were taken.

Senzer moved and Grossman seconded a motion:

To move the February meeting from the 19^th to the 26^th to accommodate members who will be on vacation.

Aye: Senzer

Nays: Gold, Grossman, Hart, Brecher, Kane.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35.

Lisa Lansing

Clerk