Board of Finance

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 17, 2005

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Celia Senzer, Sally Hart, Tom Bechtle, Earl Brecher, members, and Anne Kosciusko, alternate. Barbara Gold, Board of Education, and Gordon Ridgway, first selectman.

Chairman Gold asked Anne Kosciusko to sit for Roger Kane, who was absent.

The minutes for the February 17 and March 10 meetings were approved as presented.

The FY 2006 budget was addressed. Barbara Gold reported that adjustments have been made in the education budget which have brought a 4.3% proposed increase for CCS down to a 2.34% increase. The changes came about in Title I reading instruction and health insurance. Slight increases were made in lines for painting and software (in order to provide for the services of a webmaster for CCS). Region I’s proposed expenditures declined in all three areas, but Cornwall’s increased share of costs kept the total decrease to $33,850, or 3%, of the budget originally presented.

Chairman Gold asked about plans for the $40,000 capital appropriation for FY 2006 and asked for details by the April meeting.

Gordon Ridgway reported no significant changes in the selectmen’s budget. For the current year he said that the budget was about $7,000 over for snow removal. With the board’s approval, he plans to move what is left in the contingency fund ($11,300) to the snow removal line and cover other shortages caused by the price of heating oil, for example, with funds from other, unused lines.

The chairman asked that the clerk report on reserves in the general fund and in other funds at the April 21 meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Lisa Lansing

Clerk