Board of Finance

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 20, 2004

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Thomas Bechtle, Celia Senzer, Sally Hart, Roger Kane, members. Anne Kosciusko and David Grossman, alternates. Gordon M. Ridgway, first selectman, and Barbara Gold, chairman of the Board of Education.

Chairman Ralph Gold asked David Grossman to sit for Earl Brecher who was absent. Brecher arrived at the meeting late, but conceded his vote to Grossman.

Gordon Ridgway reported that the winter had tapered off quietly without adding further strain to the town’s highway budget. He noted that, according to Barbara Johnson, assessor, the town is in line to receive a $25,000 grant from the state to pay for buying and installing the CAMA assessing system several years ago. Johnson herself will retire July 1; a replacement is being sought.

Barbara Gold reported that recent changes in the configuration of teachers’ salaries at the school have reduced the BOE budget by $12,152.

The clerk reviewed recent upward adjustments in the estimated revenues:

• A $7,000 grant to the Town Clerk for records conservation;
• A $33,000 increase in state grants awarded by the Legislature; and
• An increase of $15,000 in expected back tax and interest revenue based on current trends.

These changes have made it possible to reduce the amount to be taxed and reduce the increase in the mill rate to just one half of a mill (.5).

Celia Senzer moved and Tom Bechtle seconded a motion to recommend to the Town Meeting a budget for Fiscal Year 2005 of $5,201,079.

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

Senzer moved and Bechtle seconded a motion:

To recommend to the Town Meeting that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to spend up to $150,000 to complete the recreation and parking improvement on the newly acquired property near Foote Fields on Route 4. These funds will come from the Municipal Reserve with the expectation of a complete reimbursement from the State of Connecticut’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program.

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

Bechtle moved and Sally Hart seconded the following transfers:

FROM 01-466-100-00 Contingency $3,750

TO INCREASE Park and Recreation Programs

FROM 01-470-733-10 2003 Bond Interest $15,000

TO INCREASE 01-425-600-16 Highway

Contracted Services

FROM 01-466-100-00 Contingency $3,000

TO INCREASE 01-425-600-35 Highway Garage Repairs

FROM 01-466-100-00 Contingency $1,200

TO INCREASE 01-411-511-16 Town Clerk

Contracted Services

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

The meeting adjourned at 8:18 pm.

Lisa Lansing

Clerk