Board of Finance

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 20, 2005

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Celia Senzer, Sally Hart, Tom Bechtle, Earl Brecher, Roger Kane, members. Annie Kosciusko, alternate. Gordon Ridgway, first selectman, and K.C. Baird, selectman; for the School Building Committee, Jim Terrall, chairman, and John LaPorta. Three citizens.

The minutes of the September 16 meeting were approved as presented.

Annie Kosciusko reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission will start meeting in January with planning consultants to look at options for facilitating public participation in the preparation of the new town plan to be completed in 2008.

Ralph Gold introduced the CT Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility, a group of towns which has grouped together to consider new solutions to various public spending issues. The group will be meeting in this area in November.

Barbara Bigos described in some detail how her work as assessor is done. The 5.18% increased in the Grand List is made up of the weighted average of property (3.9%), motor vehicles (13.8%) and personal property (25.5%). This came about because of adjustments in the previous revaluation as well as new building. We should not expect such a large increase in the new Grand List. Among new developments, Barbara mentioned that the number of applications for forest land have increased.

The revaluation slated for 2007 will be done by Barbara and her assistant Barbara Cantoni. The results could increase the present Grand List by as much as 50 to 100% because the current list is out of date and, in many cases, undervalued compared to the market and comparative sales. She plans a brochure explaining the revaluation process to be sent to all home owners.

John LaPorta and Jim Terrall presented a rundown of the costs of the building project, now in its final days. The budget permitted by the $3,550,000 town meeting resolution will be met probably with over money left over. Soft costs, or costs not in the contract with Casle Corporation, have come within $200 of the budget originally forseen.. Change orders have now been resolved and a final bill will soon be presented by Casle. Jim pointed out that spending from the town’s capital projects fund for CCS during the construction period was always for projects inside the old structure – new windows, new carpeting, new surfaces for counters in the classrooms. A Building Committee will be formed at the school to care for maintenance in out years.

Tom Bechtle moved and Earl Brecher seconded a motion

To recommend to the town meeting passage of the FY 2007 to FY 2011 Capital Budget

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

The meeting adjourned at 8:56 pm

Lisa Lansing, Clerk