The Board of Finance

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 16, 2004

Present: Ralph C. Gold, chairman, Celia Senzer, Roger L. Kane, Sally Hart, members. Anne Kosciusko, alternate. Gordon Ridgway, first selectman and Catherine Tatge, member of the Board of Education.

Chairman Gold asked Anne Kosciusko to sit for Earl Brecher who was absent.

The minutes of the June 17 meeting were approved as presented.

Catherine Tatge reported that the Board of Education has not yet concluded its contract negotiation with the non-classified staff at CCS.

Gordon presented the case for adding $50,000 to the authorization under the STEAP grant to finish up work at the new recreation area. The added funds will pay for a walking path, fencing, signage and parking improvements.

Celia Senzer moved and Roger Kane seconded a motion

To recommend to the town meeting that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to spend up to $50,000 to complete the walking track, 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 complete reimbursement from the State of Connecticut’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program.

Under discussion, Allen Herkimer noted that the recreation area was inside the boundary of the 100-year flood plain. Ridgway said that a playing field would not be harmed significantly in the case of such a flood. Herkimer asked about whether or not an asphalt basketball playing surface would be possible. Ridgway said the plan was to see how the parking area was being used before installing a pair of nets. Bob Mott asked whether or not drinking water would be available at the new area. Ridgway said that such facilities were not currently planned.

The VOTE to approve was unanimous.

The clerk proposed a change in the way the audit appears in the Town Report. A new, required Management Discussion and Analysis seems to provide all the relevant information to readers and will permit dropping out most the rest of the financial statements. The full audit will be available for review at the Town Offices.

The meeting adjourned at 7:56 pm.

Lisa Lansing, Clerk