Board of Finance Meeting
Monday, October 23, 2017
7:30 p.m., Town Hall Hearing Room
MINUTES
Present: William Alvarez, Chairman; S. Clark; W. Mazzucco; J. Dolan; K. Yonkers; M. Lewis.
Also present: Julia Pemberton; P. O’Donnell; M. Thompson; S. Gniadek; J. Meehan; W. Higgins; K. Stauffer; members of the public; videographers.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
1. To approve Minutes of Meeting held on October 2, 2017
On the motion of W. Mazzucco and the second of S. Clark, the Board voted unanimously to approve the October 2, 2017 Meeting Minutes.
2. Tax Collector’s Report
Katherine Stauffer reported that tax collections are at 53.6% of budget as compared to 53.2% at this time last year.
Re: ATM, Ms. Stauffer confirmed the transaction fee of $2.00 and a $200 per withdrawal limit. Chairman Alvarez suggested noting these fees in any ad or notification regarding the availability of the ATM in the Town Hall.
3. Finance Director’s Report
As a follow up to a discussion re: approvals required for transfer from Contingency to Audit, S. Gniadek confirmed that the statute allows the Town to make a contract for expenditures from the audit account up to the full $50,000 without further action from the Board of Finance.
The initial draft of the 2017 Audit is scheduled for receipt on 11/1/17.
The school audit is still in the information gathering phase. Mr. Gniadek noted an unconfirmed report that the teacher’s contract was approved. Mr. Mazzucco suggested that the contract, when approved, be available for review on the Town website.
Re: 2018-19 Budget, the initial budget meeting with department heads is scheduled for 11/15/17. The latest State budget proposal is going to vote this week. Mark Lewis questioned what the Town motor vehicle tax revenue is in light of the new State budget possibly eliminating motor vehicle tax. It was confirmed at 2.6 million.
4. Treasurer’s Report
Janice Meehan reviewed the Treasurer’s Report as submitted.
5. Long Range Financial Planning Committee report
Steve Gniadek stated that Wes Higgins has been named the Chairman of the Committee. Scott Reiss is the representative from the Board of Education. The meeting Minutes were summarized.
On the motion of K. Yonkers and the second of W. Mazzucco, the Board voted unanimously to raise the capital projects threshold minimum from $20,000 to $25,000 to align with the Town purchasing policy and State bid threshold.
6. Review October 1, 2017 Enrollment Report
No new reports or discussion.
7. WPCC Plant Update
Jim Miller was present for the WPCC. He reported that the cleaning and inspection process will begin on 11/13/17 at which time an evaluation will be made re: membrane replacement. Layne Christensen liability issues will be discussed with the Board of Selectmen within the next two weeks.
Chairman Alvarez stressed the need to determine the full scope of the project before it is presented at a Town meeting.
8. Reports from Individual Board members as assigned
Chairman Alvarez noted that a report from the Mark Twain Library Association has been delayed and is forthcoming.
9. Correspondence and Administrative matters
No items.
Selectman Michael Thompson commended Jim Miller and the WPCC members for their work on the Commission.
Selectman Thompson thanked the League of Women Voters for sponsoring the recent debates. He thanked both the Board of Education and Board of Finance in their support of an independent, third-party review of Central Office procedures and stated that suggestions made in the debates that the review was a “witch hunt or forensic” in nature were hyperbole at best.
Julia Pemberton acknowledged and thanked the departing members of the Board of Finance: Bill Alvarez, Joe Dolan and Mark Lewis.
On the motion of W. Mazzucco and the second of S. Clark, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Submitted by:
Kristi C. Reilly