Town of Redding
Board of Finance Regular Meeting
Monday, 4/4/2022
7:30PM via Zoom
Filed subject to approval.
Present:
Dr. Kimberly Yonkers, Chair
Ward Mazzucco, Vice Chair
Jamie Barickman
Rob Dean
Jenifer Wyss
Karen Gifford
Also Present:
Steve Gniadek, Finance Director
First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton
Chris Parkin, Redding BOE Chair
Dr. Jason McKinnon, Superintendent of Region 9 Schools
Members of the Public.
1. Call to Order
Chair Yonkers called the meeting to order at 7:30PM.
2. Public Comment
Chair Yonkers opened the floor to Public Comment.
There was no Public Comment.
3. Budget Discussion
– Board of Selectman
First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton addressed the BOF.
The BOS made a reduction to the proposed FY 2022-2023 budget of $35,864. The new proposed budget is $15,611,657. This is an increase of $233,859 over FY 2021-2022.
The BOS made a request to the BOF for the FEMA Tropical Storm Isaias reimbursement of $150k be added to the Capital Non-Recurring Reserve and used to fund the revaluation at a rate of $30k per year for 5 years.
The BOS has several Capital Project items that need approval:
– Roller and chipper for the Highway Department
– Replacement crane for the WPCC membranes
– Replacement roof at Town Hall
– Roof at Highway Department
– Proposal for new tennis court and pickleball courts
– Body-worn cameras and evidence software for the Police Department
Discussion followed concerning the Capital Project items with regards to funding sources and necessity.
Motion:
Mr. Barickman made a motion to approve the proposed BOF budget for FY 2022-2023 of $15,611,657. Vice Chair Mazzucco seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
Discussion followed concerning the specific funding mechanisms for the proposed Capital Projects for FY 2022-2023.
Motion:
Vice Chair Mazzucco made a motion to approve the proposed Capital Projects for the FY 2022-2023 budget. The funding methods are outlined below:
– Highway Department Roller for $25,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– WPCC Replacement Crane for $25,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– Highway Department Chipper for $60,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– Town Hall Roof Replacement for $88,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– Highway Department Roof Replacement for $90,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– Body-Worn Cameras and Evidence Software for $113,000, to be paid from Capital Surplus, ARPA Funds if available, or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
– Tennis Courts Replacement for $575,000, to be paid from Capital Non-Recurring Reserve account or short-term/long-term financing should the BOF later decide to do so
|Ms. Gifford seconded the motion. Discussion followed again concerning which funding sources to use. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
– Board of Education
Motion:
Mr. Barickman made a motion to approve the BOE proposed budget for FY 2022-2023 of $23,811,158. This is an increase of 3.25% and $750,120 over the approved FY 2021-2022 budget. Ms. Wyss seconded the motion. Discussion followed concerning the reductions to the budget prior to this meeting. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
– Consolidated Budget
Motion:
Ms. Gifford made a motion to approve the consolidated budget proposal for FY 2022-2023 of $51,461,424. Mr. Barickman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
4. Public Comment
Chair Yonkers opened the floor to Public Comment.
There was no Public Comment.
5. Budget Approval
This item was not discussed.
6. Other Business
Discussion followed concerning the FEMA Tropical Storm Isaias and Covid-19 reimbursement and moving it from the unassigned fund balance (General Fund) to the Capital Non-Recurring Reserve.
Motion:
Mr. Barickman made a motion to amend the motion made at the 2/28/2022 BOF meeting concerning FEMA reimbursements for Tropical Storm Isaias and Covid-19.
The FEMA reimbursements for Tropical Storm Isaias and Covid-19 should be deposited in the Capital Non-Recurring Reserve.
The original motion is as follows.
Motion: Mr. Dean made a motion to deposit the FEMA reimbursements for Tropical Storm Isaias and Covid-19 in the General Fund. Mr. Barickman seconded the motion. There were four yes votes (Dean, Barickman, Gifford, and Yonkers) and two no votes (Mazzucco and Wyss). The motion carried.
Mr. Dean seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
Vice Chair Mazzucco suggested modifications to the budget schedule for future budgets. Discussion followed concerning possible changes to improve budget discussions.
Chair Yonkers addressed the possibility of future in-person meetings. Discussion followed concerning hybrid meetings, building modifications, and Zoom functionality.
Chair Yonkers stated that Zoom meetings have increased meeting attendance and protected board members and the public from Covid-19. Zoom allows families with young children to attend remotely as well as assisting adults with ambulation issues.
Mr. Dean said Zoom meetings are providing a better venue for discussion and there shouldn’t be a rush to get back to in-person meetings just because they were formerly done that way.
Ms. Wyss stated that her home office setup has assisted her in her functions as a board member. In-person meetings would be disadvantageous to her setup.
Mr. Dean stated that the corporate world has been working remotely for almost two years and the productivity has not declined.
Mr. Barickman stated he is in support of a hybrid model for future meetings. Modifications to the Hearing Room in Town Hall would assist in this endeavor.
Ms. Gifford said the appeal of hybrid meetings is evident, but exclusively in-person meetings do not make sense. Hybrid meetings can have poor audio quality, and this should be addressed before the BOF makes a decision.
7. Public Comment
Chair Yonkers opened the floor to Public Comment.
Amy Arnold, Wharf Drive, stated that hybrid meetings are a good idea.
Kristen Anstett, 60 Whortleberry Road, stated her support for hybrid meetings.
Nancy Pelz-Paget, 1407 Meadow Ridge, stated her support for the BOF and the benefits of Zoom meetings.
Chris Racett, Drummer Lane, stated his support for hybrid meetings.
Motion: Vice Chair Mazzucco made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Dean seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46PM.
Submitted by,
Zachary Smith