Town of Redding
Board of Finance Special Meeting
Monday, 4/5/2021
7:30PM Zoom
Filed subject to approval.
Present:
Dr. Kimberly Yonkers, Chair; Ward Mazzucco, Vice Chair; Jamie Barickman; Rob Dean; Ed Miller; Jenifer Wyss
Also Present:
Steve Gniadek, Finance Director; Chris Parkin, Redding Board of Education; Clarence Zachary, Finance Director for Central Office; Members of the Public
Chair Yonkers called the meeting to order at 7:32PM.
1. To Approve the Minutes of the Thursday, 3/18/2021 and Monday, 3/22/2021 BOF Meetings
MOTION:
Mr. Mazzucco made a motion to approve the minutes of the Thursday, 3/18/2021 BOF Public Hearing. Ms. Wyss seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
MOTION:
Mr. Mazzucco made a motion to approve the minutes of the Monday, 3/22/2021 BOF Regular Meeting. Ms. Wyss seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
2. Public Comment
Chair Yonkers opened the floor to Public Comment.
There was no Public Comment.
3. Budget Discussion
Board of Selectmen
Chair Yonkers asked the BOF to discuss the proposed leased vehicles and if they should be purchased outright. A lengthy discussion followed concerning leasing versus purchasing capital items.
Discussion followed concerning the proposed capital projects and how they should be funded.
MOTION:
Mr. Mazzucco made a motion to approve the FY 2021-2022 Capital Projects included on the 2022 Capital Projects spreadsheet. They shall be funded based on the categories laid out in the spreadsheet. Mr. Dean seconded the motion. Discussion followed concerning adding the leased items to this list. There were 5 yes votes (Yonkers, Mazzucco, Wyss, Dean, and Barickman) and one abstention (Miller). The motion carried.
MOTION:
Mr. Mazzucco made a motion to approve the Selectman’s Budget of $15,377,798. Ms. Wyss seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.
Board of Education
Chris Parkin addressed the BOF. He discussed changes to the proposed budget. Discussion followed concerning the budget and possible capital items.
MOTION:
Mr. Barickman made a motion to approve the BOE revised budget of $23,061,038, an increase of 2.16% over the approved FY 2020-2021 budget. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. Discussion followed concerning various opinions on the budget. There were four yes votes (Yonkers, Dean, Miller, and Barickman) and two no votes (Wyss and Mazzucco). The motion carried.
Consolidated Budget
Discussion followed concerning the consolidated budget.
Clarence Zachary addressed the BOF. He provided the updated Region 9 budget amount for Redding of $12,673,934.
MOTION:
Mr. Barickman made a motion to approve the consolidated budget of $51,112,770. Mr. Dean seconded the motion. Discussion followed concerning the Region 9 budget number and the tax burden to residents. There were four yes votes (Yonkers, Dean, Miller, and Barickman) and two no votes (Mazzucco and Wyss). The motion carried.
Discussion followed concerning the mill rate. Chair Yonkers said the BOF should table this topic until the budget has passed and the OPEB Trust has been discussed.
4. Other Business
There was no other business discussed.
5. Public Comment
Chair Yonkers opened the floor to Public Comment.
There was no Public Comment.
Chair Yonkers adjourned the meeting at 8:56PM.
Submitted by,
Zachary Smith