1979/05/24MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
Regular Meeting
May 24, 1979
Members Present: Thomas W. Ward, Jr., Blanche J. Delaney, Dr. John P.
McIntosh, John F. Miller, Robert Dacey, Joseph A.
Bernardi
Others Present: Gary S. Clinton, Pinance Director; Thomas Shiel,
reporter-The Herald; John Heenehan, reporter-Hartford
Courant: Sandra Dempsey; Dr. R~dger Nelson, Dr.
Lawrence Giandomenico, Mrs. Rhea Boscolo, Mrs. Juli~
Ashekian, Mrs. Lucia Scheer, Mrs. Robert Kramer,
Mrs. Shirley Parise, Mrs. Joyce Recck, Mrs. Elsie
Erkson, Mrs. Theresa Zovich, Mrs. Dorothy Herr and
Mrs. Olivia Martinchek- interested persons; Dominick F.
Scerra, Town Treasurer
Meeting was called to order at 8:14 P.M. by Chairman Ward.
Chairman Ward noted the Board members have had 24 hours in which
to decide what they would recommend for a budget to present to nex~
week's Town Meeting. He said he refused to believe the 280 votes
which defeated the budget was a mandate from the people. He then
recommended the following changes which would allow for a 1.5 mill increase:
8001 Current levy $7,915,726.00
8051 BPH NursSng Service 71,000.00
8152 Welfare 49.900.00
8201 Interest~on investments 300,000.00
140 Welfare 50,000.00
Mr. Bernardi wondered where we messed up originally on accounts ~8051
and #8152.
Chairman Ward said he spoke to Mrs. Jean Conway who said her rates will
be adjusted to reflect this and regarding account #8152 it is a reflection
of the funds that will be expended for this fiscal year which will be
reimbursed next fiscal year.
Mr. Scerra advised the Interest on Investments could be increased
based upon the increased interest rates and he will be getting more
in tax money to invest. Investments are earning 9%-10%%.
Mr. Dacey felt the Board should discuss the possibility of cuts in
the budget; about $50,000 in specific areas. It would show an effort
by the Board. The budget was rejected. We shouldn't cut it so we have
a non-workable budget; we should entertain %%.
Chairman Ward said he was opposed to going through each and every item.
If you are going to decrease the appropriations then you should decrease
the programs. This will require the printing of the entire budget.
Mr. Dacey said in some areas you would be talking about $500 to $1,000.
I don't think the people would be short-changed by it.
Mrs. Delaney said apparently the viewpoint was that they don't want any
tax increase at all.
~GO
Board of Finance -2-
May 24, 1979 meeting (cont.)
Chairman Ward said you are back into complete reviewing; advertising of
this entire budget. This may result in requests for more money late~
in the year.
Mrs. Delaney said maybe the fairest way is to cut every department bmr
them I remembered how we, when I was on the Board of Education, used to
go for a bond issue on a building-the High School, for example-it wa~
defeated once and we came back with the same budget and it passed. He
believed this was what the Town needed this year. I think it should be
given another chance. Then we will look at it again; this vote was mo
mandate. I believe this is the budget we should put forth.
Dr. McIntosh pointed out it was a unanimous vote; I would not go with
this suggestion.
Chairman Ward felt we should give it a second try; if it is truly their
feelings that they want a reduction in services then everyone will take
the cuts; beginning with the Senior Citizens.
Mr. Bernardi felt we should reduce an area in which all taxpayers share.
I don't think we should go through each account. There are some accounts
that some people don't receive benefits from. If the general consensus
was to reduce this budget then it should be in the areas that concern
every taxpayer such as garbage and leaf collection.
Mr. Dacey felt this would be punishing everyone because people voted
against you. You are punishing businesses and every homeowner.
Mr. Bernardi felt he acted responsibly on this budget. If there is
a demand to reduce, I don't want to isolate it, he added.
Dr. McIntosh said we should go through it'right now; you were tot~ this;
you just want a second chance.
Motion was made by Mrs. Delaney, seconded by Mr. Bernardi
and VOTED to take the budget as proposed to Town Meeting.
IN FAVOR: Mr. Ward, Mrs. Delaney, Mr. Bernardi
OPPOSED: Dr. McIntosh, Mr. Dacey
ABSENT: Mr. Miller
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Giandomenico commended the Board; I think
you did the right thing, he added.
CORRESPONDENCE
Copy of a letter from Atty. Donat C. Marchand to Mr. A. R. BengSton,
dated May 9, 1979 concerning the property of Norman P. Cooley, in which
he submits an offer to the Town to sell the 44.217 acres owned by Mr.
Cooley on the Chamberlain Highway for the purchase price of $176,000
payable as follows: 10% in cash on the date of the execution of a
Contract; 65% in cash on the date of the closing; gift of ~ interest
in the property at the time of the closing, such gift to be evidenced
by a credit in favor of the Town in the amount of $44,000. Mr. Cooley
would agree to pay any commission due Mr. Edwin Murray by virtue of
the sale; the closing of the title shall occur on or before November
30, 1979 and, Title to the premises would be conveyed by means of a
"Bargain and Sale" Deed with covenants only against the Grantor's acts
and subject to specific stipulations as noted in the letter. Atty. ~
Marchand states if this offer is acceptable to the Town, he would appre-
ciate a Letter of Intent signed by the Executive Board which will be!
Board of Finance
May 24, 1979 meeting (cont.)
-3-
to the approval of Town Meeting and the Board of Finance. Another
term of the offer which aroused curiosity was "The Town would agree
to indemnify Mr. Cooley against any claims brought by any other real
estate brokers on the theory that such brokers had brought the property
to th~ Town's attention or were in any other way the procuring cause
of the sale to the Town."
TRANSFER
Request for budget change received from Mrs. Kathleen Bourgoin
dated May 21, 1979 requesting $3,000.00 to account ~140 Welfare. She
notes the monthly average is $3,200 not including medical bills.
~q.~J Motion was made by Mrs. Delaney, seconded
by
Mr.
Dacey
and VOTED to appropriate $4,000.00 from the General Fund
to account #140 Welfare.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chairman Ward advised the Board the lot on Stockings Brook Road
was sold for $23,500 to Gary Church.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
6dith Lind~ren, secretary