Special Meeting of the

 Budget Committee

                                                         Non-approved Minutes

                                                               January 18, 2006

                                 Monadnock Regional MS/HS Library, Swanzey, NH

 

Members present:  Norm Dion, Dick Bauries, Chair Jane Fortson, Robert Smith, Neil Moriarty, John Tommila, Eric Stanley, Terry Clark, Tom Parker, and Don Arguin. Absent: Karen Cota, Robert Mitchell, Neal King, Stephen Russell and Nancy Johnson.

Administrators Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D. Hodgdon, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum, T. Warner, Dir. of Technology and L. Biron, Business Manager.

Principals Present:  K. Craig, J. Smith, D. Mousette, D. Dahl, B. Tatro and K. Carter.

  

J. Fortson called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

 

J. Tommila spoke regarding a conversation he had had regarding the necessity of this meeting to rescind the original vote of December 13th.  D. Bauries spoke regarding conversations he had with J. O’Roarke of the Department of Revenue regarding the finality of the budget number after the public hearing is held.  N. Moriarty cited RSA 32:5 stating the meeting is unnecessary therefore the vote to reconsider is unnecessary.

 

K Dassau restated his conversations he had with the attorney, who felt we had two budget numbers out there since the original number was not rescinded. D. Thackston (school board chair) asked to speak regarding clarifying the budget number, and to inform the budget committee that warrant articles numbers 5 and 7 had been rescinded by the school board the night before. N. Moriarty, D. Arguin, T. Clark, K. Dassau and J. Tommila again spoke in support of taking the vote to rescind or against.

 

N. Moriarty made the motion to not take the vote to rescind the December 13th budget number.  Seconded by D. Bauries.  Vote:  Y: 3.59, N: 6.94, Absent: 5.48.  Motion Fails.

 

T. Parker makes the motion to rescind the vote taken on December 13th to accept the 6.7%.  Seconded by E. Stanley.  Vote:  Y: 7.23, N: 2.05, Absent: 5.48, Abstain: 1.25.

Motion to rescind passes.

 

J. Fortson infomed the budget committee of the date and place of the next oversight committee meeting, (February 8th at the SAU building, 9:30am) as well as read the list of open seats on the budget committee, so as to let the committee members know who had lapsing terms.

 

E. Stanley asked to speak re: the proposed budget cuts, speaking in support of the “outside the box” thinking employed by the administration regarding the “A & B” kindergarten program (mentioning he was the parent of a kindergarten student next year). He continued to speak citing comparisons to Keene Schools and the different possible cost reductions that were both brought forth by the budget committee and the administration.

D. Bauries thanked the administration for their time and efforts, as well as the chair.

 

Motion to adjourn: all in favor, no one against.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Fortson

Budget Committee Chair

 

J

 

 

 

 

3.      Final Vote: Warrants and Budget: MOTION: T. Clark MOVED to accept Article. T. Parker MOVED to amend the increase over this year’s budget to 5.1% which would make the operating budget $29,041,264.00. SECOND: G. Bednarski. DISCUSSION: T. Clark asked about the suggestion of cutting the health benefits by