Budget Committee Meeting

                                                         Non-approved Minutes

                                                                 April 25, 2006

                                                    Veterans Hall, Richmond, NH

 

Members present: Jane Fortson, Eric Stanley, Robert Smith, N. Dion, John Tommila, Thomas Parker, Richard Bauries, Neil Moriarty, George Tremblay, Jim Ells, Andrew Bueckner and Robert Mitchell. Absent: Stephen Russell, Richard Thackston and Don Arguin.

Administrators Present: L. Biron, Business Manager.

 

N. Moriarty introduced A. Bueckner to the Board. N. Moriarty swore him in as the new Budget Committee Member from Roxbury.

 

1.      Approval of the March 28 2006 Minutes: MOTION: T. Parker MOVED to accept the March 28, 2006 Minutes as presented. SECOND: R. Smith. DISCUSSION: J. Fortson pointed out that she nominated N. Moriarty as chair at the last meeting. She also corrected that the Oversight Committee meets at an early time. R. Bauries asked about the compensation for the secretary. They have not heard from the Board yet on this issue. N. Dion questioned the Superintendent’s answer concerning the issue of sending information home with the children.  VOTE on amended minutes: 12.959/0/0/3.041. Motion passes.

 

1a.Communication: N. Moriarty informed the Board that he received a letter from N. Johnson who will not be accepting her write in vote for the Budget Committee.

 

N. Moriarty received a letter of resignation from N. King.

 

E. Stanley asked if there was a School Board liaison appointed to the Budget Committee. N. Moriarty said that it was R. Thackston but he was unable to attend tonight.

 

2.  Public Comments: none.

 

3.  Budget Committee Updates:

a.        Default Budget Committee: MOTION: R. Bauries MOVED to continue with the Default Committee. SECOND: T. Parker. DISCUSSION: G. Tremblay asked why yes or no. N. Moriarty commented that he did not feel that it ran as well as it should have. N. Dion said that it is really important. There are several issues that need to be covered and they would spring them on us. R. Bauries commented that the step raises should not have been in the default. J. Fortson said doing a sub committee was valuable. VOTE: 12.959/0/0/3.04. Motion passes.

b.        Budget Oversight Subcommittee Report: J. Fortson explained to the Board that the committee met on April 15, 2006 and accepted the minutes. They elected J. Fortson as the chair. They discussed the actual versus the budget run. Next month there will be a request for funds. L. Biron commented that the over expenditure is for the uprights for the pole vault. The next meeting will be on May 10, 2006 at 9:30AM at the SAU.

 

b2.  MOTION: J. Tommila MOVED to continue with the Budget Oversight Committee. SECOND: T. Parker DISCUSSION: R. Bauries commented that it is an interesting meeting and is a time to meet and ask hard questions. N. Moriarty would ask every time if there is anything coming that they should know about. R. Mitchell commented that the time might be a problem for some. N. Moriarty said that the people on it have no problem. R. Bauries, N. Moriarty and J. Fortson are on the committee. VOTE: 12.959/0/0/3.041. Motion passes.  

 

c.         Do we want to have a sub-committee to visit each school: J. Fortson explained that one or two members would meet with the building principal and go through the school. This would help with the upcoming budget process. R. Mitchell suggested that this process be done as part of the monthly budget meeting. N. Moriarty said that was a good idea to have the members meet at 6:30 PM and then follow with the meeting at 7:00 PM. E. Stanley commented that some principals were prepared and some were not. They need to be involved and know why we are there. J. Fortson commented that the committee did not meet at Mt. Caesar or Cutler. N. Moriarty said that he would put it on the agenda. MOTION: J. Fortson MOVED to visit each school prior to the scheduled meeting. SECOND: J. Tommila. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty would add a friendly amendment and have the committee meet at 6:30PM. E. Stanley said that it is a good idea but should still have a sub committee and everyone would be welcome. N. Moriarty commented that they still have not done the high school. VOTE: 11.887/1.072/0/3.041. Motion passes. N. Moriarty will make the appointments.

 

d.        Do we want to have the Savings Committee? MOTION: N. Dion MOVED to have a Savings Committee. SECOND: R. Bauries DISCUSSION: N. Dion said that he would like to be on the committee. It was commented that it is worth having a trial period. There were valuable ideas at the meeting. R. Mitchell asked what happened at the meeting. N. Dion explained that the members in attendance went around the room voicing their ideas. They brought up such ideas of stipends for dept. heads, cell phones, too many administrators, kindergarten and benefit aids. This is a good opportunity for discussion. E. Stanley commented on the importance of the attendance of the School Board Members at the meetings. N. Moriarty said that C. Dreyfuss might attend but he did not have a chance to contact her. It is very important to have school board participation. R. Bauries commented that he was disappointed in the school board and the principals concerning the Surry property. VOTE: 12.110/.849/0/3.041. Motion passes. N.  Moriarty asked that people contact him to be on the committee.  

 

4.      Budget Oversight Subcommittee Recommendation on charging of building expansion to building-not SPED: J. Fortson explained that some of the charges from Amer Electric were charged to the Autism account. L. Biron explained that electrical charges were for work done to the modulars, which is for the autism program. The Oversight Committee felt that it should be charged to the building expense and decided to bring this to the full committee to bring this issue to the full Board. N. Moriarty commented that you cannot see this charge in the Totals Only Expense Report. You would have to read the 70 pages full expense report in detail. J. Fortson explained that the committee agreed to recommend to the School Board that the charges to the building expansion not be charged to Autism. Ed. R. Mitchell asked for the rational. L. Biron explained that the modulars were bought because of the autism program. The object code is for the buildings. You need to show where the expense occurs. J. Ells commented that if we keep all the costs under that project we know how much it was for next time. J. Fortson disagreed when the modulars were part of the private tuition but supports charging the autism account. N. Dion commented that he would hate to bury things. J. Tommila commented that you should not charge to Autism because the modulars can be used for other things. R. Bauries agrees that it should be separate. L. Biron commented that the Committee is getting hung up on the functional code. The object code is how you should be looking at it. Accounting is different in the public sector than in the private business. R. Mitchell asked if taking it out of Autism if it would effect the reimbursement. N. Moriarty said that there is no advantage. N. Moriarty commented that there are no Sped kids in the modulars. J. Tommila commented that if there were 50% Spec. Ed. and 50 % coaching. Would you charge the two different accounts? L. Biron said yes. A. Bueckner asked if it was for the autism children or needed repairs. L. Biron explained that autism students were coming from the 6th grade in Troy to the Middle School. R. Mitchell asked how J. Fortson voted at the Oversight Committee. She said that she abstained. J. Fortson said that she feels that the situation has been corrected.  MOTION: N. Moriarty MOVED to recommend that all expenses capital in nature be charged to building not the dept. This is to be recommended to the School Board. SECOND: N. Dion. VOTE: 4.657/6.805/1.497/3.041. Motion fails.

 

5.      MRSD Changes in Appropriations for 2005-2006: L. Biron handed out the financial report to the committee. He explained that there are a number of changes. He explained that there would be a Public Hearing on May 2, 2006 at 8:00 PM. E. Stanley asked about the teacher’s health insurance. L. Biron said that it is down 3% but has not been approved by the Board of Directors. This is for the 2006-2007 school year. T. Parker commented that last year we looked good and had a $210,000.00 deficit. L. Biron commented that they will stop all requisitions as of May 12th. R. Bauries asked for the actual increase on the transportation contract. L. Biron said that the contract has not been signed yet so he does not want to discuss the details but it is a break even situation. L. Biron said that the Business Department is looking pretty good and that he hopes to leave K. Chambers with a good start.

6.      Other Discussion as desired: J. Ells asked if there are minutes taken at all the sub committee meetings. N. Moriarty said that they are. He will mail out the April 1, 2006 Minutes to the Budget Committee.

 

J. Ells commented that L. Biron called the vote in the same order each time and asked if the vote is swayed by doing it that way. N. Moriarty explained that you could pass answering until the end.

 

E. Stanley asked L. Biron if they have ever discussed Health Account Saving Plans. L. Biron said that it has been discussed but would require contract changes. E. Stanley would like the Savings Committee to look at that.

 

The MRPSOC Grant is in the 4th year.

 

The following meetings will be held in the following schools: May-Mt. Caesar, June-Gilsum, July-Roxbury, Aug-Surry, Sept. Fitzwilliam, October-Troy, November-Sullivan and a meeting will be scheduled at Cutler. 

 

7.      Superintendent’s Comments: Superintendent was on vacation.

8.      Chairman comments: The Oversight Committee needs to concentrate on staying on budget. The budget is the budget.

9.      Public Comment Period: None

10.  Set Agenda:

1.      Letter to principals about the sending of information home with the children.

2.      Compensation for the secretary

3.      Request for authorization overrun

4.      Any additional cost MC2 Surry 2006-2007 Budget

 

11.  Motion to adjourn: J. Tommila MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 PM. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 12.959/0/0/3.041.Motion passes.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording secretary