Budget Committee Meeting

Non-approved Minutes

December 12, 2006

Monadnock Regional Middle/High School, Swanzey, NH

Members present: Jane Fortson, Eric Stanley, Neil Moriarty, Norman Dion, Andy Bueckner, Jim Ells, Thomas Parker, Stephen Russell, George Tremblay, Richard Bauries, Robert Smith, Robert Mitchell and Jonathan Kenyon.

Absent: Don Arguin, John Tommila and Surry Representative.

Administrators Present: K. Dassau, Superintendent, D Hodgdon, Assistant Supt., T. Warner and K. Chambers, Business Manager.

Full Budget Committee: Discuss/Votes on Default Budget Sub-Committee proposals for 2007-2008: T. Parker passed out information to the Budget Committee on the revenues, early retirement and K. Chamber’s recommendation on a default budget. T. Parker informed the committee the budget of $29,373,925.00 plus the $670,000.00 for food service, $300,000.00 for grants and then listed the potential additions and deletions. That information is on the handout. T. Parker explained that the default committee after negotiating with the Business Manager reduced special ed. by $300,000.00 and long-term notes by $83,060.00. That would be a 1.4% increase on the total budget.

The question of whether the Budget Committee should add the $141,416.00 for early retirement was asked. N. Moriarty commented that the question should be delayed until the general meeting. J. Fortson would like to double-check that everything is in there. In a matter of an hour the committee reduced the default by $383,060.00. T. Parker commented that the Budget Committee sets the default budget. He would like to see if the early retirement issue could be settled. It was asked if anyone would like to have a discussion to remove the $141,416.00 from the default. R. Bauries commented that he is not sure if it was passed by the voters. He commented that 8-10 people are receiving early retirement and that would be the amount of the teachers’ contracts for one year. He said that he found nothing that said the voters passed this. R. Bauries asked that the Budget Committee asked the administration for the information in the collective bargaining passed by the School District. K. Dassau passed out that information to the Budget Committee. R. Mitchell commented that he can not believe that we are taking time away from a valuable budget to discuss spilled milk. J. Ells asked how much of the $141,416.00 is for early retirement. K. Dassau said that he could not answer that question without K. Chambers being present. K. Dassau did explain that it is a public document. He said that R. Bauries raised some legal issues but he is not an attorney and will not respond to the suttitees of his questions. T. Parker asked about a particular sentence on the first page. T. Parker asked if it needs to be negotiated. K. Dassau explained that it does not have to be agreed upon. R. Bauries commented on the timeline. There was an unfair labor practice that claimed the public was unaware of the early retirement. N. Moriarty commented that it was 2 contracts back that did not pass. The Union was upset that it was not brought to the public. This contract feature was not brought to the public. It should not be put in the default until we know if it is legal. S. Oerman asked if this is a contract. N. Moriarty commented that many documents are signed close to the July 1 date. He would doubt that this document would be. K. Dassau commented that the interpretation might not be accurate. The debate is not part of the Budget Committee’s realm. N. Moriarty asked the valid question or the dollar amount for the early retirement. K. Dassau informed N. Moriarty that he might be putting the district at risk if you take action. R. Mitchell commented that our hasty decision could have an impact. MOTION: T Parker MOVED to continue this discussion until a further meeting so J. Fortson could look into the numbers and to ask the Superintendent to seek legal opinion on this issue. SECOND: J. Ells. DISCUSSION: E. Stanley asked if the Budget Committee is asking for a legal opinion. T. Parker said that was his motion. K. Dassau commented that he would but don’t complain when reviewing the legal fees. VOTE: 12.178/.849/0/2.973. Motion passes.

MOTION: T. Parker MOVED to adjourn at 7:33 PM. SECOND: J. Fortson. VOTE: 13.027/2.973. Motion passes.

Respectfully submitted,

Laura L. Aivaliotis

MRSD Recording secretary