MRMS/HS Library,
1. Approval
of the December 10, 2007 Meeting Minutes: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to accept the
December 10, 2007 Minutes as presented. SECOND: A. Weber. VOTE: 11.837/0/4.163/0. Motion passes.
2. Approval of the December 11, 2007 Meeting
Minutes: MOTION: R. Smith MOVED to accept the December 11, 2007 Minutes as
presented. SECOND: J. Kenyon. DISCUSSION:
R. Smith amend the minutes to add under
section 3 of the Dec. 11, 2007 Minutes in the section that contains the motion
to remove N. Moriarty.
3. Public
Comments:
C. Kahn
explained that in the minutes it states that early retirement ends and
longevity kicks in. Longevity starts right away and would continue after the
early retirement goes away.
K. Cota
commented on the action that was done at the last meeting. She commented that
there continues to be bullying. She said that we have had joint meetings but
when something happens it is a problem. She said that it is too bad that the
vote on the new chair did not stand.
J. Craig
commented on the Fitzwilliam Newsletter, which made the hairs on the back of
his neck stand up. He commented that many people feel there is not a common
vision. He said that none of this is good for the students. He asked how many
more default budgets could we have. He hoped that we
could work collaboratively with direction.
J.
Johnson a retired teacher commented that the Fitzwilliam Newsletter said that
she was getting paid even though she is not working. She said that she still is
working for the best interest of the children. She has to second what J.Craig
said about working together for a common goal. She asked if the Committee was going
to accomplish anything at the next meeting for the good of the world.
K.Craig
was disappointed with the Fitzwilliam Newsletter. The article has the
prospective of two people. She asked if the Budget Committee knew what was
being written.
J. Kenyon
explained to N.Dion that the December 11, 2007 Meeting was not a coo.
N.Moriarty stopped J. Kenyon’s comments and told him he was out of order. He
said not to get into a debate.
4. Committee
Governance: Default Budget: E. Staley reported
that the committee has gone through the information 7 times and they are
bringing the recommendations to the entire Committee to be voted on. MOTION:
5. Support
Staff Contract-Unified Front: J. Ells decided
to place this on the agenda. He suggested that the committee take a vote prior
to the Public Hearing and show a unified front. This is a suggestion for the
committee to discuss. The School Board has approved the contracts and we need
to show that we are all on the same page. N. Moriarty said that he has a
problem voting before the public speaks. He does not feel that this body should
vote. He said that he asked DRA and they said to vote after the meeting. J.
Ells asked for a discussion not a vote. J. Tommila understands what J.Ells is
asking to discuss. He said that any member of this committee could speak as a
citizen. J. Ells commented that if we all speak differently at the microphone
we all look disgruntle and a group at odds. The public won’t know what to do.
E. Stanley commented that if the vote is in the negative it works the same way.
J. Tommila commented that if we do not allow individuals to speak we are taking
away free speech. P. Richmond commented that the committee should present a
united front. Now the public does not see us that way. N. Moriarty suggested
that those members that are not going to support go to the microphone and do
not do it as a Budget Committee Member. T. Parker commented that he does not
believe that every person has to support the contracts just because the rest
do. We are elected separately from our community. This is a slippery slop that
he can not go along with. J. Ells commented that Robert’s Rules of Order states
that after the debate the losers must cheerfully support the membership. P.
Stuhlsatz said that as the Roxbury rep. he would express his opinion. The right
to free speech. There is not a blood oath that says you need to follow the vote
of the committee.
6. Superintendent’s
Comments: K.Dassau informed the committee that
he would be passing out the information on the vacant seats on the School Board
and the Budget Committee. He would be passing out the Fitzwilliam Newsletter
and the draft contract language on the teachers and the support staff. K.Dassau read some of the by-laws of the
Budget Committee. N. Moriarty verified that they were the by-laws the Budget
Committee is following. He read as follows: all powers lie in their action as a
cooperative body, Roberts Rules states that the prevailing structure when
possible should not be paralyzed if not sure, not on agenda items maybe brought
up by the committee if agreed upon and that all members treat each other and
all present with respect.
He
reminded the members that there is a scheduled joint meeting on Jan. 8, 2008
one of convenience.
K.
Chambers would be handing out the matrix requested by N. Moriarty. She would
also be handing out the draft of the warrant articles as of today. This is what
the School Board is proposing. The last two pages are an alternate and the
School Board has not decided which one they would be using. K. Chambers
explained the proposed warrant articles to the Budget Committee. She explained
the roof warrant and the Maintenance Article. She explained that there is not
just a change in the expenditures but the revenues. She explained that she is
not 100% confidence on the tax impact information. She said that one of the
forty factors could change the number significantly. She said to use caution,
it is not fixed in stone and that it is only an estimate. N. Dion commented on
the rate for Troy. She explained that there are several calculations that occur
to get to that number. J. Gomarlo asked between now and March what variables
would be known. K. Chambers said that the ADM and the equalized value would be
released. K. Chambers explained that the increase is due to the Surry
Withdrawal, which has a 3.5%-4% increase on the towns, the state equitable
education drop the surplus and other factors. Even if it were a level budget or
a below level budget you would have an increase. The surplus is the primary
factor. It was asked if Surry would have a vote on the 2008-2009 budget.
C.Lothrop explained that she had been abstaining on the motions that deal with
the budget.
K.Chambers
had hoped that the Budget Committee would provide a number tonight to put in
the warrant. The committee has not given her an affirmative number. N. Moriarty
said that whatever number is floating around put in the School Board’s number.
He would recommend use whatever number you have. N. Moriarty would recommend
that the Budget Committee not vote. MOTION: J. Kenyon MOVED to recommend
the Budget Committee approve the amount of $32,098,502.00 for the warrant
article. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. DISCUSSION:
Understanding that the number would change
with the will of the voters. N. Moriarty commented that this number would get
us to the Public Hearing. VOTE: 7.771/3.149/4.810/0.
Motion passes.
K.Dassau
commented that he would like to structure the Jan. 8, 2008 Joint Meeting. In
case there is action an agenda from the School Board and the Budget Committee
is needed. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the contracts and any other
items. N. Moriarty asked what would happen. K.Chambers explained that there may
be action items and the School Board may have issues about the warrant draft.
N. Moriarty commented that he does not want to have a vote. K.Dassau commented
that there would be an issue of a quorum. One body has to have a quorum. N.
Moriarty said that he would not be publishing an agenda item to have the Budget
Committee vote. N. Moriarty asked the purpose of the joint meeting. K. Dassau
explained the purpose of the meeting was to discuss contract language and any
other business. N. Moriarty said that there would not be a Budget Committee
Meeting on the 8th of January. J. Ells asked N. Moriarty if he does
not want the Budget Committee to go to the meeting and not vote. N. Moriarty
said that there is no meeting. The reason for the meeting was to have the
contracts in hands, which we now do. J. Ells commented that it is a scheduled
meeting. It was mentioned that the January 8, 2008 Meeting is to have the
opportunity for the School Board and the Budget Committee to clarify any
information given out. N. Moriarty said that the Budget Committee Members could
attend the meeting and ask questions as citizens. J. Ells asked how the rest of
the committee felt about N. Moriarty’s decision. N. Moriarty commented that it
is a joint meeting but not a Budget Committee Meeting. J. Tommila and T. Parker
are not able to make the Jan. 8, 2008 Meeting. J. Ells commented that Jan. 8,
2008 is an election day and would like a consensus to see who can attend the
meeting. N. Moriarty explained that in his opinion you have to have a Budget
Committee to have votes. We can discuss issues at the School Board Meeting.
7. Chair
Comments: N. Moriarty stated that he does not
attack people. He commented about the bully statement J. Gomarlo had made. She
commented that she actually said more than that and wished they were in the
minutes. You as the Budget Committee sit there and wait for the questions to be
asked. He said that he asked the questions. He said again that he does not
personally attack anyone.
8. Public Comments: D. Connell commented that the budget and warrant numbers are
outrageous. The middle class would be taking a large bite. When does the
district look at the taxpayers? You people better start getting on board.
K.
Cota commented that everyone should have been aware that D. Connell was taping
the meeting. MC2 was video taping the meeting. She said that she is appauled
with the disrespect and the lack of cooperation. It is shameful. You should be
ashamed. People have been interrupted time and time again.
P.
Richmond commented that N. Moriarty is a bully. She ran for this office to make
a change. She would urge everyone who would agree with J. Gomarlo and J. Ells
to make changes and run for office. We need people to run and help us here.
J.
Ells commented that people have referred to us as cowardly. People that say
those things said it was planned. N.
Moriarty voted out just happened. J. Gomarlo made the motion and J. Ells
agreed. It was a reflection of a majority of the people present. It was not
cowardly.
J. Gomarlo leaves the meeting and N. Moriarty leaves the table.
T.
Parker explained the Fitzwillaim Newsletter. He said that they look very
carefully at what they say. They want all the people in the town to know what
is going on. If we have misstated anything it should be brought to our
attention. We do not speak on behalf of the Budget Committee. The information
comes from the meetings.
Angelina
Bousa, a student at MC2 from Hinsdale thanked the Budget Committee for letting
her speak. She suggested that the committee review Roberts Rules because there
seems to be a lot of confusion. Get everyone on the same page.
K.
Craig responded to T. Parker. She said that at times community members have
written statements to the Fitzwilliam Newsletter and they have not been
accepted. There may be some facts in the article but many opinions of the
writer of the article. She would encourage the writers to ask questions of the
administration. It is very upsetting that the people in Fitzwilliam read and
take it as the truth. She suggested that the writers of the article take the
minutes of the Budget Committee Meetings and put them in the Newsletter.
C.
Kahn commented on the early retirement. Asked that the Budget Committee be a
little clearer on the teacher’s contracts. Early retirement will continue if
the contracts are voted down. How does the committee feel? You need to clarify
this.
David
Gyon of Fitzwilliam invited the Budget Committee to MC2 and see what is
actually being done. He said that there is a lot of fighting in this room and
disagreement. There are poor behavior chooses being made.
J.
Craig commented that J. Tommila and T. Parker are 2 of the most influential
people in the town of Fitzwilliam. If they do not support the budget a default
budget will be voted on in Fitzwilliam. It is stated that 45% of the 7th
graders are not reading at level. If that is true than we need to impact the
budget. That number astounds him but if it is true we need to do something to
the budget.
J.
Kenyon thanked J. Ells and E. Stanley for the last meeting. He fully believed
that the vote was on experience and not spontaneous.
W.
Lechlider asked how T. Parker represents himself in the Fitzwilliam Newsletter.
T. Parker said that he is a representative to Fitzwilliam but not a
representative of the Budget Committee.
J.
Tommila thanked J.Craig. We do have a deficiency whether it is 48% or 37% or
45%. We need to address this. The Special Ed. is growing because we have
students moving up that do not have reading skills. What we print we can
support. We have the facts. This is a thankless job and this is a very
uncomfortable meeting. We welcome to be challenged.
David
Gyon informed the committee that this meeting will go on line.
R.Bauries
said that it is interesting to him that an email said that J. Gomarlo joined
the Budget Committee in order to get rid of N. Moriarty. He commented that he
does like J.Ells. He has stayed away from the Budget Committee and School Board
Meetings for a while but nothing has changed. He commented that if the contract
does not pass it will cost an additional $100,000.00. There are problems with
the contracts. It is said not to be retroactive but the first year they get
three steps. The School Board did not vote for the teacher’s contracts. They
got them last night. You have to read the contract to know what it is. The
Budget Committee may want to rubber stamp and you would get the same results.
Next year there is a huge building program. Whatever you approve it goes up
bigger for the next 3 or 4 years. You need to look at these things.
E.
Kaplan commented on the by-laws of the committee that state that a selectmen or
town official can not be representative on the Budget Committee. The step
raises are not retroactive. It places the teacher where they should be with no
additional money. The contract meets everybody’s needs. Realistically there are
2 options. To vote for the contract and the employee would be paying more in
health insurance premium and the early retirement will eventually disappear. If
you do not vote for the contract it stays in effect at the most the employee
would be paying 10% of the health insurance premium and early retirement would
continue. The Taxpayers Association has gotten what they have asked for. We are
giving what the district needs. There is no third option.
R.
Bauries commented that he and J. Ells have a different of opinion. People can
not afford an increase in taxes.
J.
Ells suggested taking the energy to Concord.
9. MOTION to adjourn. MOTION: T. Parker MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 9:35PM. SECOND: J. Tommila. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording secretary