Budget Committee Meeting
Non-approved Minutes
May 22, 2007
Veterans Hall,
Members present: Eric Stanley, Robert Smith,
John Tommila, Thomas Parker, Neil Moriarty, Norm Dion, James Ells, Caroll
Lothrop, Peter Stuhlsatz, Jen Gomarlo, Peg Richmond, David Ott, Wayne Lechlider
and Jonathan Kenyon. Absent: George
Tremblay and Mike Carney.
Administrators Present: K. Chambers, Business
Manager.
T.
Parker, selectmen from Fitzwilliam swore in W. Lechlider, Caroll Lothrop and
Peter Stuhlsatz.
1. Minutes of April 24, 2007: MOTION: J. Tommila MOVED to accept the minutes of April 24, 2007 Budget Committee
Meeting. SECOND:
2. Communications: E. Stanley reminded the
Budget Committee that they would be putting the new playground in at
N. Dion asked for a complete list of the members.
3. Public Comments: J. Fortson explained that
the Budget Committee Bi-Laws would be on the web site soon.
M. Haffer hoped that the Budget Committee could support a
budget to support education and move forward.
4. Default Budget Committee: MOTION:
Policy
Committee: N.
Moriarty asked the committee if anyone was interested in forming a policy
sub-committee. There was no interest.
Budget
Oversight Committee: K. Chambers passed out information to the committee. N. Moriarty
explained to the new members the information that K. Chambers provides to the
committee. K. Chambers explained the following sheets to the committee: MRSD
Status of Assets as of May 1, 2007, MRSD Monthly Expense Report, MRSD Fund 03,
MRSD Fund 04 Food Service, MSD Monadnock Region Public School of Choice Summary
as of April 30, 2007, MRSD Budget Transfer Proposal and the revised MS-22. R.
Smith asked where the proceeds from the tickets at the ballgames goes. K.
Chambers explained that she has requested more specific information. Right now
it goes into the Activity Account. She also explained that the accounts are
audited each year. She explained that the money raised for the gym floor was
about $45,000.00. K. Chambers explained that they would be purchasing surface
material for all the playgrounds. There are not really any out of the ordinary
expenses coming next month. R. Smith commented that the surface material is
being donated for Mt. Caesar and he would be looking into getting all the
surface material donated.
5. Cost Calculation for MC2: K. Chambers passed out information to the Board on
the Cost Calculation for MC2. MOTION: J.
Tommila MOVED that his request for
discussion on MC2 should be table until the next meeting. SECOND: E. Stanley. DISCUSSION:
MOTION: J. Ells MOVED to amend
the motion to discuss all the Choice Programs in the MRPSOC Grant. SECOND: P. Stuhlsatz. DISCUSSION: J. Tommila commented that
he made the motion to discuss MC2 because there is a lot of emotion and debate
on the issue. He would like to find the true cost instead of debate and
accusations and to put the issue to rest. P. Richmond said that we need to look
at all the programs. J. Kenyon asked what is going to be accomplished. K.
Chambers has people going through receipt by receipt on that account. E.
Stanley commented that we need the cost per student. VOTE on amendment: 4.961/9.152/0/1.887. Motion passes. VOTE to table the issue until the next meeting: 12.875/1.238/0/1.887.
Motion passes. K. Carter would be
made aware that this issue would be discussed at the next meeting.
6. Budget Committee Schedule: N. Moriarty explained to the committee that on
January 10, 2008 the Budget Meeting would be the Budget Committee’s meeting if
there is a bond issue that would be held by the School Board. He also explained
that he added January 11, 2008 in order that the Budget Committee can hold
their meeting in order to vote on the proposed articles. J. Kenyon questioned
the separate meeting. J. Ells questioned the separate meeting. N. Moriarty
explained that the public was intimidating and that the officers working that
night did nothing when he asked. J. Ells asked to have the committee vote on
the extra date. J. Tommila commented that he felt the same as N. Moriarty. MOTION: E. Stanley MOVED to accept the schedule as presented, which included the
January 11, 2008 voting date. SECOND: J.
Tommila. DISCUSSION: J. Kenyon
commented that the public was not disorderly. N. Dion explained that he felt
intimidated but the voting should take place right after the public hearing. J.
Gomarlo commented that N. Moriarty should have asked the committee and should
not have done it on his own. N. Moriarty commented that the officers did
nothing to control the crowd. VOTE: 1.177/12.677/0.259/1.887.
Motion passes.
7. Other Discussion: MOTION: J. Ells MOVED
to have N. Moriarty discuss why he would like K. Chambers to discuss the
budget oversight information. SECOND: N. Moriarty DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty commented that we are now receiving all the
information that the Finance Committee receives. The Budget Committee had
received a two-page fact sheet. N. Moriarty would completely agree with J. Ells
about the increased information. K. Chambers explained that she would bring a
condensed report to the committee at the next meeting and the committee could
react. J. Gomarlo said that she likes that information. R. Smith asked why we
are getting the information after the fact.
J. Ells asked if it is possible to list the name of the person that requested the item on the agenda. N. Moriarty said that is possible.
J. Gomarlo asked if anyone received and read the
NEASC Report. Some of the members did.
C. Lothrop said it was hard to hear in this hall. MOTION: C. Lothrop MOVED to have all Budget Committee Meetings at the MRMS/HS Library.
SECOND: N. Moriarty. DISCUSSION: N. Moriarty explained that
this is probably the worst building to hear. R. Smith commented that we visit
the other towns to tour the buildings and to see what the principals are
putting in their budget as far as facilities. T. Parker commented that the
teachers and principals are proud of their schools and like it when we visit. N. Moriarty withdrew his second and C.
Lothrop withdrew her motion. N. Moriarty would like this on the agenda for
the next meeting. It gives the public an opportunity to respond.
J. Tommila commented that some people did not
receive an agenda.
8.
Superintendent’s Comments:
9.
Chairman comments: N. Moriarty invited members
to his house to discuss Budget Committee issues not specific or political.
10. New Agenda:
1. MC2
2. Meeting Locations
3. First cut at budget
4. Operating system
Next meeting in Sullivan at 7:00 PM on Sept. 25,
2007.
11. Public Comment Period: E. Stanley reacted to J. Ells’s comment about
pro-education. He also explained why he did not vote for the support staff
contract.
J. Kenyon commented on the fact that N. Moriarty was inviting members of the Budget Committee to his house. J. Kenyon said that the meeting should take place in a public forum. J. Ells said that he went to N. Moriarty’s house and maybe it should have been done in a public forum but there was no agenda. It was information only. He also commented on the minutes from last month that commented on him being a member of the Kids First Monadnock Committee. He said if there was not a Monadnock Taxpayer Association he would be able to resign from the Kids First Monadnock Committee.
N. Moriarty was pleased that the committee waited until Second Public Comments to address their concerns.
T. Parker commented that he does not believe that we are on either side. We are in the middle.
P. Richmond commented that there are worst towns and they have better education and facilities.
J. Gomarlo said that people are believing the Monadnock Tax Payers Assoc. We need to bite the bullet and do what we have to do.
E. Stanley does not believe that any member of the Budget Committee should be on another committee.
12. Motion to
adjourn: J.
Tommila MOVED to adjourn the meeting
at 9:09 PM. SECOND: E. Stanley. VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Recording secretary