School Board Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
December 4, 2007
Monadnock Regional HS/MS
Approved
Committee members present: Jim Carnie, Tim Aho, Doug Lyman, Jane Fortson, Gene White, Phyllis Peterson, and Sue Oerman. Administrators Present: Katie Chambers, Business Manager and Dr. Kenneth Dassau, Superintendent. Public: Bill Felton, Joe Smith.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.
1. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the November 20th minutes by S. Oerman, seconded by G. White. Discussion: T. Aho wanted the name of the document referred to in the minutes to change. J. Fortson explained that she puts the titles in the minutes that are given to the documents by the issuer. It was agreed to have the minutes read “A cost summary titled “Final Teachers Bargaining Agreement”. Motion passes with the amendment 5 yes with 2 abstentions (J. Fortson, and T. Aho).
2. Old Business: a. Debt Financing: Facilities Committee request: T. Aho
looked at the NH Municipal Bond Bank. He
would like to have more time to look things over as he still has more
questions. S. Oerman suggested a joint
meeting with the Facilities committee to discuss such items as what’s necessary
for the state reimbursement to take place, etc. This would allow us to go
forward as a joint effort. D. Lyman asked what the criteria were. K. Chambers stated the minimum amount to
receive reimbursement from the state was a project of $5,000,000 or
greater. K. Chambers explained the types
of financing scenarios that she had provided previously to the finance
committee and the differences between them.
G. White agreed with the need to have a joint meeting, and to decide
whether it is cheaper to build new or to renovate to satisfy NEASC. G. White made the Motion to meet with
the facilities committee ASAP. Seconded by J. Fortson. Discussions:
D. Lyman thinks we need to know what the facilities committee intentions
are and how they see things going. P. Peterson stated we should make it a major
agenda item on the full board meeting instead since 12 of the 15 board members
are on the two committees combined. J.
Carnie agrees with most of what G. White says, but states we haven’t asked how
the board feels about the amount. He
doesn’t think a $37,000,000 plan will pass.
He doesn’t feel a joint meeting would be beneficial at this time, and
thinks the proper procedure would be to put it before the full board then have
a more solid agreement from the full board as to what they support and then
determine the financing. G. White and J.
Fortson withdraw their motion and second. G. White makes the motion to recommend
to the full board to set up a meeting of the full board to hear the facilities
plan.
Seconded by P. Peterson.
Discussion: D. Lyman just asks
that they have their plans/alternative ready.
K. Cota is trying to wrap up the master plan and intends to present to
the full board when it is done. K. Cota stated she is not sure how the finance
committee can be so in the dark as to what’s going on. T. Aho wants it to go to the full board, as
he doesn’t think the $37,500,000 has a chance.
He wants it to go to the full board and get their opinion. S. Oerman moved the question. Motion passes: Unanimous.
b. Warrant Articles
review – Discussion of the 500,000 Capital
Reserve Funding was brought up and a reminder given that this was tabled to the
December 18th meeting at an earlier finance committee meeting. K. Chambers discussed removal of the
facilities director warrant article and instead putting the director of
building and grounds position in the budget this year. (See 3a. below)
New business:
3a. Use of 07/08
Health Insurance Savings: K. Chambers explained that she would like to have
the finance committee consider making the recommendation to hire the director
of facilities and grounds for $50,000 (the cost for the remainder of the year)
out of the insurance savings. This
would make the change to the operating budget and withdraw the warrant article
for the facilities director. T. Aho
stated that there wasn’t any money left from the insurance savings. It was noted that the money for the
Harrisville students, MC2 busing and the Keene middle school students was moved
in the budget but not used as the MRPSOC grant was going to cover those
costs. Motion to not spend any more of
the insurance savings (with the exception of the 4 SPED aides already approved
at Mt. Caesar) by D. Lyman. Seconded by
T. Aho. Motion passes: 4 yes (T. Aho, P. Peterson, J. Carnie and D.
Lyman) 3 No (J. Fortson, G. White, and S. Oerman)
3b. SAU
Withdrawals- Not discussed due to lack of
time.
3c. Financial
reports – Not discussed due to lack of time
(handed out to full board during that session.)
3d. Legal Bills – Not discussed due to lack of time.
4. Public Comments: None, due to time constraints.
5. Next Meeting: December 18th at the Monadnock
Regional MS/HS in Swanzey at 5:30 pm.
6. Adjourn: Motion
to adjourn by S. Oerman, at 7pm, seconded by
D. Lyman. Motion passes: Unanimous
for all present.