1.    5:00 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

MEETING WAS CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM

 

Present:   Pres. Duhamel

                 T. Mgr. Rooney

 

In Attendance Remotely:   Vice Pres. Giorno,

                                            Councilors Cioffi, Aiello, Cooke, Ahern, McCuin

 

Absent:    T. Sol. Conley

                 Co. Clk. Giordano

                 T. Sgt. Falcone

                 Cameron Moore, Town Council Student Representative

 

Also In Attendance Remotely:  Christine Cooke, School Committee Chair

 

 

 2.    FY2020/2021 Budget – Discussion and Possible Action

 

Present:   Dyann Baker, Finance Director

                 Dr. Mark Garceau, School Superintendent

 

     Dr. Garceau addressed the School budget, stating that no one is doing more than the school system to keep the community functioning during this pandemic.  He noted a reduction in staffing of thirty-three full-time positions.  He noted the Maintenance of Effort stating that, due to the projected reduction in state aid, the district is being reduced by .83% and that, if the budget is level funded, funding for the school is being reduced by $487,000.  He requested that a responsible portion of the school district’s request be restored in order to support the FY20/21 operating budget.

 

     At the request of Councilor Giorno, Dr. Garceau stated that all employees are being paid at this time.  He further stated that, due to school closure, there will be line items in the current budget that will be unexpended and that he will be seeking budget transfers that will allow for the purchase of supplies and materials that are in the current budget that will be needed for the coming year, thereby lessening the pressure on the FY20/21 budget.  In response to Councilor Aiello as to whether the number of IEP students has declined, Dr. Garceau stated that there has been a significant increase in the number of IEP students as well as those with significant needs.  In response to Councilor Duhamel regarding the operating budget, Dr. Garceau stated that the operating budget includes maintenance beyond capital, which allowed for removal of items from the capital request due to the use of operating funds to purchase those items.  He further noted that $1.4 million was transferred from fund balance to the operating budget to be available to the Facilities Director to address capital needs.  At the request of Councilor Cioffi, Dr. Garceau will provide the Council with information on items that were removed from the capital budget.

 

     Finance Director Baker was able to identify those items that were removed from the capital budget.

 

     Town Manager Rooney addressed the several scenarios of the Budget Summary, which is attached hereto and made a part of the record of these proceedings.  He noted the significant changes in both the Town and the School Budgets from when the budgets were first developed.  He explained each line item and further noted that, at the 1.75% tax levy, the School Department would receive $244,000 in its operating budget, thus reducing its capital budget to $582,140.  He explained the options that the Council would have if revenues from the hotel and meal taxes were not achieved.

 

     Finance Director Baker explained how the Town’s bond rating could be affected if the Council were to reduce the contribution to the Police Pension Fund and the OPEB, stating that the contribution as recommended by the actuary should be made to the pension fund, but that the OPEB contribution could be the Pay Go amount of what is paid out annually, which would be $900,000 and less of an impact when measuring for the bond rating.

 

     Discussion was held regarding reinstating the hotel and meal tax, grant funding, funding of the $100,000 for Winnapaug Pond dredging, level funding of subsidies, funding of School operating and capital budgets, and the Police Pension and OPEB funds.

 

     The majority of the Council supported the 1.75% tax levy.

 

 

 3.    ADJOURNMENT

 

        6:45 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.

 

 

ATTEST:
	Donna L. Giordano, MMC Council Clerk

 

     Details of the aforesaid proceedings are available on video on the Town of Westerly website.