THIS MEETING WAS CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM

 

The public was able to view this meeting.

 

 

Joint Meeting with School Committee

 

 

 1.    5:32 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

     Council President Ahern called the Town Council meeting to order.  School Committee Chair Bowdy called the School Committee meeting to order.

 

Present:   Pres. Sharon E. Ahern

                 T. Mgr. Mark Rooney

                 School Comm. Chair Diane C. Bowdy

                 Dr. Mark Garceau, School Superintendent

 

In Attendance Remotely (Council):   Vice Pres. Suzanne K. Giorno

                                                           Councilors Caswell Cooke, Jr.; Christopher A. Duhamel;

                                                           Philip M. Overton; Karen A. Cioffi; Brian H. McCuin

                                                           T. Sol. Conley

                                        (School):    Robert M. Cillino, Vice Chair; Marianne Nardone;

                                                           Michael Ober; Christine M. Cooke; Guiseppe Gencarelli

                                                           John Pagano; Rebecca Fowler (arrived 5:43 p.m.)

                                                           Rose Falcone, Recording Clerk

 

Also In Attendance Remotely:  Dyann Baker, Finance Director

 

Absent:    Co. Clk. Giordano

                 T. Sgt. Falcone

                

        INVOCATION – Councilor McCuin

 

        SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Ahern

 

 

 2.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Joint Pre-Budget Meeting With School Committee Pursuant To RIGL §16-2-21(a)

        1.     a)    Memorandum – RIHEBC Funding Opportunity

                b)    Resolution Authorizing and Approving The Issuance of General Obligation Bonds

        2.     Memorandum – Three-Year Revenue Projections

        3.     Memorandum – Town Manager's Budget Message

        4.     Memorandum – Superintendent’s Budget Message

        5.     Memorandum – Three-Year School Budget Projections

 

     Town Manager Rooney provided and overview of his budget message, which is attached.  He spoke about pressures on the upcoming budget due to reductions in state aid revenues, the successful current fiscal year, the refinancing of current school debt at a lower interest rate that would incur $2 million to place into school capital for maintenance of effort, and using any tax increase for the school operational budget.  He noted the special election being held in March that could possibly include $2 million bond referendum for school maintenance.

 

     Dr. Garceau provided and overview of his budget message, which is attached.  He stated that the greatest concern is the unknown state allocation for the school budget.  He noted the offsetting savings being incurred by distance learning and addressed the building of next year's budget, funding of capital versus the regular budget, the increase in operating expenses, and maintenance of effort.

 

     Discussion ensued regarding contractual obligations, the need to increase funding for the school operational and capital budgets, the collection rate, the use of the $2 million strictly for capital items, other bond questions, and the need to have a list of capital items that will be completed.

 

 6:11 P.M.  Motion by Mr. Ober, Seconded by Mr. Cillino, that the School Committee meeting be adjourned.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

 

 3.    ADJOURNMENT

 

        6:13 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn the Council meeting.

 

 

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