Cornish
Under one article, the board requested $42,500 to replace siding on one side of the gym and put new windows in the library.
Board chairman Justin Ranney said there is rot around the bay window in the library and they have been discussing replacement for a few years. However, when asked for more details about the type of windows that will be installed and whether they would be energy efficient, the board said it had not gotten that much detail in the preliminary quote.
“You should spec it out,” said resident Fred Weld, adding that is how contractors will know what is expected.
Resident Everett Cass then made a motion to pass over the article until the school facilities committee had a chance to review the project and give its input.
That motion failed but a second motion to require that the facilities committee approve of the materials for the window project passed, as did the original appropriation.
Two related articles, to discontinue four capital reserve funds no longer being used and move about $60,000 from those funds to a newly created facilities expendable trust fund were also questioned.
The board explained that the purpose of the expendable fund was to allow the board, without first seeking voter approval, to spend money from the fund in case of an emergency.
Cass and Weld said giving the board complete control of the trust fund was wrong.
“You put it out for the town to vote on,” Weld said about any money spent from the fund. “That is how it should be. I can’t see the point of taking away the town’s vote.”
But board member Gregory Clark said unlike the windows and siding appropriations, which the board thought the town should vote on, this fund is for emergency repairs that cannot wait for the annual school meeting vote, such as a failed septic system. The articles to discontinue the funds and create a new expendable trust fund passed easily by voice votes.
Other approved appropriations included a three-year teachers’ contract with $46,600 raised for the first year, $75,000 for the special education/high school tuition expendable trust fund and $33,000 (from year end budget surplus) in the new facilities expendable trust fund
“The board is happy with the agreement,” said Chairman Ranney of the contract. “We are pushing to be a little more competitive with neighboring school districts, particularly at the lower level of the pay scale.”
The $3.4 million budget is about $301,000, or 8 percent, less than this year, primarily because of a steep drop in special education which decreased almost $237,000 with the elimination of a $212,000 out-of-state private high school tuition.
Voters also approved three articles for long-term agreements in writing with Claremont, Hartford and Windsor that those districts would continue to accept Cornish students at their high schools. Though there are no agreements with Lebanon and Hanover, Cornish students could still attend those high schools. Though the agreements maintain the “status quo” the articles read, having them in writing is now required by the state Board of Education.
A trust fund for a before/after school program was established with $58,000 that the school district had on hand in its fund balance when the last school-sponsored afterschool program was discontinued. The current program is run by an outside vendor and not paid for with school funds.
Resident Larry Dingee said the purpose of the fund is to have money available if the district needs to restart the program at any time, otherwise it will not be used.
The approval of all appropriations Saturday is expected to result in a decrease in the local school tax rate of 96 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation and reduce school taxes on a $250,000 property by $240.
The three-hour meeting was attended by about 80 residents, or 6.5 percent of the town’s 1,222 registered voters. There were no contested races on the ballot, with Ranney and Clark winning re-election.
Town meeting begins at noon on Tuesday in the school with all-day balloting 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com
