Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

June 11, 2007

 

A joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee was called to order by Chairman William Audette at 6:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA.  Present:  Messrs. Davis, Marzec, and Montecalvo.  Selectman Ampagoomian was absent and it is duly noted.

 

Also present:  Theodore D. Kozak, Town Manager, Paul Soojian, School Superintendent, and George Murray, Director of Operations.  School Committee Members:  Kristin Burns, Chairman, Karen Peterson Kittredge, Michael Lebrasseur, Susan Brouwer, Mary Contino, and Leeann Hansson.  Finance Committee Members:  Mary Frances Powers, Chairman, Walter Drew, and Andrew Todd.

 

Chairman Audette mentioned that the budget is ready to go and asked Superintendent Soojian and Chairman Burns to explain the rumor that is circulating around town about the School having $2.5 million in available funds.  Continuing, Mr. Soojian handed out a document explaining that the money the school has is because of their revolving accounts, such as:  Residential Tuitions, Special Ed Grants, Heat, Special Education Transportation, Special Ed Contracted Services, Substitutes, Custodial Supplies, Electricity, Circuit Breaker and Tuition Revolver.  He further explained that the Special Education accounts have to be paid upfront at certain times of the year and then the State reimburses the School at a later date. 

 

In addition, Mr. Soojian stated that the Aldrich School would be closing for good sometime in June/July 2007, and at that time the School Department would turn Aldrich School back over to the Town for maintenance.  Selectman Davis envisioned that some day the Town would have to sell the building because the cost to maintain would be too expensive.  Mr. Soojian also indicated that the cost to re-open Aldrich School would be astronomical, and for it to be used as a school again it would have to be brought up to code, and given the financial situation of the town, he does not foresee this happening in the future.

 

Selectman Marzec mentioned that he has received several phone calls from angry parents about the elimination of bussing for students in Grades 7th – 12th and asked if the School Department had discussed the issue and what, if anything, were they going to do about it.    Mr. Soojian responded that there is a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 9 a.m. to discuss the situation.   Selectman Marzec also remarked that if the School Committee made it easier for people to comprehend their budget then the residents in town might not be so apprehensive when it comes time to vote.  He felt that if the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee had a hard time understanding the School Department’s budget then how is the general public going to understand it. 

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee.

 

 Meeting adjourned:  7:42 PM

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                            Joseph Montecalvo, Clerk

 

 

dg/