4/8/2015
TOWN OF SCOTLAND
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Scotland Town Hall 9 Devotion Road, P.O. Box 288 Scotland, CT 06264
(860) 456-7797 ext 1
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
April 8, 2015
Draft
I.
Call to Order
First Selectman Dan Syme called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. Also present were
Board of Selectmen members Clare D’Appollonio and Rod Perry, Auditor Stephen
Hopkins, Treasurer Susan Smith, Administrative Assistant Jennifer Nelson, and
audience members.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Additions to the Agenda: None
Audience for Citizens: None
Approval of Minutes: Clare D’Appollonio moved to approve the minutes of the
regular BOS meeting of 3/25/2015. Rod Perry seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
13-14 Audit Presentation: Auditor Stephen Hopkins discussed the findings and
financial information for the Town of Scotland, as of June 30, 2014. Board members
inquired into the various findings Mr. Hopkins noted for the 13-14 fiscal year, as well
as resources available to research and address any recommendations that were
made in this audit. Members of the audience questioned the number of adjustments
Mr. Hopkins had recommended to the financial records, as well as record-keeping
strategies currently in place and possible adjustments to those strategies.
Correspondence: None
Report from the Treasurer: Ms. Smith reported Ian Scotland, technical support
principal with Binnacle Technologies who is facilitating the integration of the
ACCUfund program with town finances, has been given a copy of the BOE’s chart of
accounts and has also received a copy of town accounts. Mr. Hopkins will also be
given a copy of the chart of accounts to confirm all financial data will be
appropriately recorded and meet the needs of any audits. Ms. Smith can now start to
develop all the different reports that may be requested for financial reporting for the
Town of Scotland.
Selectman’s Report:
 First Selectman Syme is finalizing a town budget proposal. The town will be
limited again by the increases to education. There will be a budget workshop
next Wednesday at 5:30 PM in the selectmen’s office;
 The town budget public hearing will be on Thursday, April 23rd at the public
safety complex (PSC);
4/8/2015
 The first public hearing for the school analysis study was held April 7th and
was attended by approximately 120 tri-town residents. First Selectman Syme
stressed the public needs to be made aware that the next steps must be
taken by the boards of education, and the public needs to exert pressure on
those boards to continue the discussion. The next public hearing for the
school analysis study will be April 21st at Parish Hill Middle/High School at 7
PM;
 First Selectman Syme met with the representative of Munger Construction to
review the damage and discuss repair of the PSC due to weather damage this
past winter. Mr. DeMaio will develop a quote that can be submitted to
CIRMA for the damage claim. They also discussed estimates for an ice
protection system. Selectman Perry recommended the town seek bids for
any systems considered;
 First Selectman Syme has engaged in conversation with Lucas Tree Service
regarding removal of a cluster of trees that inhibit sight lines at the
intersection of Booklyn Turnpike and Brook Road in exchange for the parking
space given at the town hall for their heavy equipment during the winter
months;
 A town resident has asked for permission to hold a tag sale on the town
green;
 First Selectman Syme has received notice from the landowners of the
Transfer Station that they are not satisfied with the upkeep at the transfer
station. He has consulted with the First Selectman of Hampton and is in
discussion with various organizations that could provide a public service
contribution to help with addressing this issue.
IX.
Second Audience for Citizens:
 Wendy Sears commented that Chaplin appeared woefully underrepresented
at the public hearing for the school analysis study;
 Selectwoman Clare D’Appollonio wants to make sure a discussion of the
Central Office budget and language in the compact regarding assessments is
honored before the town submits any additional funding to them is added to
the budget workshop agenda;
 Ms. Smith recommended the website administrators add ‘meta-tags’ for
language that can be attributed to electronic searches for the school analysis
study so curious people can be appropriately directed to their location.
Rod Perry moved to adjourn at 8:17 PM. Clare D’Appollonio seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Nelson, Administrative Assistant
(Board of Selectmen meeting minutes are recorded and available for review)