BOE Meeting on Fees

[Al_Miller]

The BOE is holding their next Meeting on Wednesday, August 11th at MSN. Public Sessions starts at 8pm. Their will be discussions in regards to the pay to play programs. As well as the new building use & custodial fees for local sports programs, scounts, PTA / PTO & etc. Please make sure you come out with any and all questions or comments.

[John Gazire]

Are they going to start charging a fee to attend the meetings?

[Pat Garaffa]

Don't give them any ideas.  They already told our scout troop that we will be on the hook for a C-note each week to use the Taunton Gym for a weekly, 90 minute meeting. 

That's a lot of money for the troop to absorb and we may not be able to do it.   It also works out to about a dollar a minute charged to a group of kids that operate as a non-profit entity and gives all it's community support and most of our projects back to Howell. 

Maybe we can start charging them for those community projects?  It gives new meaning to "One good turn deserves another."   

[Gene_Tanala]

Hello Everyone:

Just to clarify,  Sports, and co-curricular will be discussed at the meeting.

Ther will be a joint Policy and Finance Meeting to discuss and set the fee schedule for building use.   

Respectfully,

Gene Tanala

[Gene_Tanala]

I left the "e" out  of there...............sorry for the typo!!!!!!!

Gene

[Jackie Everitt]

Pat - I can't believe that - they must be trying to make up the budget on the "extras".  Why don't you guys try a local Knights of Columbus, Church, or I know my friend's son's troop meets in the basement of the ScoutMaster's house?  I am sure that there are organizations (or even companies that may have a caf. or open space) that may be to help you.  Try the FirstAid or FireHouses.

[Al_Miller]

Hello Everyone:

Just to clarify,  Sports, and co-curricular will be discussed at the meeting.

Ther will be a joint Policy and Finance Meeting to discuss and set the fee schedule for building use.   

Respectfully,

Gene Tanala

Gene
On the agenda 700.2 is the first reading of the policy that deals with payment to use the School Facilities. I know it has one more reading for it to be approved. So if there are groups that are not happy with even the idea of being charged. It would be to their benfit to come out and speak at the meeting. I heard there will be a joint finance / policy meeting to discuss this further. However I believe that is just to adjust and set fees that would go along with the policy that is up for first read at the 8/11 BOE meeting. Unless you are aware that 700.2 is being pulled and put back on for another meeting? 

[Gene_Tanala]

Hi Al:

No, the policy for Building Use is not being pulled.  Language is being changed, and at the joint meeting, the Finance and Policy Committee will be discussing, ammending and setting fess for the different groups that use the bilding.

I believe the Policy has indicated (identified) several scenarios for certain groups.

Hope this helps

GENE

Gene

[Al_Miller]

Gene
I attended the last policy meeting as a member of the public / PTA President to hear how the policy was going to read. So I am familiar with the policy that is why I think some groups need to come out to the next meeting. From what I been hearing certain groups will have to stop providing for the children if these fees go thru. It will be very sad if that happens even more now with the pay to play. The children will lose so much in the end. I look forward to hearing what the boards direction is on both pay to play and building fees.

[Gene_Tanala]

Al:

As a citizen I agree with you.   As a member of the Board, I do have resevations and I am sure it will be spoken about at the meeting Wednesday.

Unfortunately, part of the problem is the reduction in force to out custodial staff. Presently the Tuesday to Saturday shift has been eliminated.

Rather than get ahead of ourselves, lets wait and see what the entire BOE has to say. The fees are still an entire BOE decision. As stated in a prior post, the Finance and Policy committee will be detrmining the fee schedule.

Thank-you Mr. Miller for keeping the community inofrmed,.

Respectfully,

Gene Tanala

I can say that I have received several letters from the community about the scouts.

 

[Jeanette_Smith]

I would just like to clarify my understanding of this process as a community member.

The committee did not reach consensus on this policy but did agree to send it to the full board of elected community representatives for discussion and/or direction. The board can choose to approve, amend and approve, return to committee with further direction or reject any policy changes.

This is my understanding of the parliamentary procedure.

[Al_Miller]

Jeanette
That is exactly how I thought it is suppose to go to. That's why I thought having the local groups at the meeting might make the entire board feel they should be moved from one classification to another possibly. Some of fees presently being suggested are very expensive for these local groups to survive.  I know it is going to be a hard decision and I wish you good luck. 

[Gene_Tanala]

I do not want to step on anyones toes, but this policy is on the agenda for a "First Read", which means it can be amended, sent to committee, etc.

The policy will NOT be passed this Wednesday, it can only be amended if the BOE likes.

I am sure there will be discussion, but the committee could not come to consensus  on this policy.

The BOE always allows people to speak, thus bringing up state ethics is mute.  Everyone on the BOE follows this guideline. 

Did you ever see or hear of a speakr getting cut off for time, etc?  whew! Last year, but trying.

Gene

[Jeanette_Smith]

Gene is correct! Policy requires two approvals by the the board (1st and 2nd reading) before it is adopted.

[Al_Miller]

Exactly what I had said in an earlier post. It is up for first read and if the public brings something good up it is early in the game for it to be reconsidered and or resent to committee. This way everything can be hammered out for the second read. Personally I kind of got the feeling at the policy meeting that this policy is very time sensitive so it can be in place for September.  So all I am saying in all these posts is. If your group is possibly affected by this come out and be heard. I also in the few years attending BOE meetings have not seen anyone cut off.