The Board of Finance passed a motion last night, 4-2, to organize a committee to draw up a three-year operating plan to understand the town's needs. Chairman Warren Serenbetz, who backed the plan, said it would be used to help formulate town's annual budget.
The board's vice chairman, Lynne Vanderslice, was named to head the committee. Other panel members have yet to be named. First Selectman William F. Brennan made a proposal for a five-year plan, but the board thought it would be better to have a shorter one first and adjust it into five years depending on how it works out. However, the plan was not passed without disagreement on how it will be created.
Board Member Andrew Pforzheimer said the process sould be changed. "Everyone does these things backwards," explaining how operating plans are usually figured out by analyzing expenses first then the revenues. He said he believes it is better to look at the revenues and form the budget to fit them. "The revenue is the plan," Pforzheimer said.
Opposition came from several of the other members including Serenbetz who said, "You can't do anything with your (Pforzheimer) plan, no decisions can be made with it."
With neither side showing any sign of backing down, Vanderslice made the motion to vote on the proposal ending the debate and moving on with the remainder of the meeting.
The next scheduled meeting for the Board is June 15, and the minutes from last night will be available on the Board of Finance Web site.
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