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| By Dan Cooper Staff Intern LONGMEADOW - An amended town budget of $47.15 million was approved at the Annual Town Meeting on April 24 in the high school gymnasium, following a motion to add $400,000 to the school department's budget for fiscal year 2008. The motion was made by School Committee chairwoman Mary Vogel, who asked that the school budget be changed to $25.3 million instead of the $24.9 million allocated. "This amendment includes staff increases but not salary increases for next year," she explained to town residents. "Teacher contracts are still being negotiated and we do not have a timetable for that." Town Manager Robin Crosbie said the budget has to be in place by July 1, with or without teacher contracts. "That can be addressed in the fall and the Town Meeting will be responsible to fund the contracts," she said. Vogel said part of the increase is covered by Chapter 70 state aid. Finance Committee Chair Judd Peskin said the amendment had their support. "The school department is scheduled to lose $400,000 next year and the Finance Committee feels the town can make up for the loss in revenue," Peskin said. The amendment was approved on a majority vote and the Town Budget was adjusted. Superintendent E. Jahn Hart also introduced a strategic plan for Longmeadow Public Schools, which includes continuing excellence in teaching and getting the high school accredited. "This has been a very difficult year for everyone," Crosbie said. "We have to continue to work together and our net increase in state aid is $180,000." The town also approved fund transfers from the free cash fund to pay for shortfalls from the FY07 budget. Special education costs needed an additional $525,000 since the funds exceeded the budgeted amount. Legal consultation for litigation defense costs also exceeded budgeted funds by $17,000 due to unforeseen land use and outside efforts to block Charter implementation. Sanitation and recycling for solid waste disposal costs needed $31,000 to pay for increased costs for yard waste disposal. Curb-side disposals were reduced in the original budget. The town voted to approve a transfer of $4,830.74 from the Blueberry Hill school boiler leak repairs to Center School boiler leaks. The funds from the Center School boiler leak repairs were used to fund the school's security system in November 2006. The transfer allowed late invoices to be paid from unused balances from the completed Blueberry Hill boiler replacement. The town voted down an article providing for the use of solid waste and recycling fees from Massachusetts General Law 44. Many residents felt the money could be better used elsewhere. The Select Board also named the late Gil Lefkovich, who had been the director of Longmeadow Cable Television, as the Citizen of the Year. "He was a true professional," Select Board member Hal Haberman said in presenting the award to Lefkovich's widow. "Longmeadow Cable Television became more than a local cable station while he was in charge." |