Minutes
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York
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Date:
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December 18, 2014
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Time:
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6:45 p.m.
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Place:
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Seven Bridges - Lower Commons
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Present:
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Board of Education
Karen Visser, President
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left 7:45 p.m.
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Alyson Gardner, Vice President
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Victoria Tipp
Warren Messner
Jeffrey Mester
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Staff Members
Present:
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Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent
Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Lisa Rusk, Esq, School Attorney from Shaw Perelson May & Lambert, LLP
Theresa Markley, District Clerk/Adm. Asst. to Superintendent
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Visitors Present:
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Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens especially from the Artificial Turf Committee.
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President Visser called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. Warren Messner moved to enter into Executive Session to discuss employment history of individuals. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 7:12 p.m. Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene public session. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
President Visser thanked everyone for attending, especially at such short notice. The Board is required to act on the resolution for the emergency repair of Seven Bridges public address system during the coming recess. The total loss of the system is a security issue. In addition, three members of the Artificial Turf Committee asked Mr. Mester to come together with the Board for an opportunity to discuss future support for obtaining funds for the turf field.
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1.
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Recommended action:
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1.1
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Resolution for emergency repair of Seven Bridges Middle School public address system.
Alyson Gardner offered the following resolution,
"WHEREAS, the public address system at Seven Bridges Middle School is not operating and in need of replacement and repair; and
WHEREAS, the Board is empowered to determine that the expense of this activity is an ordinary contingent expense within the meaning of §2023 of the New York State Education Law and §170.2(l) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education due to the health and safety implications to the students and staff in that building, and that the project constitutes an emergency repair within the meaning of §103 of the General Municipal Law;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board hereby determines that the repair to the public address system at Seven Bridges Middle School will not have a significant environmental impact and declares this project a Type II Action pursuant to §617.5 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby determines and declares that the cost of the emergency repair to the public address system at Seven Bridges Middle School constitutes an ordinary contingent expense within the meaning of §2023 of the Education Law and §170.2(l) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, and an emergency within the meaning of §103 of the General Municipal Law, and hereby authorizes the expenditure of a sum not to exceed $25,000 for such purpose; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to make transfers between and within functional unit appropriations in order to pay the costs of this ordinary contingent expense."
Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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1.2
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Discussion of Artificial Turf Funding
President Visser asked Jeffrey Mester to provide some background information and introduce guests, William Wachtel, Jeff Scheine, and Jeffrey Perlmutter, members of Artificial Turf Committee who indicated an interested in helping to fund the turf project.
Jeffrey summarized the recent history of the project back to the resolution adopted by the Board in 2008 to accept a gift to cover all costs for turf on the competition field, followed by a Memorandum of Understanding that was initiated in 2009 that was extended in 2011 by the Board. That document terminated September 2013, but not before raising thousands of dollars from donors. Problems arose with the Department of Environmental Protection who insisted upon an impervious surface that is difficult to maintain. Upon further review by our new architectural firm and the DEP, they have determined that a pervious surface can be used.
Cost is $2 million and the committee members led by Mr. Wachtel, indicated that they have donors willing to give up to $1.4 million and maintained that the district could provide additional $600,000 from budget that would be returned to the district in form of State Aid.
John Chow explained that the district cannot use taxpayer funds in that way. We also cannot depend on State Aid that might or might not be returned over 15 years. The State can reduce or default on the payment whereby the district would have to write it off. The only way to raise the funds would be to put it to the voters as a bond and it is not a good time to do this.
As the discussion continued, President Visser moved to have Lisa Rusk provide advice on the matter in this public session. Alyson Gardner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Rusk gave further support to the way in which district funds can and cannot be used.
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2.
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President Visser gave Notice of Future Meetings
Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Horace Greeley High School, at 7:30 p.m.
Presentations:
Budget Preview
Inquiry and Innovation in Chappaqua
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3.
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Adjournment:
At 8:24 p.m. Victoria Tipp moved to return to Executive Session to continue their discussions. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Markley, District Clerk/Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Karen Visser, Board President
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Chappaqua Central School District