Goshen Board of Finance – School and Ambulance Funding
9/24/25
Present: Chairman Ned Bixler, Vice Chairman Bob Valentine (zoom), Scott Tillman, James Korner, Paul Collins, Russell Murdoch. Excused: Carl Contadini, Patrick Reilly.
Chair Bixler called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. After a number of minor adjustments, by unanimous vote the Board approved the Minutes of the August 27 regular meeting. Paul Collins made a motion, approved unanimously, to add a discussion of a new ambulance purchase to new business.
Fire Commissioner Seth Breakell noted that a new ambulance was scheduled for purchase during the 2026-27 fiscal year but, given the 12-14 month lead time, an order should be placed soon. Currently there is $216,000 in Capital appropriated in the Town Capital Funds and another $129,000 in ARPA funds, for a total of $345,000. Using One Source, the organization used by Public Works for collecting bids, the total for the new ambulance and power stretcher is $362,465, $17,465 above current funding (although it was noted that an additional funding of almost $20,000 will become available in the 2026-27 Capital Budget). With a scheduled 10-12% price increase for both items expected by October 1, Commissioner Breakell asked for authorization to sign a contract prior to October 1 to save significant costs. Even though payment will not be due until delivery is made, expected in late 2026, Vice Chair Valentine noted that a liability is created upon signing of the contract and, without additional funding, from an accounting perspective that would create an unfunded liability. The Board agreed to appropriate the necessary funds from the Unassigned General Fund Balance prior to the end of the current fiscal year and granted permission for the contract to be signed prior to the October 1st price increases. Fire Chief, Barry Hall, noted that the repaired air boat, funded previously, would be delivered shortly.
First Selectman, Todd Carusillo, reported that the first payment under the Region 20 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) was made in the amount of $162,933. He then requested that the Board approve the recommended appropriations, to be voted at a Town Meeting on September 25, of 1) $159,570.07 for Region 6 past expenses, 2) $55,931.78 payable to Litchfield for Region 6 expenses paid by Litchfield and 3) $141,720 for Goshen’s share of the $300,000 Goshen, Morris and Warren have agreed to pay each year to fund the pension liabilities for Region 6 that were not funded appropriately by the previous Superintendent. While the recommended amounts were motioned by Collins and approved by the Board, Vice Chair Valentine noted that the $300,000 allocated each year for pension payments were based on an estimate of the total deficiency owed the pension fund (currently estimated at $3,500,000) and that Town residents should be provided with a more detailed calculation of the total amount needed to fund those future pensions.
The Board asked Carusillo if the State had made a decision about transferring control of the waste transfer station (in Torrington) to a newly-created Northwest Resource Recovery Authority (NWRRA), a shift that could save Goshen and other towns significant amounts in waste fees. A decision was expected by the end of the month, and Carusillo requested the Board approve an ordinance for Goshen to join the NWRRA, a request that was approved unanimously by the Board.
Finally, Chair Bixler asked members if they had suggestions for any changes to the budget review process for the upcoming 2026-27 budget cycle. The process was adjusted for the current fiscal year to review the largest budget requests first and to have groups of the entire Board review the larger budgets in detail. The consensus was that the new process worked well and that no changes were needed, although James Korner requested that the Board of Finance be provided with the original requests from each department and the revised amounts after review by the Board of Selectman.
Following a motion by Korner the meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.
