Goshen Board of Finance – School Liability Uncertainty Persists
10/22/25
Present: Chairman Ned Bixler, Vice Chairman Bob Valentine, Paul Collins, Patrick Reilly, Russell Murdoch. Excused: Carl Contadini, Scott Tillman, James Korner. Others: First Selectman Todd Carusillo, Jeffrey Villar, Superintendent Region 20, Julia Cardillo, CFO Region 20, George Sinnamon, Sinnamon & Assoc., Auditor.
Chair Bixler called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.; alternate Pat Reilly was seated. The meeting began with a financial update from Superintendent Villar and CFO Cardillo. The written report noted that Goshen Center School projects include a well pump replacement and new boilers. The Board was presented with details of necessary transfers within the 2025-26 budget, which were met with no objections. Vice Chair Valentine asked if Region 20 would use benchmark data for calculating appropriate wages and benefits for school personnel and whether Region 20 would hire an attorney to assist in the contract negotiations in 2027; Superintendent Villar confirmed that Region 20 would hire an attorney to assist in the contract negotiations in 2027 and that Region 20 would also use benchmark data for calculating appropriate wages and benefits for school personnel. Both of these questions were posed by Vice Chair Valentine. In response to a question from Chair Bixler, the Superintendent indicated there remains uncertainty about a $400,000 transfer between Litchfield and the newly-formed Region 20 dating back to the 2023-24 financial year, with an additional investigation underway. Villar noted that the Region 20 current financial situation was in good shape, although it is early in the fiscal year. Chair Bixler thanked the Superintendent for this detailed update that will continue quarterly.
Mr. Sinnamon reported on the audit for the Town for the year ended June 30. A review of the Town of Goshen books and records resulted in “a very clean audit”, according to Sinnamon, but he also indicated that he was not yet in a position to issue a signed Final Audit Report. The uncertainty lies with the amount of liability the Town has assumed for pension liabilities to retired pensioners of Region 6 that would get reported in the audit footnotes. While these 35 pension recipients were not employees of the Town, Sinnamon noted that the Town is “doing the right thing” in assuming responsibility for pension contributions that were not made for 3 years. Moreover, there is a new question as to whether the Town might have a liability for post-retirement health benefits for former employees of Region 6 not now working for Region 20. As noted by Vice Chair Valentine, the amount of the pension liability can and likely will vary over time based on the number of recipients and the investment return on assets. There is action underway to form a new Trust, funded by Goshen, Warren and Morris, to manage the pension assets and payments of the residual liabilities of Region 6.
Following these discussions the meeting returned to regular order. Minutes were approved with minor adjustments and a review of the financial records for the fiscal year than began July 1 and Chair Bixler noted that “they show no glaring issues”. First Selectman Carusillo noted an issue with land in front of Town Hall, maintained by the Town for over 50 years, that apparently belongs to St. Thomas of Villanova church and that a formal transfer may be appropriate. He also noted that he had locked in prices for oil and gasoline for the 2026-27 fiscal year at prices below those of the current fiscal year (2025-26).
The Board approved its 2026 meeting schedule – the fourth Wednesday of each month – with Vice Chair Valentine suggesting an additional budget meeting on May 6, 2026. Finally, Chair Bixler thanked Russ Murdoch for his years of service on the Board as he finishes his term. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm.
