001Now you do. >> Yeah. Oh, I see Scott. Scott is it looks like Scott's in here. >> Yep, I saw him. >> Yeah, perfect. So we are good. We have a quorum. >> All right, I want to give it another minute cuz we still >> Yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah, it's almost 6:30 yet, but I just want to make sure that we're going to be good. Oh, Mike Mike's here, too. Mike Bullard. >> Rudy just joined. >> Perfect. >> Hey Colin, it's Carrie. I'm here, too. >> Perfect. Hey Carrie, great. Thank you. We are we're good. >> All right, it's 6:31. Eric, does it seem to have slowed down a little? >> Yeah. >> All right. We will call the meeting to order and we will start with roll call. Mike Bullard. >> Michael Bullard,
002Hebron. >> Rudy Della Fiore, Hebron. >> Kirsten Erlandson, Andover. >> Pam Farrington, Marlborough. >> Carrie Forlano, Marlborough. >> Drew Galphin, Marlborough. >> Jessica Hall, Hebron. >> Amy Romanchuk, Marlborough. >> Scott Sayer, Andover. >> Lisa Toudy. And Heather Summer from Hebron. Um, any administration present? >> Colin McNamara, superintendent. >> I think that's >> Penny Briscoe, high school principal. >> Thanks, Penny. >> I think that's everybody, Heather. >> Okay. Um, and it we need to take a roll call of the residents of the from the three towns also or No, okay. All right. You're on mute. >> mute. Sorry, Heather. Yes, we do Yes, we are supposed to take ask for members of the public that are present. >> Okay, so I'm I think the best way for me to do that is to go through the
003list that I've got of people dialed in and if you can just when I call your name, if you can give me your your town and address and we will log it into the record. So, Jen Person Mercant. >> Yeah, Jen Person Mercant, 143 Jones Street, Hebron. >> I apologize. I completely butchered that. >> No, it's fine. >> Jessica Rainville? >> She Well, she's here as the clerk. >> As the clerk, okay. >> Well, she is a she is a resident though, too. So, yes, let's move >> Yeah, she's unmuting. Oh, okay. Kimberly Cain? Kimberly Cain? >> 15 Golf Lane, Hebron. >> Melanie Mercant? Merkel, sorry. Okay. Um Michael Schleyhoffer? >> I'm here as part of of RAM admin. >> Okay. Um Terry McNamara? >> McManus. >> Oh, McManus. I'm sorry. >> Uh Terry McManus,
004169 North Street, Hebron. >> And then Wyatt Peck? >> It's Jessica Peck, 967 Church Street, and I have um two students with me for civics project. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Um is there anybody that I left off of that roll call? >> I think I came like just at the end, so it's Lisa Tody in Hebron, Connecticut. >> Thanks, Lisa. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. So, um before we get started, I want to Oh, no, we're going to do the Pledge of Allegiance next. Um so, if you can all please uh stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. So, over
005the I I'm just going to make a quick statement before we get into the meat of the meeting um because over the last past several months, there have been numerous opportunities for members of the public to weigh in on the Region 8 budget. These have included budget workshops, regular board of education meetings and the public budget hearing held on April 6th. We appreciate the time, input, and engagement from our community throughout this process. Tonight marks the next step in the budget process. The Regional School District 8 annual budget meeting, as required under Connecticut State Statute Section 10-51. By law, regional boards of the of education must present their proposed annual budget at a public meeting held on the first Monday in May. The statute also provides 2 days for a budget to be adopted either
006by a vote of those present at the annual meeting or by a referendum held by the held the following day in each member town. The Region 8 Board of Education budget will proceed by referendum. As a result, while the budget information will be shared this evening and there will be an opportunity for public comment, there will be no vote taken at tonight's meeting. Instead, the proposed budget will be decided by referendum tomorrow, May 5th, 2026, in each of our member towns. This approach allows all eligible voters the opportunity to participate in the decision through the regular voting process in their home communities. The board is also mindful of the financial challenges facing our member towns. The proposed budget reflects a 3.19% increase, which represents a deliberate effort by our district administration and the board to
007be responsive to those concerns while continuing to support our students and schools. We believe this increase is among the lowest in the state underscoring our commitment to balancing educational needs with fiscal responsibility. Thank you for being here this evening and for the continued involvement in our schools. So, with that, I would like to make a motion to add an agenda item which is to allow for public comment tonight. Do I have a motion to >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Scott. Scott, do I have a second? >> Rudy DellaFlora second. >> Thank you, Rudy. Um, any discussion on that? All in favor? >> Aye. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? Okay. So, with that, Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough community engagement and attendance at BOE public meetings is welcomed. The public comment segment of the
008meeting agenda is set aside so the BOE may receive public comments. Procedurally, public remarks will be limited to 3 minutes and citizens will be asked to identify themselves. Because the BOE is limited by the Freedom of Information Act to discussing only matters on the agenda, the BOE is not permitted to engage in a discussion of the comments presented. So, um, is there anybody that would like to make public comment? Okay. One more chance. Okay. So, with that, um, we now, uh, I'm looking for a motion to appoint Drew Golfin as a moderator for the annual district budget meeting. So, do I have a motion to appoint Drew Goffin as a moderator? >> So moved. >> Okay, Michael Bolliar is the first. >> Oh, Scott Solyak will second. Any discussion on that? All in favor? >>
009Aye. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? Okay, the motion passes. So, the moderator will read the call of the meeting and the legal notice. >> To discuss a budget in the amount of 33,600 >> 33 million. >> I'm sorry. I didn't put on my glasses on fast enough. 33,661,483 dollars for Regional School District 8 for the fiscal year from July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. The moderator shall adjourn the annual meeting at its conclusion and the budget shall be submitted to vote upon the voting machines in each of the districts' member towns of Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough on May 5th, 2026 in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes sections 10-51 and 7-7 as amended between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. under the following heading. Question one. Shall the budget of 33,161,483 dollars for
010the operation and maintenance of the Regional School District 8 public school system RAM for the fiscal year July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027 be approved? Question two. Shall the capital improvement program budget of 500,000 as recommended by the Regional School District 8 Board of Education RAM for the fiscal year July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027 be approved? Voters approving said question will vote yes, and those opposing said questions will vote no. Voting will be in the following places: Town of Hebron, Hebron Elementary School, 92 Church Street, Hebron, Connecticut. Town of Andover, Andover Town Hall, 17 School Road, Andover, Connecticut. Town of Marlborough, Marlborough Elementary School, 25 School Drive, Marlborough, Connecticut. Persons qualified to vote at the annual meeting who are not electors will vote in their respective polling places. Pursuant to Connecticut law,
011no person who is eligible to vote in more than one town in the district is eligible to cast more than one vote at the referendum. Dated in Hebron, Connecticut, April 9th, by order of the chairperson of the Board of Regional School District 8, Heather Summerer. Are there any questions? >> Okay, without any questions, we would um ask for a motion to adjourn the meeting to referendum. Do I have a motion? >> Second to adjourn. >> Mike Boller is first, second. >> Second. >> Who's that too? >> No, Terry's trying to. >> Terry? >> Yes, I second. >> Um any discussion? >> It's it it should I think it should be it needs to be a board member. Needs to be a board member. >> member. >> Yes. >> It's Amy. >> Amy, okay. Um any
012other discussion on that? All in favor? >> Aye. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? Motion passes. >> We're adjourning the referendum. All right, everybody. >> Thanks, everybody. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, everybody. Good night. >> Good night. >> Bye.