ELDRED, NY — The district calendar stated that the Eldred school board would vote on the BOCES budget on April 17. By the end of the short meeting, a vote also had been taken to approve the budget on which voters will have their say on May 15.

The budget of $16,848,150, of which $10,429,023 is to come from property taxes, represents a 3.04% tax increase and is the same amount that had been discussed at the April 12 meeting, so the amount of the budget should be of no surprise to anyone. However, since only six members of the public were on hand, the opportunity for the public at large to offer comment was thwarted.

The vote was 3-1, with Carol Bliefernich, Amador Laput and Linda Bohs voting in the affirmative and Allyson Wagner voting against. Brian Siegel was not present at the meeting. Wagner joined the other board members when the vote was taken to put the budget on the ballot for the voters.

Before the vote was taken, Bliefernich allowed a member of the public, Paul Clark, to comment. Clark stated that he is opposed to a budget that eliminates teachers in art and music but continues to fund the football team. He opposes a budget that eliminates some teachers, but that, in his opinion, does not eliminate the correct teachers. Clark further stated that he was a proponent of the public voting down this budget as presented, so that a second vote could be taken after the next school board election. He said that although having a second vote would cost a bit more money, the board has not in the past been averse to “throwing money around.” He contended that after the board member vote, there will be “a better indication of which direction we want to go.”

Wagner noted that the budget as presented contained some errors in numbers provided by BOCES and in coaching costs. She asked if this was the best budget they can present to the public.

There was also discussion about the availability of funds for capital repairs. Wagner questioned whether this budget sufficiently allowed for surprises in the long-term maintenance of the buildings and whether the five-year capital improvements plan had been updated. The plan, which is mandated by the state, is in its fourth year of non-adherence.

Russell stated that, given that he’s been on the job for only a few weeks, there are many matters that he will be researching in the future. Capital improvements and support services such as transportation, food service and maintenance will all be examined.

After the vote, Mike Paradisis, who is employed by Atlas Security and as such had served as the security officer at the elementary school, asked why he had suddenly been reassigned out of the district. He asked whether it resulted from his stating, during the public comment session of a previous meeting, that the district’s security officers should be armed. Bliefernich advised him to take up the issue with Superintendent Morgano. As Paradisis continued to question the action, Bohs stated that the board does not speak about matters of personnel.

Voters will get an opportunity to hear from the four candidates for the school board on May 3 at 6:30 p.m. and to vote on May 15 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Both events will take place at the Junior-Senior High School.