Somerset — The first Pulaski County School Board meeting of 2009 bought lots of questions from one board member.

Throughout the normal monthly business meeting, Olivia Minton, who was elected in November, began her term by questioning everything from another board member, the time of the monthly meetings, the county’s budget and the audit that was previously approved by the board last month.

• Before the official meeting began, the board was asked to select a chairperson for the coming year’s meetings. However, before that could officially be done, Minton told Attorney Larry Bryson she felt something needed to be cleared up.

“I believe there has been a question going across the county,” said Minton, “about whether Mr. (Philip) Wilson is in conflict of interest.

“I’d like to have that cleared up once and for all,” added Minton.

Bryson said that he knew the matter was addressed in 1996 and there was no conflict of interest.

“I have a letter from the assistant attorney general in 1996,” said Bryson, “and each term since I have confirmed that position hasn’t changed.”

“The thing of it is ... anytime there is a question that has lasted as long as this one has, I’m concerned about it,” said Minton, referring to Wilson’s employment with Wilson and Deal, since the school does business with that particular company.

In 1996 the Attorney General’s Office ruled that Wilson was a “mere employee” of Wilson and Deal. The office said if a person is a “mere employee,” they fail to have a disqualifying interest in the company and are in no position to control or affect the actions of the employer, who has no financial interests in the business, owns no stock and draws a fixed salary. A “mere employee” has no proprietary interest in the company and either has little opportunity for self-benefit or the benefit is so remote or collateral that it is unlikely to affect the board members judgment.

“We believe that this potential candidate for the school board seat fits the definition of a ‘mere employee’.” stated the letter from Attorney General A.B. Chandler III and Assistant Attorney General Diane Schuler Fleming. “As such, once elected, his judgment is unlikely to be affected by his employment and the appearance of impropriety is avoided. Thus there is no conflict under KRS 160.180.”

Wilson was elected as chairperson for the board, with all board members except Minton voting in favor. Bill White was chosen as vice chair person.

• “Once again, in going across the county, I heard people saying it was difficult to attend the meeting at 5 p.m.,” said Minton, who wondered if a different time might work better.

The other new board member, Samantha Ping Stevens, said she didn’t really have that concern come up while she campaigned and long-time board member Philip Wilson said he heard of a problem with the time.

“I’m thinking with cuts, concerns will get greater and it’s just something I feel passionate about,” said Minton.

Stevens said she could see positives or negatives to either time, as there are many school activities that start later in the evenings that parents are involved in.

When asked by Wilson when they began having the meetings at 5 p.m. Superintendent Tim Eaton said he believed it was 15 years ago, but it had been for as long as he could remember.

“If I remember right, 5 p.m. came about ... as it is kind of an in between agreement to give a little to both sides (school personnel and parents),” said Wilson.

Wilson made a motion that the meetings stay at 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday following the second Monday of each month in the Central Office Boardroom, while White seconded the motion.

Board members Cindy Price and Stevens also approved the time and place for the meeting, while Minton voted no.

• When the board was asked to approve the minutes of the December 2008 meeting, before they could do so, Minton had questions about the finding in the previous years audit. The previous board had approved the audit at the prior meeting.

She questioned the findings meant and how those at the district office were answering those findings.

Director of Fiscal Services Bill Boyd said he would get her more information and get it to her to look at.

At last month’s meeting, a representative of White and Associates, who performed the audit said the school system had received an “excellent” audit report.

• When talking about the draft budget for 2009-2010, Minton wondered why the contingency is under 5 percent of the general fund.

Eaton said unfunded mandates and fuel cost caused them to fallunder 5 percent. The superintendent explained that they are among 83 that could fall below the 2 percent state required contingency if a mid-year 4 percent cut of the SEEK dollars was taken by the legislatures this year. He noted though after studies they have backed off off possibly taking the cut, but it hasn’t been decided for sure.

“Fund balances have been going lower in the state over the last five years,” said Eaton. “The good news this year is that fuel has gone back down.”

Minton asked if there was anyway that there could be a committee to examine the budget for the coming year.

Eaton said they have a committee every year, but just later in the process.

She added that she believed if they did that, they wouldn’t have to cut any teachers.

Boyd said they only had six teachers less than previous year teaching in the school system noting principals had bought back several teachers through math and reading grants.

In other business:

• PRISM award recipients were Donna Collins from Northern Middle School and Boyd Randolph from Southwestern High School.

• The board approved the BG-4 for final approval and pay application for Nancy Elementary Partial Roof Replacement, Northern Middle School classroom addition and Shopville Elementary Partial Roof Replacement. The board approved all the BG-4’s with Minton passing on all those votes.