Preston - Town officials had a long wish list for newly elected state Rep. Mike France - whose 42nd District encompasses Preston, Ledyard and part of Montville - during his first meeting Thursday with the Board of Selectmen.

France, R-Ledyard, will be sworn in as a freshman legislator Jan. 7, and will resign from his current seat on the Ledyard Board of Finance Jan. 6. He told the Preston selectmen that freshman legislators have a 10-day window following their swearing-in date to submit proposed bills that do not have to go through the General Assembly's committee process.

He already has several suggestions from Ledyard officials, including reversing a controversial proposed state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection regulation that calls for municipalities to follow strict and costly stormwater drain-cleaning schedules.

Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon immediately raised the issue of the current state budget deficit and the projection of a $1.5 billion shortfall next year. Congdon asked France to oppose mid-year cuts to municipal aid, saying they could hurt towns' bond ratings, causing rating agencies to view town revenues as insecure.

Congdon added that cuts to municipal aid in future state budgets would only shift the tax burden to property owners throughout the state.

Preston officials, including three members of the Board of Finance, asked France to submit a bill that would give town governing agencies more control over school budgets. Congdon and finance board member Norman Gauthier asked that boards of finance be given approval authority over major changes in budget expenditures during a budget year.

Congdon raised a recent example: The Preston Board of Education realized a $200,000 savings in its special education expenses this year and "they can spend it any way they want." The Board of Education voted last week to use $70,000 of the savings to launch a new preschool program.

Finance board member Andrew Bilodeau added that state law also would count those new preschool students as part of the town's enrollment, thus raising the minimum budget requirement (MBR) that is based on enrollment at a time when public school enrollment in town had been dropping.

He asked France to propose a change to the state law to eliminate all nonmandated enrollment from the MBR calculation.

Congdon also told France that Preston has applied for a $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant that is still pending, and a second $5 million Urban Act grant to finish the cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property.

"We would ask you to support that," Congdon said.

France recently learned his committee assignments. He will be assigned to the Appropriations Committee, the Planning and Development Committee and the General Administration and Elections Committee.

Congdon asked France to attend Preston selectmen meetings frequently during the budget session, and at least quarterly after the session ends to discuss state issues that affect the town.

c.bessette@theday.com

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