FARMINGTON — The SAD 9 Board of Directors met Tuesday to provide the public a forum to express their opinions regarding proposed budget. There was just one thing missing: the public. With no discussion, directors closed discussion and moved on to the next item on the agenda. The proposed $22,948,440 budget will be voted on June 12.

Directors also were updated on the progress of ibControls, an independent building efficiency company contracted by SAD 9 to help improve air quality and cost-effectiveness of the district’s buildings. Company CEO Jim Evers made the presentation.

“We will achieve 15 percent electrical savings by the end of the fiscal year,” Evers said, discussing savings already achieved by SAD 9 by employing his company’s systems and philosophies. Evers highlighted several points, like a 10 percent reduction of oil consumption, while delivering his presentation.

Directors, while impressed with the progress made, requested that Evers compile data based on dollar-savings, rather percentages. “We were promised $70,000 savings in the first year,” said Bob Flick of Farmington, hoping to nail down exactly how much the district had saved because of ibControls. Neil Stinneford of Weld echoed Flick’s sentiments, and Evers agreed to deliver the requested information.

In other business, directors voted to accept nominations of Christine Libby for the newly created occupational therapist position and Lindsay Mallar for a Mt. Blue Middle School special education teacher position.
The SAD 9 Board of Directors convened at 7 p.m. in the Mt. Blue High School library. The next meeting will also be in the high school library at 7 p.m. on June 19.