Monday, December 22, 2008

Administration Building

One School Street

Sharon, MA 02067

Present: George Bailey, Allen Garf, Paul Izzo, Sam Liao, Abigail Marsters, Andrew Nebenzahl, Paul Pietal, Colleen Tuck

Absent: Peg Arguimbau

Also Present: Dr. Barbara Dunham, Superintendent of Schools, Alison Rutley, School Committee Chair, Mitchell Blaustein, Linda Callan, Laura Salomons, School Committee members, and Herbert Gould, member of the community

Mr. Nebenzahl called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

Approve Minutes

MOTION: (Garf/Tuck) Moved to approve the Open Session minutes from the meeting of December 8, 2008 as revised and submitted to the Committee. Vote was seven in the affirmative. Mr. Izzo abstained. Ms. Arguimbau was absent.

Acknowledge Correspondence

An e-mail from Gordon Gladstone pertaining to Town Meeting was received. Mr. Bailey responded to Mr. Gladstone’s e-mail.

Administrative Item

Mr. Nebenzahl informed the Committee that he would endeavor to schedule meetings with Department Heads (Planning Board, Board of Health, Finance Director) as well as meetings with the Town Moderator from Burlington and a representative from Franklin and Walpole. There was a brief discussion on the protocol to be followed when meeting with representatives from surrounding communities. It was noted that it would be valuable to meet with communities who have gone through the Charter process.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Meeting with Dr. Barbara Dunham, Superintendent and Members of the School Committee

Mr. Nebenzahl thanked Dr. Dunham and members of the School Committee for attending and commended Dr. Dunham and the School Committee for providing excellent and thorough survey responses. Areas of discussion:

• State General Laws governing School Committees as well as Sharon School Committee’s Policies.

• The completed Policy Handbook will be placed on the web.

• The current collegial and open line of communication between the School Committee/School Department and the Capital Outlay Committee, Priorities Committee, Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Police and Fire Departments.

• The pros and cons of Finance Committee members being elected rather than appointed.

• The complexity of the budget process – particularly with the dire fiscal outlook on the State and Federal level and current forecasting mechanisms.

• Budget time-line for all sectors and budget development at the Priorities level.

• Sharon Public Schools’ budget is on line for community review.

• The effectiveness of a six member School Committee.

• Difficulty of preparing long-range revenue planning, particularly with current fiscal uncertainties.

• Open Town Meeting vs. Representative Form of Town Meeting.

• The drop in student population.

• The School Committee/School Department 18-month goals plan, which includes school improvement plans.

• Communication difficulties with the Town’s Finance Department and the need for sufficient staffing on the Town side.

• Town-wide purchasing agent.

• Centralized maintenance/custodial services.

• Town health insurance costs.

• MSBA (MA School Building Authority) application process.

• Collective Bargaining procedures for all school and town sectors.

• The possibility of scheduling quarterly information sharing meetings with all departments.

Mr. Nebenzahl, on behalf of the Charter Commission members, thanked Dr. Dunham and the School Committee members for an informative discourse.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Nebenzahl announced that the next meeting would be on January 5^th .

There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mr. Nebenzahl asked for a motion to adjourn.

MOTION: (Marsters/Garf) Moved to adjourn. Vote was eight in the affirmative.

Open Session was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Submitted on behalf of the Charter Committee by: Helen Campanario, Acting Recording Secretary to the Charter Commission