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TOWN OF SHARON – FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES – NOVEMBER 25, 2002
TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Tuck, Grasfield, Bluestein, Goodman, Sirkin, (Garza). Members absent: Atlas-Gordon, Bergeron, Fixler, Gillen, Hearne, Heitin, Pietal.
1. Assistant Assessor M. Mazur presented the Assessors’ request for capital to photograph all buildings throughout the community and install the photographs on the appraisal software. This would enable the Assessors office to look at more properties in less time and make sure that everything is consistent. He expressed the belief that it would also result in less gas mileage and fewer abatements. It would also be useful for insurance purposes. He explained that this is becoming standard. The plans are to hire a company to do the original photographing at the cost of $18,000 or three dollars per property. It would take about three months to photograph and five or six months, including checking, from beginning to end. Fire Chief D. Mann stated that having the photographs and footprint of every building
would be excellent for Fire Department preplanning for commercial properties, and that the footprint of a building could be quickly reviewed in an emergency. Mazur explained that the Fire Department could become an additional user of the appraisal software as there are currently four users of the Vision appraisal software on a five-user license.
2. Mazur explained that Fiscal 2004 is a revaluation year, revaluation being required every three years. The basic values are set in that year. More data entry and review is necessary leading to more overtime, without which it would be difficult to get the revaluation done in time for billing time. He said that contracted services are “strangled” in the minus budget and legal services in that budget are not enough to defend values. The Assistant Assessor reminded the Committee that the Assessors are in the income generating part of Town and that, if the budget is insufficient, it would be hard to get the bills out on time and there might be lots of abatements.
3. Lake Management Chairman C. Towner explained that the Lake Management Budget is used entirely for contracted services for nutrient testing. He said that the lake has serious problems in water quality and quantity.
4. Board of Appeals Chairman E. Hershfield reported that a 40B application generated a $25,000 payment into the General Fund. He believed that the Board of Appeals is within their budget. Their expenses include one staff person and legal. A 3% step increase was estimated for salaries. More salary results in less supplies or legal services. Legal cases are discussed with the Selectmen. He explained that they usually try to reach a compromise settlement in legal issues, if a precedent is not being set.
5. Planning Board Chairman A Cohen presented three alternative budgets {minus, level and increased) with about a thousand dollars between them. Town Counsel is used for advice, primarily in the review of Planning Board supported by-law changes. In case of a suit, legal cases are paid from the Town legal budget.
6. Board of Health Chairman A. Stead, accompanied by the Public Health Nurse, the Public Health Administrator, and members of the Board, explained the role of the Board of Health. All the budgets presented reduce hours for part-time clerical and auxiliary nursing services. He explained that cutting staff hours affects services to senior citizens. Boards of Health are now involved in emergency preparedness. Stead added that increased fees have been established and they are working on Medicare reimbursement for flu clinics. Health Administrator L. Rosen reported a 7% increase in the waste pick-up four-year contract.
7. C. Goodman reported the data from the group insurance meeting with the insurance advisor. A preliminary draft showed that a health insurance trust balance of $459,565 as of June 30 2001 was increased by employee withholdings of $1,108,249, a town budget of $2,862,354 and Water Department receipts of $83,329, resulting in $4,513,497 available. Net claims of $4,291,202 reduced the balance to $222,295. A Reserve Fund transfer of $349,843 increased the trust fund balance to $572,138 as of June 30, 2002. However, June liabilities of $465,000 were paid in July. Receipts totaling $1,152,353 and disbursements totaling $1,808,129 in July, August and September resulted in a negative balance of $83,638 as of September 30, 2002. It was pointed out that increases in Fiscal 2003 costs to employees for
medical insurance have been adequately covered by salary increases. Grasfield urged that the Selectmen be invited to discuss the health insurance issue, that budgeting and rates be more realistically planned and that costs be allocated to the relevant departments. Tuck explained the need to negotiate changes with all the Town unions and the limitations to Town options. She suggested that the Priorities Committee identify costs incurred by personnel decisions.
8. The meeting adjourned at 9:25.
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