Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – June 12, 2006

School Administration Building – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Charles Goodman (late), Jonathan

                               Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips, Gloria

                               Rose, Gregory Sydney, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg

1. This is the 33^rd meeting of this fiscal year.

2. The first item on the agenda was the Reserve Fund Transfer requests.  The Board of Selectmen/DPW followed by the School Committee.  Greg Meister of the Conservation Commission submitted documents of the information from the last meeting.

3. Eric Hooper stated that, as requested, he did a cost evaluation of the purchase of the trailer or a do nothing vs. building a permanent structure.  The permanent building construction is based on Police construction at $200 a sq. ft.  The construction cost does not include soft cost.  The initial cost of building for a thirty-year life is almost $1 million.  For the trailers there is no salvage value after 15 years.  You’d need to replace twice in 30 years.  The best alternative is to purchase the trailers.  He spoke with the Department of Revenue (DOR) and two criteria only were the unexpected and extraordinary.  Their read was it did meet both of the criteria.  The issue was it’s not an emergency situation.  It has to go through the 30B bid process.  I’m requesting that the $45,000 be available from the Reserve Fund if after we go through the 30B bid cost, it will be a reasonable amount from the bid cost.  I need to have written quotes under 30B.  It needs to be posted for a couple of weeks and get bids back.

4. There was much discussion regarding the purchase of the trailer, lease for six to nine months to give Town time to make decision, repair current trailer, or move to Capital Outlay.

5. Chuck Goodman stated that he wanted a letter in writing from DOR describing why it meets the criteria.

6. Gloria Rose suggested that the DOR send an e-mail with a follow-up letter.

7. The next Reserve Fund request was from the School Department.

8. Claire Jackson requested her first Reserve Fund Transfer due to the unforeseen emergency based on Hurricane Katrina to pay for the overage in the heat and electric bills in the amount of $322,937.18.  There was also an additional $50,000 increase in cost of fuel for buses which was not being requested.

9. There was much discussion held on this issue.

10. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Conservation Commission in the amount of $4,500 that they submitted last week.

11. There was discussion on this motion.

12. VOTED:  9-0-1.  For:  Alpert, Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips, Rose.  Abstain:  Sydney.  The request was passed.

13. Ira Miller stated that the Finance Committee has two pending requests.  One from DPW for trailers, and the School Department request.

14. Chuck Goodman noted the balance in the Reserve Fund as $333,916.  Amounts voted to be transferred were $2,162 to the Veteran Services and $4,500 to the Conservation Commission leaving a balance in the Reserve Fund of $327,254.

15. Ira Miller stated that the Finance Committee have a discussion on the DPW request.  There are some objective yardsticks.  Does it fit the definition of extraordinary and unforeseen?  If the committee doesn’t think it fits the category.  If the basis that is it necessary?  Is it a good deal?  Should we go ahead with it?  Or you think there is some other information we need.

16. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $45,000 to the DPW per their request for a trailer.

17. There was discussion held on this motion.

18. VOTED:  5-5-0.  For:  Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Rose.  Against:  Alpert, Anderson, Goodman, Nelson, Sydney.  The motion does not carry.

19. A MOTION was made by Greg Sydney and SECONDED by Jonathan Hitter to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $300,000 to the School Department to pay utility bills as requested.

20. Jonathan Hitter moved to amend that motion to approve this $300,000 amount and to stipulate that on July 15 to allocate the full amount.

21. Jonathan Hitter withdrew the motion which also was not seconded.

22. There was much discussion on the motion.

23. VOTED:  8-2-0.  For:  Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Alpert, Nelson.  The motion carries.

24. The School Department received a $300,000 transfer leaving a balance of $27,254 in the Reserve Fund.

25. There will be a discussion of goals at the next meeting.  The next item was to approve the prior minutes.

26. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of January 30, 2006.

27. VOTED:  8-0-2.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

28. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of February 6, 2006.

29. VOTED:  8-0-2. Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

30. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of February 13, 2006.

31. VOTED:  6-0-4.  Abstain:  Alpert, Hitter, Nelson, Philips.

32. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of February 27, 2006.

33. VOTED:  8-0-2.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

34. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 6, 2006.

35. VOTED:  8-0-2.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

36. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 6, 2006, Executive Session.

37. VOTED:  8-0-2.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

38. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 13, 2006.

39. VOTED:  7-0-3.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips, Rose.

40. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 20, 2006.

41. VOTED:  6-0-4.  Abstain:  Lessard, Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

42. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 21, 2006.

43. VOTED:  6-0-4.  Abstain:  Lessard, Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

44. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 27, 2006.

45. VOTED:  7-0-3.  Abstain:  Lessard, Nelson, Philips.

46. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of March 28, 2006.

47. VOTED:  5-0-5.  Abstain:  Hitter, Lessard, Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

48. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of April 3, 2006.

49. VOTED:  7-0-3.  Abstain:  Goodman, Nelson, Philips.

50. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of April 5, 2006.

51. VOTED:  5-0-5.  Abstain:  Hitter, Lessard, Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

52. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of April 11, 2006.

53. VOTED:  6-0-4.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips, Rose, Sydney.

54. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of April 28, 2006.

55. VOTED:  8-0-2.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips.

56. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of May 1, 2006.

57. VOTED:  7-0-3.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

58. It was MOVED and SECONDED to approve the minutes of May 2, 2006.

59. VOTED:  7-0-3.  Abstain:  Nelson, Philips, Sydney.

60. Ira Miller stated that there may be a different additional request for Reserve Fund Transfer.  There is a possibility of this before the legal deadline of July 15.  Between now and June 30 there may be something unforeseen.  At the next meeting, July 10, we will have a discussion on goals and committee assignments.

61. Another topic suggested for the next meeting was written articles for the Sharon Advocate and for press coverage of meetings.

62. New Selectman, Rich Powell, came to the meeting to meet members of the Finance Committee.

63. The next meeting will be July 10, 2006.

64. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

65. VOTED:  10-0-0.

66. The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m.