Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – December 6, 2004

High School Library – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal, Gregory

                               Sydney(late), (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler, David Hearne,

                               Jonathan Hitter, Gloria Rose

 

1.      There was a budget review of the Board of Assessors, Mark Mazur, Administrative Assessor, present.  There is also a proposal for quarterly tax bills.  Discussion was held on this budget regarding plus salaries, legal services, personal property tax, Appellate Tax Board cases, in-state travel, three-year evaluations, ten-year evaluation, and data re-inspection. A proposal for online access of town assessments by all residents was discussed. 

 

2.      Discussion continued regarding instituting a quarterly tax bill.  The benefit would be cash flow, but it would be more costly to send out four times.  Selectmen asked to do a cost benefit analysis for the Town.

 

3.      Discussed Finance Committee and Personnel Board budget.

 

4.      OTHER BUSINESS

 

5.      Reported on Priorities Committee meeting held last Thursday.  Most of the discussion was on whether the other sectors should be given the same or different percentage increases.  The School and Selectmen sectors shared their add-ons (i.e. new police, fire, Assistant Principal, etc). A figure that came up during the revised revenue estimates was an increase in free cash from $900,000 to $1.9 million.  Ben Puritz will report at the next Priorities meeting on the large increase in more detail. Also a discussion on the use of fees at town buildings which was tabled to bring back a better crafted motion, but there was agreement by Priorities on governmental and non-governmental use and covering expenses of the facilities.

 

6.      The Board of Health would be the first meeting in the New Year.

 

7.      There is no quorum tonight therefore no voting on minutes.  The next meeting will be December 13, 2004, for Library budget review.

 

8.      The meeting ended at 9:10 P.M.

 

9.      ACTION:  Worksheet needed for abatement for overlay.