Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – December 13, 2004
High School Library – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler (late), Charles Goodman (late), David
Hearne, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose
Absent: Michael Feldman, Kenneth Goldberg, Gregory Sydney
1. Attending from Library for budget review is Barbra Nadler, Acting Director, Abigail Marsters, Chair of Trustees, Marcia Liebman, Sandra Goverman, Pat Olken, Trustees.
2. Discussion was held on what is needed for Library to be certified, which consists of a director, a certified librarian, and open a certain number of hours Sharon is open 50+ hours. Loss of certification may mean loss of State Aid, Old Colony Library Network (OCLN), and sharing materials with 28 libraries in the state. OCLN can get summary of cost to Library for their services. Sharon has extremely heavy usage. Budgeting 3%. Cannot meet certification with level funded plus 2 ½. Salaries are contractual. Janitor is under DPW budget. Library takes care of maintenance themselves. There is a flooding issue before Capital. There is also a mold issue.
3. Library will give Finance Committee a chart for salaries, positions, and hours.
4. Without a 4 ½% increase from last year’s budget, Library could lose State certification and State aid. They have not gone forward to State and requested a waiver. There is a statement the State put out when economy was doing poorly. That because of Sharon’s economic situation, they would be less likely to receive a waiver than other towns. Library will get waiver statement for Finance Committee. It is only for one year. They will find out what the process is and who gets waiver.
5. Library to provide the Finance Committee with the following: Salary Charts, State Aid Account, Waiver Statement, Capital on DPW-Peter O’Cain, Telephone, What are salaries negotiation, OCLN breakdown--why dues went up.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
7. MOVED and SECONDED to approved the minutes of November 29, 2004.
8. VOTED: 4-0-3.
9. Discussed use of a major spreadsheet to know what’s happening Town wide. Question Don Hillegass on using this system for this information.
10. Paul Pietal will speak to Ben Puritz on negotiations since he should have all this information.
11. David Hearne reported on the meeting at Capital Outlay last week regarding the School Department and their plans for roofing and heating system at the Middle School and renovation in FY’08. There was discussion of building and maintenance Town wide in terms of funding it and whether it’s a good or bad idea. It was under the purview of the Selectmen. There was a great deal of concern of adequately funding this department. The consensus was to create a new departmental budget.
12. Reported that there is not a maintenance program in place. There is a capital replacement in place. This is reactive, not proactive. Not a maintenance proactive and purchasing not centralized. Continued discussion on the importance of a maintenance program, centralized management and purchasing.
13. Discussed Fall Town Meeting date to take place in November. More discussion on building projects at Spring Town Meeting.
14. The Warrant Articles are due as soon as possible. Deadline is January 10 for petition articles, and general articles, January 24.
15. The next meeting will be January 3, 2005.
16. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
17. VOTED: 8-0-0.
18. ACTION: Mr. Pietal will talk to Mr. Hooper re library snow maintenance, etc.
19. ACTION: Check with Joan Leighton on State Aid for library to get accounting.
20. ACTION: Try to address how many union contracts there are.
21. PREVIOUS ACTION: Worksheet needed for abatement for overlay.
22. PREVIOUS ACTION: Analyze effect of union contracts on different departments and on budgets overall.