Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – March 7, 2005

Town Hall – Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present: Kenneth Goldberg (late), Charles Goodman, David Hearne (late), Ira

Miller, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose, (Hamilton)

Absent: Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler, Jonathan Hitter,

Gregory Sydney

l. Because of Wilber School Reuse meeting a number of our members are at that meeting, we are not in official session so there will be no voting. DPW, Water, and Recreation Department are on the agenda tonight.

2. Eric Hooper, Superintendent of the DPW presented a summary. The overall numbers are a 5.8% increase. Due to (1) salary increases and (2) some material increases, such as fuel and salt. Per capita spending has declined. Compared to comparable towns, Sharon is 9th of 11 in terms of spending. This includes Forest and Grounds, not Water.

3. Discussion was held on details of salaries, expenses to department, and positions needed to be filled.

4. Discussion was held on DPW maintenance of town buildings. It was stated that maintenance of buildings in the Town needs to be addressed holistically with more focus.

5. WATER DEPARTMENT

6. Eric Hooper stated that the Water Department is treated separately from DPW. There is a need for cast iron water main replacement, especially in the center of town. The cost is $2.2 million over five years.

7. Paul Lauenstein of the Water Management Advisory Committee discussed new wells, emergency backup, and water quality. He also stated that pipe replacement isn’t among those three priorities.

8. RECREATION DEPARTMENT, Dave Clifton, Director.

9. Dave Clifton summarized the Recreation Department budget. It is up over the year before. 71% is for salaries. Budgeted 3% increase for employees and equipment replacements, $6,000. Also $5,000 for water testing which used to be in Board of Health budget. The town beach will open in mid-March, closing mid-November, weather permitting. We have to count on beach tags and stickers for revolving account. There are four full time employees, 22 seasonal during summer season. It costs $50,000 to operate.

10. There was a discussion on salaries, sports programs and sports organizations and the need for staffing personnel.

11. Continued discussion on using volunteers to fill in for paid positions.

12. A member of the Recreation Committee suggested getting funding from sports groups to help with paid positions.

13. OTHER BUSINESS

14. There was discussion regarding the signing of the Warrant. There will be a meeting of the Capital Outlay Committee on March 14 at 7 P.M. There was more discussion on the Library budget.

15. Printing bids for the Warrant are to be received no later than 4 P.M. on Monday, March 14, to be opened and decided on in open session and give to Selectmen by Wednesday, March 16.

16. There will be a Priorities meeting on the 16^th at 5 P.M. which may run until 7 P.M., to be held at the High School Library. After that the School Committee will be having a meeting.

17. The School Department will come to High School Library on the 28^th for budget review.

18. The next meeting will be on March 14.

19. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

20. VOTED: 6-0-0.

21. Meeting adjourned at 11:55 P.M.

Open Action Item
Action Item	Responsible	Start	Due
Determine number of union contracts	Group	12/13/04	1/31/05
Analyze effect of union contracts on different departments and on budgets overall	Group	1/10/05	2/15/05
Develop a model for salary projections	Pietal and Grasfield to help Out	1/10/05	3/31/05
Follow up ZBA budget for more concrete numbers	Pietal	1/31/05