Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 21, 2005

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room

Members Present:  Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler (late), Kenneth

                               Goldberg (late), Charles Goodman, David Hearne, Jonathan Hitter, Ira

                               Miller, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Gregory Sydney

1. First on the agenda was the Budget Review of Lake Management, Cliff Towner, Chair.  Mr. Towner presented the need for $7,000 for the removal of mill foil from the lake.  Previously fanwort had been successfully removed.

2. There was discussion on when removal needs to be done, where allocation will come from and how to proceed with process.  Finance Committee will get more information from Town Accountant and Mr. Towner.

3. Next on the agenda was review of Selectmen’s Articles for Spring Town Meeting.  Present were Selectmen Joe Roach, Chair, David Grasfield, and Bill Heitin.

4. Article 22:  To hire a Wireless Consultant for $20,000.

5. Discussion was held on this Article which included three proposals which would study entire town for radio frequency.  This $20,000 to be recouped once in place.

6. Article 23:  Facilities Maintenance Consolidation Study.

7. Bill Heitin reported regarding discussion of a town wide Maintenance Department to include all town buildings, fields, beaches, and School Department.  This Article would allocate the sum of $18,000 for Selectmen to hire a consultant to determine what type of maintenance department town of Sharon would have.

8. Discussion was held on this Article.

9. Article 38:  Naming of Park.

10. Paul Pietal reported that Robert Young of the Historical Commission deferring issue until they get more information and not pursuing at Town Meeting.

11. Article 37:  Selectmen want to Study and Research Naming of Community Center.  Discussion on this Article.

12. Article 9:  Rattlesnake Hill.  Selectmen will take formal position on Tuesday of next week.  This Article may not be in Warrant.

13. Article 10:  Community Center.  Rick Rice, Architect, was present to discuss this Article.  The intent is to ask for design money to complete the design, request construction money to further the project to meet March deadline for Senior project, and begin construction after hearing about the grant award.  Design funds of $950,000 would be priority funds earmarked for Community Center as well as the insurance settlement which is forthcoming.  Discussion continued on costs and recommended plan.  There will be a presentation at Town Meeting.

14. Gloria Rose informed the Committee that Barbra Nadler is the new Director of Library.  Ms. Rose then reported on updated information on the library flooding problem.  There is a cost of either $545 or $1,090.  Analysis was done by Peter O’Cain.  The Library has money from Capital Outlay to use for computers, windows, and drain.

15. Chief Mann reported on Regional Dispatch.  There was discussion on this Article 21.

16. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED by David Hearne to reconsider Article 21.

17. Discussion continued on Article 21.

18. VOTED:  9-0-1.  For:  Feldman, Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.

19. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED by Michael Feldman to accept Article 21, as written, in the amount of $50,000 for Regional Dispatch.

20. Discussion was held prior to the vote.

21. VOTED:  9-0-1.  For:  Feldman, Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.

22. Paul Pietal brought up the Assessors request for $25,000 to do re-evaluations.  This will have to be added into Assessors budget at Town Meeting.

23. Article 4:  Personnel By-law.  There was discussion on a member of the Finance Committee to be on the negotiating team.

24. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Kenneth Goldberg that we request from legal counsel or Selectmen that one member from the Finance Committee be part of negotiating team for all union contracts

25. Discussion was held on the motion.

26. VOTED:  8-2.  For:  Feldman, Fitzgerald, Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Miller, Pietal.  Against:  Hitter, Rose.

27. Continued discussion on Article 4.

28. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Jonathan Hitter to approve Article 4 as written in Warrant.

29. More discussion on this Article.

30. VOTED:  6-3-1.  For:  Fixler, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Rose.  Against:  Feldman, Fitzgerald, Goldberg.  Abstain:  Pietal.

31. Article 5 will be voted on Monday.

32. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to indefinitely postpone Article 29.

33. VOTED:  10-0.

34. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to indefinitely postpone Article 30.

35. VOTED:  10-0.

36. Article 31 and 32.  Hold.

37. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED to indefinitely postpone.

38. After much discussion, Charles Goodman withdrew his motion.  Article 32 on hold.

39. Article 33:  Property Value Protection.

40. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by David Fixler for indefinite postponement.

41. After discussion, Jonathan Hitter withdrew his motion.

42. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED to accept Article 33.

43. VOTED:  1-3-5.  For:  Goodman.

44. A MOTION was made and SECONDED to indefinitely postpone Article 33.

45. VOTED:  6-2-2.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Hearne.

46. Article 34:  Traffic Congestion.  Hold.

47. Article 35 and 36.  Hold

48. Article 38:  Naming park.  Board of Selectmen voted.  Historical Commission needed more information.  Should be brought forward in the Fall.

49. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Charles Goodman to accept Article 38 as written.

50. VOTED:  6-2-2.  For:  Feldman, Fitzgerald, Goldberg, Goodman, Hitter, Miller.  Against:  Fixler, Pietal.  Abstain:  Hearne, Rose.

51. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Charles Goodman to approve Article 42, Revolving Funds.

52. VOTED:  8-0-2.  For:  Feldman, Fixler, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Goldberg.

53. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve Article 22 as written.

54. VOTED:  9-0-0.

55. MOVED and SECONDED to approve Article 23.

56. VOTED:  10-0-0.

57. A MOTION was made and SECONDED by Paul Pietal to approve Article 24, Standing Building Committee revision.

58. VOTED:  3-6-1.  For:  Fixler, Goldberg, Pietal.

59. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to indefinitely postpone Article 24.

60. VOTED:  7-3.  For:  Feldman, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Rose.  Against:  Fixler, Goldberg, Pietal.

61. The Open Warrant meeting is on April 25 at 8 P.M.  The Finance Committee will approve minutes at 7:30 P.M. before the Open Warrant meeting.

62. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

63. VOTED:  10-0.

64. The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 A.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