Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 4, 2005

Town Hall, Selectmen’s 2^nd Floor Meeting Room – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman,

                              David Hearne, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose,

                              Gregory Sydney (Hamilton)

               Absent:   Michael Feldman

1. On the agenda was to review one petition article for Spring Town Meeting.  Then deliberating on articles for Spring Town Meeting.  Also present at this meeting were Janis Edinburgh, Personnel Board; Joe Roach and David Grasfield, Selectmen; Ben Puritz, Town Administrator.

2. Petition Article 25, Marlene Budd, Petitioner, would like to see the Board of Selectmen increased from three to five.  Discussion was held on this Article.  The Finance Committee recommendation would not be in the Warrant, but would be presented at Town Meeting with information from Town Counsel.

3. Deliberations on Articles for Spring Town Meeting.

4. ARTICLE 1:  Finance Committee Members.  Three members are leaving the board, one whose term is up will rejoin.  There are four open seats—five total seats.  Anyone interested contact Nominating Committee.

5. ARTICLE 2:  Act on reports.  Warrant pro forma.

6. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED by David Fixler to accept Article 2.  VOTED:  10-0.

7. ARTICLE 3:  Sharon Friends School Fund

8. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept Article 3.  VOTED:  10-0.

9. ARTICLE 4:  Personnel Board By-Law

10. Much discussion was held on this Article.  Decision was made not to vote on this until after Personnel Board meeting and their vote.

11. Discussion was held on Town Clerk’s salary.

12. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED by Ira Miller for a 7% raise.

13. A motion had previously been made by David Fixler and seconded by Ira Miller for an 8% raise that was tabled.  They withdrew that motion.

14. VOTED:  8-1-1.  For:  Fixler, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Fitzgerald.  Abstained:  Goldberg.

15. ARTICLE 5:  Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers

16. There was much discussion on this Article regarding maintenance of service budgets, costs and expenses increasing, and how to allocate $210,000.

17. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Paul Pietal that $210,000 not be allocated to head count but put into the Stabilization Fund.  Discussion was held on the motion.  VOTED:  2-8.  For:  Fitzgerald, Miller.  Against:  Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.

18. A MOTION was made by Kenneth Goldberg and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald for budget increase by 5.7% across the board and the $1,700 to be absorbed into the Finance Committee budget.  VOTED:  5-5.  For:  Hitter.  Against:  Goodman, Rose, Fixler.

19. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose for budget increase by 5.7% plus $210,000 as approved by Priorities Committee.  VOTED:  5-5.  For:  Hitter, Fixler.

20. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Kenneth Goldberg to allocate the 5.7% rate of increase with $210,000 to free cash to be allocated to FY’07.  There was discussion on the motion.  VOTED:  5-5.  For:  Hearne.  Against:  Goodman, Rose, Hitter.

21. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Kenneth Goldberg to allocate the 5.7% increase in budget plus $210,000 into the Stabilization Fund.  VOTED:  3-7.  For:  Fitzgerald, Goldberg, Miller.  Against:  Fixler, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.

22. A decision was made to make recommendation at Town Meeting.

23. A MOTION was made by Kenneth Goldberg to increase budget 5.7%, $1,700 is covered by Finance budget that would be reduced.  $210,000 take half, $105,000 in free cash next year.  VOTED:  4-6.  Motion defeated.

24. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by David Fixler to increase budget 5.7% rate of growth plus $210,000 to sector budget.  VOTED:  5-5.

25. A MOTION was made by Gregory Sydney to approve 5.7 % maintenance of effort budget with $210,000 to be voted at Town Meeting.

26. A MOTION was made by Kenneth Goldberg to allocate a 5.7% increase with $94,000 to the Stabilization Fund to bring it to $100,000.  VOTED:  4-6.  Motion defeated.

27. ARTICLE 6:  Norfolk County Retirement.

28. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Kenneth Goldberg to approve for $1,391,100.  VOTED:  10-0.

29. ARTICLE 7:  Annual Audit.

30. MOVED and SECONDED to approve $46,000 for the annual fixed assets and audit of accounts.  VOTED:  10-0.

31. ARTICLE 8:  Employment and Training.

32. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve.  VOTED:  10-0.

33. ARTICLE 9:  Rattlesnake Hill.  Hold.

34. ARTICLE 10:  Recreation Department—Community Center.  Hold.

35. ARTICLE 11:  Selectmen—Capital Outlay.  $35,000 for roof of Town Hall.  Voted:  4-1-1.

36. A MOTION was made by David Hearne to approve $35,000 for roof repairs.  VOTED:  10-0.

37. ARTICLE 12:  School Committee—Capital Outlay.  All votes unanimous except for furniture and computers.

38. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve $5,580,053 for repairs to public school buildings.  VOTED:  5-5.

39. A MOTION was made by David Hearne to approve $5,349,153 less classroom furniture, less computers at High School, Middle School, and Heights.  VOTED:  6-4.  Motion passed.

40. ARTICLE 13:  Standing Building Committee—Cottage Street School.  $256,000 mediated cost overruns; $225,000 punch list items never completed; $481,000 combined.  Hold.

41. ARTICLE 14:  Standing Building Committee—East Elementary.  Hold.

42. ARTICLE 15: Public Works—Vehicles and Equipment.

43. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by David Hearne to approve $205,000.  VOTED:  9-0.

44. ARTICLE 16:  Fire Department—Capital Outlay.

45. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by David Fixler to approve $143,500.  VOTED:  8-2.  For:  Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Hearne.

46. ARTICLE 17:  Police Department—Capital Outlay.

47. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve $108,000.  VOTED:  5-5.  For:  Miller, Rose.

48. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter to approve $63,000 for vehicles.

49. A MOTION was made by David Hearne to hold for more information.  Hold.

50. ARTICLE 18:  Data Processing—Capital Outlay.

51. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Jonathan Hitter to approve upgrade of equipment.  VOTED:  8-1.  Motion passed.

52. ARTICLE 19:  Animal Control—Capital Outlay.

53. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Jonathan Hitter to approve $28,500 for the purchase of a van for Animal Control.  VOTED:  4-6.  For:  Hearne, Pietal.  Motion defeated.

54. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald to cut to $14,000 to purchase a pre-owned vehicle.  Hold for information from Selectmen.

55. ARTICLE 20:  Stabilization Fund.

56. A MOTION was made by David Fixler and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve $100,000.  VOTED:  8-2.  For:  Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Hearne.  Motion passed.

57. ARTICLE 21:  Dispatch Center.

58. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Ira Miller to move for indefinite postponement.  Wait for more information.  VOTED:  8-2.  For:  Fitzgerald, Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Hitter, Pietal, Sydney.  Against:  Miller, Rose.  Motion passed.

59. ARTICLE 22:  Wireless Plan Consultant.  No information.  Hold.

60. ARTICLE 23:  Maintenance Consultant.  Hold.

61. ARTICLE 24:  Standing Building Committee—Revision by School Committee.  Hold.

62. ARTICLE 25:  Increase Number of Selectmen.  Hold.

63. ARTICLE 26:  Senior Exempt Clause 41A.

64. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve as written.  VOTED:  10-0.

65. ARTICLE 27:  Senior Exempt Tax Work-off.

66. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve as written.  VOTED:  10-0.

67. ARTICLE 28:  Veterans Exemption.

68. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve as written.  VOTED:  10-0.

69. ARTICLE 29:  Planning Board—Amend Flexible Development Zoning By-Law.  Hold.

70. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter for indefinite postponement.

71. ARTICLE 30:  Planning Board—Amend Conservation Subdivision Design Zoning By-Law.  Hold.

72. ARTICLE 31:  Planning Board—Amend Mixed Use Overlay District Zoning By-Law.  Hold.

73. ARTICLE 32:  Planning Board—Amend Allowed Uses in Business Districts Zoning By-Law.  Hold.

74. ARTICLE 33:  Expand Conservation Subdivision Design.  Value of real property.  Hold.

75. ARTICLE 34:  Expand Flexible Development Requirements.  Hold.

76. ARTICLE 35:  Expand Conservation Subdivision Design Requirements.  Hold.

77. ARTICLE 36:  Amend Conservation Subdivision Design.  Hold.

78. ARTICLE 37:  Community Center Renaming.

79. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gregory Sydney to indefinitely postpone.  Jonathan Hitter withdrew the motion.

80. A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED by David Fixler to accept the name.  VOTED:  7-1-2.  For:  Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Miller, Pietal, Rose.  Against:  Sydney.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Hitter.  Motion passed.

81. ARTICLE 38:  Naming of Park.  Hold.

82. ARTICLE 39:  Board of Health—Amend Septic Regulations.

83. MOVED and SECONDED to approve.  VOTED:  8-1-1.  For:  Fixler, Goldberg, Hearne, Hitter, Miller, Pietal, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Goodman.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.  Motion passed.

84. ARTICLE 40:  Board of Health—Amend Pooper Scooper Regulation.

85. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Jonathan Hitter to approve.  VOTED:  8-2.  For:  Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne Hitter, Miller Pietal, Rose, Sydney.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Fixler.  Motion passed.

86. ARTICLE 41:  Transfer from Septic Loans to Septic System Improvement Loan Program.

87. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Charles Goodman to approve.  VOTED:  10-0.

88. ARTICLE 42:  Revolving Funds—Omnibus Article.  Hold.

89. ARTICLE 43:  Chapter 90 Funds—Street Funding.

90. A MOTION was made by David Hearne and SECONDED by Gregory Sydney to approve.  VOTED:  10-0.

91. The next meeting will be held on April 11.

92. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

93. VOTED:  10-0.

94. The meeting adjourned at 12:40 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