Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 13, 2006

School Administration Building – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles

                               Goodman (late), Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Gloria Rose, Gregory

                               Sydney (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Joel Alpert, Michael Feldman, Jonathan Hitter

 

1.      This is the 17th meeting of this fiscal year.  Ira Miller chaired the meeting until Chuck Goodman arrived.  Tonight’s meeting was to review the Conservation Commission’s budget for FY’07.  Present were Peg Arguimbau, Chair, and Greg Meister, Conservation Administrator.  Peg Arguimbau presented the budget.

 

2.      Peg Arguimbau outlined what would be needed in the ’07 budget including a clerk for 15 hours a week instead of 6 hours a week, cost of a cell phone, and office supplies.  They will need a Reserve Fund Transfer for the clerk’s salary for this year.

 

3.      There was much discussion on the increase in salaries.

 

4.      The Conservation Commission will present a level funded budget.

 

5.      There was discussion on different areas of where people can donate land or money such as Unrestricted Land Accounts, Conservation Trust, and Friends of Conservation.

 

6.      Peg Arguimbau reported on some Conservation Commission projects.  One is on Norwood Street that’s been before the Commission.  We’re waiting for the finalized plan.  The housing development on North Main Street, Hunters Ridge, has gone through Commission review.  Proposals on Old Post Road near Walpole Country Club.  We’re waiting to hear the decision on that.  There’s one off Glenview and Rob’s Lane.  The Commission is due to see that one.  There is the Route One Simpson property.  We haven’t seen this one yet.  Horizons for Youth land is coming up.  There’s the property on South Walpole, Old Post Road, the Gobi property.

 

7.      There was some general discussion on these projects.

 

8.      There was a question on how much time the Conservation Commission had spent on Rattlesnake Hill.

 

9.      Greg Meister stated regarding Rattlesnake Hill that in the last two or three years he had spent about ¾ of a year of his time plus extra time, site walks, and preparation of documents.

 

10.  Chuck Goodman read a letter from the Conservation Commission to Greg Meister naming him Conservation Commissioner of the Year by MACC.  His award will be presented at the 2006 Conference on March 6 at Holy Cross in Worcester.

 

11.  OTHER BUSINESS

 

12.  Chuck Goodman stated that the Finance Committee is the responsible party for the Wilber School for the removal of asbestos.  There was a report from an engineering company about the building.  We should be informed what the situation of that report is.  The Wilber Committee should be in here to tell us what’s going on and how it is progressing.  Also, by our next meeting I’ll have a summary schedule by all our departments, and we can possibly put together what the numbers are for each budget.

 

13.  There was discussion on the status of other sector budgets and when they would be available to come in.

 

14.  A suggestion was made to attend the open school discussion of their budget on Wednesday at the Heights School at 7:30 p.m.

 

15.  Chuck Goodman stated that there is a Priorities meeting this Thursday.  They hope to finalize numbers but they don’t have the State Cherry Sheet or even a reasonable number.  Sharon is not getting a favorable increase on this.  There are a few other committees whose budgets are extremely small.  It amounts to $15,000 or $20,000.  He’ll get numbers and present them

 

16.  Ira Miller is trying to put together a schedule to allow the School Committee and Selectmen to present their budgets.  The signing of the Warrant should take place on February 21.  There are approximately 35 or more articles.

 

17.  Chuck Goodman reported on the meeting with Peter Kenney, Health Insurance Manager, Ben Puritz, Town Administrator, Rob Uttyebroek, Treasurer, and the Auditor.  Questions were answered pertaining to this health insurance situation.  More information has to be gathered.  The health insurance for ’07 is being increased 15% based on the same quantity of people in ’06 and 3% for add ons.  Coming out with 18%.  The explanation is that more retirees keep going into the plan.  There wasn’t any discussion for hiring an outside consultant.

 

18.  There was discussion held on this report with suggestions to proceed with getting a consultant if this is not done by the March 1 deadline.  A recommendation was made to get somebody with experience with municipalities.

 

19.  The next meeting will be on February 27 at the High School Library.

 

20.  Thank you to the School Department for their hospitality to use this room for the benefit of the viewing audience.

 

21.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

22.  VOTED:  8-0-0.

 

23.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.