MEETING POSTED, NO QUORUM

Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 24, 2006

Sharon High School Library, 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman,

                               Joel Lessard, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Michael Feldman, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Gloria

                               Rose, Gregory Sydney

1. This is the 28^th meeting of this fiscal year.  The Open Warrant Meeting.

2. Chuck Goodman announced they would go through all the articles.  We do not have a quorum yet.  Before the Annual Town Meeting there is a Special Town Meeting.

3. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.

4. ARTICLE 1.  Collective Bargaining Agreements.  To appropriate a sum of money to pay negotiated increase in salaries to various town employees under town contracts.  These contracts have not been agreed to.  The Finance Committee will not vote until we see the agreements and will make its recommendation at Town Meeting.

5. ARTICLE 2.  Wilber School Abatement/Stabilization/Demolition.  The Finance Committee will give recommendation at Town Meeting.

6. There was much discussion on this article.  Robert Young, Acting Chairman of the Historical Commission, provided some information and announced a meeting on Wednesday night, April 26, at the Historical Society Building at 8:15 p.m.

7. Ben Puritz stated that there has not been a formal report from the Building Inspector.  It is under review with Town Counsel.

8. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.

9. ARTICLE 1.  Finance Committee Members.  There is a Nominating Committee meeting making recommendation at Town Meeting.

10. ARTICLE 2.  Print Reports.

11. ARTICLE 3.  Government Study Committee Dissolution.  Voted 6-0-0 in favor.  Report at Town Meeting.

12. ARTICLE 4.  Personnel By-law.  Shows effective pay schedule for various town employees.  This is the article that the Finance Committee voted to include three budget options in the Warrant.  The Finance Committee will make recommendation at Town Meeting.

13. ARTICLE 5.  Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.  This is the article where the town votes on each department’s appropriation of each fiscal year.  Fincom has 7 or 8 paragraphs on discussion.  The Finance Committee will make recommendation at Town Meeting.  The money is very tight for the FY’07 year.  State Aid has not been determined and may not be determined by the time of Town Meeting.

14. ARTICLE 6.  Funds.  Standard article.  Voted in favor, 9-0-1.

15. ARTICLE 7.  Norfolk County Retirement.  Relates to the money town has to pay into Norfolk County Retirement.  Appropriation number is 23.67% increase.  State mandates.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

16. ARTICLE 8.  Annual Audit.  Hire accounting firm to do annual audit.  10-0-0 in favor.  Fees higher than previous year.  3% increase.

17. ARTICLE 9.  Unemployment.  Money to reimburse Massachusetts Employment and Training.  The town is self-insured to pay former employees.  Many assisted by Department of Employment and Training.  $77,250, a small increase over last year.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

18. ARTICLE 10.  Public Works – Streets & Sidewalks.  Resurfacing public ways.  This is raised by borrowing.  $550,000.  $400,000 for street improvements and $150,000 for sidewalk improvements.  Capital Outlay voted 7-0-0.  Finance Committee voted 8-2-0 in favor.

19. ARTICLE 11.  Public Works – Sacred Heart Demolition.  Total request is $250,000.  Capital Outlay in favor, 5-1-1.  Finance Committee 7-3-0 in favor of indefinite postponement.

20. Paul Pietal commented that when we get to Town Meeting, state what the unspent funds amount is and their purpose.  $59,000.  What wasn’t it spent on?

21. ARTICLE 12.  Public Works – Vehicles & Equipment.  Asking the town to vote to raise money for equipment to the Department of Public Works.  $150,000 to buy mower.  Capital Outlay voted 7-0-0 and Finance Committee voted 6-0-4 in favor.

22. ARTICLE 13.  School Committee.  To raise money for schools to repair and replace, $2,126,088.  $450,000 direct purchase.  Repairs, roof replacement.  Capital Outlay voted 7-0-0.  Finance Committee voted 9-0-1 in favor.

23. Paul Pietal had the same question for unspent funds.  $450,000 for direct purchase.

24. Joel Alpert replied that the allocated $450,000 was out of next year’s.  Part of plan to buy down.

25. Ben Puritz explained that it was an HVAC and roof program.  A portion was borrowed at prior Town Meeting and a portion would be borrowed now.  It was phased.

26. ARTICLE 14.  Fire.  Capital expense for Fire Department.  Purchase a brush truck.  Total $127,500.  Unspent $31,163.  Borrow $96,337.  Capital Outlay voted 6-0-0.  Finance Committee voted 10-0-0 in favor.

27. ARTICLE 15.  Police.  Capital items for Police Department to purchase three marked cars.  Capital Outlay voted 7-0-0.  Finance Committee voted 10-0-0.

28. ARTICLE 16.  Civil Defense.  Capital items for Civil Defense.  Cots, storage container and radio station.  Capital Outlay voted for both, 5-2-2.  Finance Committee voted 5-2-3 only for cots and storage unit.

29. ARTICLE 17.  Library.  Computer equipment for Library Board of Trustees.  Requested $10,000.  Capital Outlay voted 6-0-0.  Finance Committee voted 8-1-1 in favor.

30. ARTICLE 18.  Horizons for Youth Land Acquisition.  Relates to appropriating a sum of money that the town can, through gift, purchase or eminent domain, acquire Horizons for Youth.  Many questions the Finance Committee raised on this.  Finance Committee will make recommendation at Town Meeting.

31. ARTICLE 19.  King Philip Estates.  Brought by individual.  Either acquire by gift, purchase or eminent domain.  King Philip property.  We didn’t know what the Conservation Commission or Capital Outlay’s position was on this article.  Recommendation at Town Meeting.

32. Peg Arguimbeau, Chair, Conservation Commission, stated that we have taken a vote.  We voted to support this purchase.  I think it was unanimous with a $600,000 cap.  This is just the center lot.  They’re going to be using transparency to show the position of the lots.

33. ARTICLE 20.  Community Center Reconstruction.  Supplement under Article 1 of Special Town Meeting on November 14, 2005, for remodeling and repairs at Community Center.  November 2005 at Special Town Meeting voted an additional $9,000,000 to reconstruct Community Center.  Final cost was to be known on April 21.  Finance Committee making recommendation at Town Meeting.  The bids are open and are much higher than anticipated.

34. Joe Roach announced that the Architect is meeting with the Standing Building Committee tomorrow night.

35. ARTICLE 21.  Middle School Roof.  Was put in when there may be additional funds needed for the roof project at Middle School.  No additional money needed.  Finance Committee voted for indefinite postponement, 6-0-0.

36. ARTICLE 22.  Middle School HVAC.  No additional funds needed.  Finance Committee voted for indefinite postponement, 6-0-0.

37. ARTICLE 23.  Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  Establish a trust fund for affordable housing.  We had a meeting with the proponents of the article.  A number of questions.  Will have recommendation at Town Meeting.  Acceptance of this motion will establish the trust fund.

38. There was discussion held on this article regarding the necessity for having this committee and trust fund.

39. ARTICLE 24.  Veterans’ Exemption.  Board of Assessors.  Voted 8-0-2 in favor.

40. ARTICLE 25.  Tax Deferral Program – Senior Relief.  Reduces rate of interest.  Would reduce to 3%.  Voted in favor, 6-0-0.

41. ARTICLE 26.  Community Preservation Act Funding.  5% for CPA for administrative and operating expenses.  We have been told they would have more than $300,000 by July 1, 2006.  Matching from State by October 2006.  10% for open space and housing.  Further CPA expend up to 5%.  Unexpended is returned.  The CPA only count on funds as of July 1.  Amounts to $15,000.  Expect to incur expenses July through December of $6,000.  If they need additional money, will come back to Fall Town Meeting.  Can appropriate 5% or $15,000.  Or $30,000.  Not going to need that much.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

42. There was some discussion on this article regarding the amount of funds available for expenses.

43. ARTICLE 27.  Community Preservations Exemptions.  Amends Article 36 of the General By-laws.  The deadline could be indefinite.  Have to apply before December 15 of each year.  If mailed before November 30.  Not sure three months later or December 15.  On or before or three months, whichever comes later.  Voted 8-2-0 in favor.

44. ARTICLE 28.  Extend Five Leases.  Extend lease.  Every five years have to authorize these leases.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

45. ARTICLE 29.  Extend Library Walkway Lease.  Same thing as for Post Office parking lot, except walkway.  Five-year lease at no cost.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

46. ARTICLE 30.  Change to Sign By-law.  Planning Board zoning by-law related to signs.  Amend section.  A new tenant in one of the buildings on E. Chestnut Street trying to put up sign facing parking lot.  Didn’t allow.  Voted 7-0-3 in favor.

47. ARTICLE 31.  Data Re-inspection Contract.  Authorize Board of Assessors to extend contract for data re-inspection.  Voted 8-2-0 in favor.

48. ARTICLE 32.  Dog Licensing Rates.  To increase annual fee for dog license to $20.  Voted 8-2-0 in favor.

49. ARTICLE 33.  Mandatory Leash Law—Fees.  Amend Article 17 of the General By-laws.  Pick up charge to be paid.  Voted 10-0-0 in favor.

50. ARTICLE 34.  Stormwater By-law Amendment.  Voted 9-0-1 in favor.

51. ARTICLE 35.  By-law Change—Waste Containers.  Size of solid waste containers.  Increase size from 32 gallons to 45 gallons.  The larger containers would last longer.  Voted 7-0-3 in favor.

52. ARTICLE 36.  Carriage House – Historical Commission.  Board of Selectmen for lease of land for carriage house.  Voted 9-0-1 in favor.

53. ARTICLE 37.  Revolving Funds.  Not in town operating budget.  Some small, some much larger.  One can have over $100,000.  Some are $10,000.  Recreation Department is $100,000.  $75,000.  Finance Committee will make recommendation at Town Meeting.

54. ARTICLE 38.  Board of Health – Non-Criminal Disposition – Fines.  Amend Board of Health.  Non-criminal method of enforcement.  Voted 9-0-1 in favor. 

55. There is going to be a question on the ballot which takes place on Tuesday, May 16, beginning at 7:00 a.m. at the High School for a $934,000 override for public schools.

56. The next meeting will be on April 28.

57. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.