Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – July 24, 2006

School Administration Building – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg,

                               Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura

                               Nelson, Gloria Rose, Gregory Sydney (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Edward Philips

 

1.      This was the second meeting of FY’07.  The first item on the agenda was to begin reviewing Fall Town Meeting Warrant articles.

 

2.      A presentation was made by George Bailey, Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee.  He advised the Finance Committee that there were six requests for funds.  The total amount requested was over $1.2 million.  As of July 1 there will be $300,000 available and the State matches with another $300,000.  The Town Treasurer manages the funds.  Only Open Space, Affordable Housing, Historical Commission and Community Preservation are eligible for funds.  Plans need to be completed and more information will be available at a public hearing on the 4th Thursday in August.

 

3.      There was much discussion regarding the Community Preservation Committee and how and what it does.  The Finance Committee liaison will attend the Community Preservation Committee July meeting.

 

4.      The next person to make a presentation was Rich Goldman of the Board of Sharon Soccer Association.  The Soccer Association wanted to construct a third field in 2003 but was defeated at Town Meeting.  The Association is trying again to get this third field at Gavins Pond in order to accommodate 600 kids, ages 5-18, in the program.  They will pay all construction costs and for Police.  They do not pay for water.

 

5.      Much discussion was held regarding traffic issues, the well, condition and alternative fields.  Mr. Goldman will be back in September when more details have been worked out.

 

6.      Laura Nelson reported on the July 19th Library meeting.  The Library discussed the possibility of changing sectors from the Finance sector to Board of Selectmen sector.  They felt they were getting more support from Board of Selectmen when they have issues at the Library.

 

7.      There was much discussion regarding this possible change; that the Finance Committee reviews all budgets, and with the Government Charter Commission in place, nothing should be changed at this time.  The Finance Committee will go to the Library meeting in September.

 

8.      Brian Fitzgerald suggested discussion on our mission and our goals.  Controlling and watching the flow of dollars in this town.  Some would like to see all sectors under the Finance Committee..

 

9.      Ira Miller suggested getting more historical information regarding the boards and committees under our sector.

 

10.  OLD BUSINESS

 

11.  Ira Miller stated that the Finance Committee had our first article in the Sharon Advocate.  We have a second article to go.

 

12.  Joel Alpert reported he has had continuing discussions with the District Attorney’s office on Open Meeting Laws.  He will hear tomorrow regarding transmitting a proposed article to members and allowing the Executive Committee to approve without another meeting.

 

13.  The goals will be voted on after they are listed in a separate document and presented at the next meeting.

 

14.  There was a discussion regarding the liaisons to other committees and approved members to the Capital Outlay and Priorities Committee.  There were no overriding rules to alternates to committees.

 

15.  The next item on the agenda was to approve the minutes.

 

16.  A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of July 10, 2006.

 

17.  VOTED:  7-0-4.  For:  Alpert, Fitzgerald, Goldberg, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Sydney.  Abstain:  Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Rose.

 

18.  A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of June 5, 2006.

 

19.  VOTED:  6-0-5.  For:  Alpert, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Rose.  Abstain:  Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goldberg, Hitter, Sydney.

 

20.  A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of June 12, 2006.

 

21.  VOTED:  9-0-2.  For:  Alpert, Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Rose, Sydney.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Goldberg.

 

22.  There was some discussion regarding no financial articles in the Warrant for Fall Town Meeting and only financial articles in the Spring unless it’s a pressing matter.

 

23.  Joel Alpert suggested:  (1)  The School Committee come in and start discussion of potential override.  (2)  We do what is needed to push for a financial analyst and that we discuss the wheres and whys and how to move that forward.

 

24.  There was discussion on a place to keep documents at Town Hall, possibly on microfiche or disk.

 

25.  Items for the agenda for next meeting could be School Department, Housing Department, and Horizons for Youth.

 

26.  Joel Alpert stated that a motion was made last time on the approval of articles for the Sharon Advocate.  Not voted on same week it was brought up as a policy to allow Executive Board to allow articles if District Attorney says not in conflict to Open Meeting Laws.

 

27.  A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald that we set a policy by which articles for Sharon Advocate written and approved by the Executive Board to be submitted.

 

28.  VOTED:  11-0-0.

 

29.  A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard that in the event it was an Open Meeting violation, we approve this one article for submission after review by Executive Board.

 

30.  There was some discussion on this motion.

 

31.  VOTED:  11-0-0.

 

32.  There was a suggestion to get Town Reports from Wellesley and Mansfield that list salaries.

 

33.  The next meeting will be August 14, 2006.

 

34.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

35.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.