Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 11, 2006

School Administration Building – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman,

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips, Gloria Rose,

                               Gregory Sydney, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hitter

 

1.      The first item on the agenda was to discuss Warrant Article 21 sponsored by the Board of Health regarding Inter-Municipal Aid Agreement for Public Health Services.  Sheila Miller, Public Health Nurse, made the presentation.  Each town is required to have a Board of Health under Region 4A.  Thirty-four cities and towns, Wrentham to Wilmington.  Sharon is in the southern part.  Each town is to agree to be part of a mutual aid for a grant similar to Fire and Police.  Need to have mutual aid agreement to continue Federal funding.  Most towns have passed this.

 

2.      There was discussion on the presentation.

 

3.      The second item on the agenda was Warrant Article 13, Unemployment.  Ben Puritz made the presentation.  Beginning July 1, $15,000 in claims.  The expenditures in the prior FY’06 were $51,000.  $75,000 appropriated should be sufficient to defray cost on this.  The Board of Selectmen hasn’t taken position, will pass over this.

 

4.      There was discussion on this article.  The following questions were asked regarding unemployment:  (1)  How many Sharon employees were terminated?  (2)  How many are collecting unemployment?  (3)  How many were terminated that were able to find jobs somewhere else?  (4)  Were any laid-off teachers receiving salary through the summer that may just now be filing for unemployment?  If so, how many?  (5)  What was total number of laid-off employees from the School Dept. (FTEs and people)?  (6)  How many have been rehired?

 

5.      Next item was Warrant Article 14, Stabilization Fund.

 

6.      Ben Puritz stated that the balance was just over $109,000.  The program to be continued at a minimum of $100,000 in Stabilization Fund.  An article has been placed to reflect that.  This will occur as a recurring article.  It will be funded from a transfer or from free cash.

 

7.      There was much discussion on the article.  A request was made for a copy of the investment policy.

 

8.      Next item was Warrant Article 15, Septic Loan Transfer.

 

9.      Ben Puritz indicated that this originated through the Board of Health.  It provided low interest finance on septic system repairs.  The article seeks to pay off all of the low interest loans that the town now owes the state.  This article seeks to transfer from payment account to expense account so town can fulfill obligation to state in the amount of $21,725.  This is an annually recurring article.

 

10.  There was some discussion on the article.

 

11.  The next item was Warrant Article 16, Chapter 90 - $361,975, to accept additional money from state—Chapter 90 Fund.

 

12.  Ben Puritz stated that these funds are used for transportation and road improvements.  The state requires the town to have access to the program.  For FY’04, $365,975.  The Acts of 2006 put in place.  The distribution to Sharon is additional $165,884.  Used for public works jobs primarily for roads and drainage.  It is a bi-annual program.

 

13.  There was discussion on this article.

 

14.  The next item was Warrant Article 1 which is a petition article sponsored by Eli Hauser, and others, regarding King Philip Estates.  An article passed at May Town Meeting.  This article is to rescind that.

 

15.  There was much discussion on this article with many people speaking on it:  Eli Hauser, Kurt Buermann, Dr. Martin, Greg Meister of Conservation Commission, Doug Harris of Tribal Preservation Office of Narragansett Indians, George Bailey.  Information was presented from the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the issue of negotiations by the Board of Selectmen.

 

16.  Ira:  The next item was Warrant Article 10, Typographical Changes, by the Planning Board.

 

17.  Present were Eli Hauser, Chair, Planning Board; Paul Lauenstein, second year of five-year term; Wayne Bradley, second year; Amanda Sloan, first year.

 

18.  There was some discussion on this article.  The Planning Board voted 5-0 on changing section #3.

 

19.  Next item was Warrant Article 11, Street Acceptance.

 

20.  Eli Hauser stated that this is with Peter O’Cain, Department of Engineering, and streets will have snow removal, repair, paving, storm drains.  Planning Board voted 5-0.

 

21.  The next item was Warrant Article 9, Lot Shape Factor, Frontage and Lot Width.

 

22.  Eli Hauser stated that approximately 75 cities and town have Shape Facto By-laws.  He described how the developer creates a lot making an odd shape.

 

23.  There was much discussion on this article.  Joel Lessard will contact Peter O’Cain regarding this article.

 

24.  The next item was Warrant Article 8, CSD Modifications.

 

25.  Wayne Bradley made presentation.  The CSD By-law was originally passed in 2001.  The CSD is designed to create cluster to build on smaller lots to conserve on land, to conserve our environment as much as possible.  Three major things:  (a)  A professional planner be introduced depending on the scope to assist the Planning Board.  (b)  Look at the total amount of density bonuses.  Get up to 2 times in the original design.  We settled on 1 ½ times as a reduction from where we were.  Open space restricting to no more than two bedrooms.  Affordable housing unit.  Smaller houses.  We have introduced plans, altered density, provide open space.  (c)  Look at buffer.  The former language CSD By-law provided 20 ft. buffer around existing land use and new language increases to 50 ft.  20 ft. to 50 ft. and ability to reduce to 20 ft.  Can’t strip buffer area.  Excavation of site and clear cutting of site.  Language in By-law still in that regard.  Incorporation of professional planner and review would prevent Hunter’s Ridge problem.

 

26.  There was discussion on the article.

 

27.  The Planning Board vote was 4-1 at an open hearing.  A minority position was there for the original language.

 

28.  The next item was Warrant Article 12, Vote of Absent Member.

 

29.  John Lee, Chair of Zoning Board of Appeals made the presentation.  Legislation that was passed that new board member that missed a meeting and could still vote.  If a board member misses one meeting, not allowed to vote on that hearing.  If a board member missed only one meeting, reviewed minutes, and could vote on it.  It becomes a hardship to the board.  This would be helpful.  The ZBA vote, 5-0.  There was a hearing.  The State law has changed, allowed you could miss.  Our board did not.  This would be in sync with the state.

 

30.  There was discussion on the article.

 

31.  Resumed CSD discussion.

 

32.  Wayne Bradley stated that Arnie Cohen has own set of objections.  He basically feels most influenced by the 40b options.  He is still concerned that if we take out the incentives, the developers won’t choose to do this.

 

33.  Continued discussion on this article.

 

34.  Ira Miller announced that the Planning Board will come back for continued discussion on CSD.  Also a list of items for future discussion:  Brickstone, school contract, budgets, letter for preparation of budgets.

 

35.  The Finance Committee will be meeting the 18th and 25th and then Wednesday, October 4.

 

36.  A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve the minutes of August 14, 2006.

 

37.  VOTED:  9-0-0.

 

38.  Joel Alpert requested that the Finance Committee appoint a committee to assist in developing a presentation for the Financial Analyst.

 

39.  The next meeting will be September 18, 2006.

 

40.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

41.  VOTED:  9-0-0.

 

42.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.