Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – October 4, 2006
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald (late), Charles
Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,
Edward Philips, Gloria Rose (Hamilton)
Absent: Kenneth Goldberg, Gregory Sydney
1. The agenda was to go through the 22 Warrant articles.
2. ARTICLE 22. School Insurance Proceeds.
3. Joel Alpert summarized: Over the summer some students threw some incendiary device onto the roof of the Middle School. It is an attempt of the School Department to accept money into their fund.
4. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 22.
5. VOTED: 9-0-0.
6. ARTICLE 21. Board of Health, Inter-municipal Agreement.
7. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ted Philips that we support Article 21, as written.
8. VOTED: 10-0-0.
9. ARTICLE 20. Affordable Housing Unit for Sharon Residents.
10. Summary: This article, if passed by the town, will go to the General Court of the Legislature for Sharon only raising the amount from $150,000 to $400,000 in equity.
11. There was much discussion on this article.
12. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Lessard for indefinite postponement of Article 20.
13. VOTED: 9-1-0. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips, Rose. Against: Goodman.
14. The next items discussed were the soccer articles.
15. ARTICLE 6. Soccer Association, Third Field.
16. Rich Goldman of the Soccer Association stated that we view this as a significant benefit for the children in town. A few of the residents, the abutters, oppose this project. The benefits outweigh the inconvenience of the abutters.
17. There was much discussion regarding land restriction, parking spaces, aquifer protection, recreation use, and this being the same plan approved by the Conservation Commission in 2002.
18. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 6 as written.
19. There was discussion on the motion.
20. VOTED: 7-1-1. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Rose. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Goodman.
21. ARTICLE 7. Soccer Association Lease.
22. There was discussion held on this article regarding the document not yet in finalized form.
23. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend approval of Article 7.
24. There was discussion on the motion.
25. VOTED: 7-1-1. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Rose. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Goodman.
26. ARTICLE 9. Planning Board, Shape Factor.
27. Joel Lessard summarized this article. He talked to Peter O’Cain who suggested the shape factor of 22. It is used by other towns. Questioning if 22 is an appropriate number. Suggested it should be done through wording. Should be done through regulation, not by-law. Peter O’Cain said that wording not enforceable. That is not something that could be applied consistently and opportunity to litigation.
28. Paul Lauenstein of the Planning Board stated that the Planning Board reviewed shape factor issue and took no further action. Still recommending at Town Meeting.
29. There was much discussion held on this article.
30. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Lessard for indefinite postponement for Article 9.
31. VOTED: 9-0-1. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips, Rose. Abstain: Hitter.
32. ARTICLE 8. CSD Modification. Hold.
33. ARTICLE 19. Zoning Board of Appeals. Payment of unpaid bills.
34. There was discussion on this article giving the figure of approximately $3,400 for overrun of legal bills.
35. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Alpert for indefinite postponement of Article 19.
36. VOTED: 10-0-0.
37. ARTICLE 18. Cottage Street School expenditures. No additional funding needed.
38. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Joel Alpert for indefinite postponement of Article 18.
39. VOTED: 10-0-0.
40. ARTICLE 17. Wilber School-Hazardous Waste Removal. Bid came in less.
41. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose for indefinite postponement of Article 17.
42. VOTED: 10-0-0.
43. ARTICLE 16. Accept Funds for Two Year Period for Highway Construction Purposes.
44. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend approval of Article 16 as written.
45. VOTED: 10-0-0.
46. ARTICLE 15. Septic System. Allows town to pay back State monies.
47. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to recommend approval of Article 15 as written.
48. VOTED: 10-0-0.
49. ARTICLE 14. Stabilization Fund.
50. Ira Miller stated that the Priorities Committee had recommended putting aside $100,000. Omitted from Warrant. Supposed to come from free cash.
51. There was much discussion on this article.
52. Brian Fitzgerald stated that we shouldn’t take away from taxpayer. Why take away from taxpayer now without vote of raising taxes in the future. Should not take money away without a purpose for it.
53. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve Article 14 in the amount of $100,000 to the Stabilization Fund.
54. VOTED: 5-5-0. For: Goodman, Hitter, Miller, Philips, Rose. Against: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Lessard, Nelson.
55. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Alpert for indefinite postponement of Article 14.
56. Ira Miller stated that those who are against the Stabilization Fund agree with Brian’s philosophy.
57. There was much discussion on the motion.
58. VOTED: 5-5-0. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Lessard, Nelson. Against: Goodman, Hitter, Miller, Philips, Rose.
59. ARTICLE 13. Unemployment. There would be no additional funds required.
60. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard for indefinite postponement of Article 13.
61. VOTED: 10-0-0.
62. ARTICLE 12. Zoning Board of Appeals. Absence of One Member.
63. Joel Alpert summarized: Every person voting on any adjudicatory matter has to be present. One person could be absent. Other evidence received. The ZBA said they have recordings but not transcripts.
64. There was discussion on this article.
65. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to approve Article 12 to include wording specifically to Chapter 39, Section 23D, as written.
66. There was discussion on the motion.
67. VOTED: 9-1-0. For: Alpert, Anderson Fitzgerald, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips, Rose. Against: Goodman.
68. ARTICLE 11. Street Acceptance.
69. The Planning Board had public hearing and streets were accepted.
70. There was discussion on the wording of the article.
71. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept Article 11 with a reservation on language.
72. VOTED: 10-0-0.
73. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Joel Alpert to reconsider Article 12.
74. VOTED: 8-0-2. For: Alpert, Anderson Fitzgerald, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Rose. Abstain: Hitter, Philips.
75. ARTICLE 12. Zoning Board of Appeals. Absence of One Member.
76. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept Article 12.
77. VOTED: 8-2-0. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Rose. Against: Goodman, Nelson.
78. ARTICLE 10. Technical Changes to Zoning By-Laws.
79. Paul Lauenstein stated there were no changes. Some misspelling.
80. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept Article 10 as written.
81. VOTED: 10-0-0.
82. ARTICLE 4. Financial Analyst.
83. There was much discussion on this article regarding the need for someone to help the committee with financial analyses and other financial aspects that could benefit the town.
84. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to recommend Article 4.
85. VOTED: 7-3-0. For: Alpert, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson. Against: Hitter, Philips, Rose.
86. ARTICLE 1. Rescind King Philip – Petition Article. Hold.
87. There was discussion regarding whether the land had been purchased.
88. ARTICLE 2. Horizons for Youth Land. Hold for next week.
89. There was discussion on this article regarding negotiations; the non response by Selectmen to the request that the chairman of this committee join in negotiations; there was a suggestion to re-send the e-mail request.
90. ARTICLE 3. Wilber School Lease and Proposal. Hold for discussion at next meeting.
91. There was some discussion on this article.
92. OTHER BUSINESS
93. Gloria Rose will have letter for Finance Committee sector budget at next meeting.
94. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 12, at Town Hall.
95. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing confidential and personal information.
96. VOTED: 10-0-0.
97. The regular session adjourned at 10:45 p.m.