Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes –
Town Hall, Hearing Room –
Members Present: Joel Alpert, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Joel
Lessard (late), Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips, Gloria Rose
(
Absent: Maria Anderson, Kenneth Goldberg, Gregory Sydney
1. The agenda was to finish taking votes on the rest of the Warrant articles beginning with Articles 1, 2, and 3.
2. ARTICLE 1. Rescind King Philip Rock from the May 8, 2006, meeting.
3. Ben Puritz stated that ongoing negotiations were within the purview of Executive Session and he cannot talk about contents. We hope to have more information before Town Meeting.
4. There was some discussion on this article.
5. Ben Puritz stated that if authorization is carried out, Article 1 will appear. Either it is no action or indefinite postponement. Town Counsel and Moderator will work out.
6. ARTICLE 2. Horizons for Youth. Currently under negotiation by Board of Selectmen and owners.
7. Ira Miller stated that in response to our request that this committee see if the Chair of the Finance Committee could be part of privileged information that it was not feasible. It was felt that the issue of confidentiality would be contrary to negotiations and when the negotiations were entered into that agreement, it not be acted upon. We have to accept that the selectmen are party to negotiations in good faith. When it consummates, we will have that information. We hope we will have something to recommend before Town Meeting.
8. There was much discussion on this article.
9. Ben Puritz stated that he would recommend the Finance Committee not take a position at this point pending additional information prior to Town Meeting. Time is of the essence. Times for performing are reflective of the position of the property owner. They will not sit with the property for a long time. We would be jeopardizing the opportunity for the town to acquire the property. It states that land acquisition is for general municipal purposes, conservation purposes, or school purposes.
10. ARTICLE 3. Lease Agreement for
11. There was discussion held on this article noting that the Selectmen were in active discussion with the most highly rated proposer, Frontier, with further information at Town Meeting.
12. ARTICLE 8. CSD. Wayne Bradley updated.
13. Wayne Bradley stated that they had meetings with the Conservation Commission. The affordable housing requirement to require 10% affordable housing is an incentive to do CSD. Inclusionary traditional will require higher percentage. The vote at the Planning Board was three in favor, one opposed, one abstained to temporarily eliminate the 10% requirement until town wide article in spring. Including inclusionary law in spring requiring any developer in town to provide affordable housing as part of any project.
14. There was much discussion regarding this article.
15. Wayne Bradley also stated that the Town is getting benefit of more open space. Will create open space. If we can create more open space then the greater density we allow won’t impact on the town. The demand for services in town will be less with two bedrooms. We’re shrinking what’s being built forcing to cluster in smaller area.
16. Joel Alpert stated that what we’re really voting on is reducing density from 1 to 1.75 plus have making open space accepted and close to 2. Reducing to maximum of 1.5. Moved from age qualified more to creating open space. More clustering. Tightening up how bonus is achieved.
17. ARTICLE 9. Shape Factor. Question on shapes.
18. Wayne Bradley stated that we will do a better job of presenting visual. Our board is unanimous that we need to have some regulations over the shape of lots that come before us. The numbers range from 20 to 30 that use this kind of system. 20 is very restrictive. It really cuts out a lot of potential growth. That is a little bit different than trying to cut out the extremes. I’d like to eliminate the really extreme cases.
19. There was discussion held on this article with the need to have more information before Town Meeting.
20. ARTICLE 20. Home Rule Petition for Affordable
Housing. To raise the eligibility from
$150,000 to $400,000. Going up to
$200,000 in ’07. That would be allowed
equity. If this article is adopted, it
is up to $400,000. There is new
information. The attachment is to remove
21. New ARTICLE 20. No longer only application to
22. There was discussion on this article.
23. Marcia Liebman reported that the median income in
24. ARTICLE 1. King Philip Rescission.
25. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to make a recommendation at Town Meeting.
26. VOTED: 8-0-0.
27. ARTICLE 2. Horizons for Youth.
28. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert that we consider indefinite postponement. There was no second to this motion.
29. There was much discussion held on this article.
30. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose that the Finance Committee make a recommendation at Town Meeting on Article 2.
31. VOTED:
32. ARTICLE 3. Wilber Lease.
33. There was much discussion on this article.
34. Marcia Liebman stated the following rental amounts for the residential units: Affordable: $1,488 per month. Non-affordable: $2,000 per month. Option package is $2,900 per month.
35. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to recommend Article 3 as written.
36. VOTED:
37. ARTICLE 8. CSD.
38. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 8.
39. There was discussion on the motion.
40. VOTED:
41. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to make a recommendation on Article 8 at Town Meeting.
42. VOTED:
43. ARTICLES 6/7. Third Soccer Field/Soccer Lease.
44. Ira Miller stated that we have acted on part. Some questions unresolved was whether the use of the land precluded building of soccer field. No information at that time.
45. Paul Lauenstein reported that we don’t have any hard and fast objection to building soccer field from water supply. Came up with list of conditions. As in the case of existing fields, no herbicides or pesticides. Organic fertilizer. Checked with Kevin Weaver at DPW who is in charge of fertilizer. Described what he’s doing there and sounded like what we came up with. Satellite irrigation control to minimize water use. That would come from Soccer Association. Recycles nutrients and reduces fertilization. Holds moisture. They cut twice a week. If too long between cuttings, have to collect and big pile by lake with rotting nutrients getting into water. The parking should be along the street. Encourage car pooling to minimize. Don’t want “L” shape. Goes back to brook. Our recommendations would be given to the Selectmen.
46. There was discussion on this article.
47. Laura Nelson reported on two exceptions at Town Meeting, December ’84 and December ’85 that dealt with various parcels considered for third soccer field. ’84 was Aquifer Protection; ’85 was a land trade to take land for aquifer. Parcel all for conservation use. Part of soccer field in Parcel C is conservation land. Rest under town land. Parking area and half of soccer field. There is a land use change involved with the aquifer now setting aside for recreational use. Part of the conservation use on parcel C there is some recreational use. Allowed amount is 250 x 250 ft. This portion that falls into parcel C is below that level. The part of the field on Conservation Commission is allowed for recreation use but with land use change on parcel F, F1, and F3 that the side cross from aquifer protection to recreation use.
48. Laura Nelson summarized that we need to wait for attorney Gelerman. The issue may be the proper way to pass these articles. The majority passed these two articles. Constitutional amendment 97 would require 2/3 vote at Town Meeting and an enacted change by the Legislature and 2/3 vote by Legislature. The attorney has been authorized to look into the matter and have answer at Town Meeting.
49. After continued discussion, there was no change in the vote.
50. ARTICLE 14. Stabilization Fund. There was a tie vote.
51. There was much discussion on this article.
52. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to make a recommendation on Article 14 at Town Meeting.
53. VOTED: 9-0-0.
54. OTHER BUSINESS
55. Joel Alpert reported on “Its Your Money”. There is a new editor. Joel will pick out one or two articles to write about.
56. The next meeting will be October 30.
57. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
58. VOTED: 9-0-0.
59. The meeting
was adjourned at