Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes –
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room –
Members Present: Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman,
Jonathan Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward
Philips, Gloria
Rose (
Absent: Kenneth Goldberg, Gregory Sydney
1. On the agenda was the updating of some of the Warrant articles that the committee hadn’t taken a vote on.
2. ARTICLE 1. Rescission of King Philip Estates vote.
3. Ira Miller stated that there has been a negotiation between the owner of the property and the Town led by the Conservation Commission and should be finalized by next Monday. We should have final disposition of that article, and it won’t be something needed to address at Town Meeting. It will be a moot article.
4. ARTICLE 2. Horizons for Youth.
5. Ira
Miller stated that negotiations have been underway with Good Will which are in final steps. There
is a meeting tonight of the Good Will Board to up date them and discuss where
negotiations will be. There will be an
announcement on Wednesday at the Selectmen’s meeting as the results of their
negotiations. The CPC was brought
forward to funding a portion of that purchase through CPA funds. Although late in arranging a motion, to fund
$1,000,000 for Horizons for Youth land purchase with CPA funds. They are having a second meeting on
Wednesday. Another proposal that had not
been recommended, the
6. There was discussion on the updates presented.
7. Two members of the Planning Board, Wayne Bradley and Paul Lauenstein presented an update on Article 8, CSD.
8. Wayne Bradley stated that the Planning Board made one modification which backed out of the bonus section requirement that 10% of the project be affordable housing. We did that temporarily to coordinate with a town wide inclusionary zoning. That is only intended to be temporary. The developers can get a density bonus of up to a maximum of 10% for every two affordable units built. We see the 10% as an incentive for a builder. It could be a very viable tool and good for the town in general. Regulated carefully and overseen carefully.
9. There was much discussion on this update.
10. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend approval of Article 8 as described to us.
11. There was considerable discussion on the motion.
12. VOTED:
13. The Planning Board was not changing Article 9, Shape Factor.
14. COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORT
15. Laura Nelson reported that the Library Board of Trustees voted to move forward with their change from the Finance Committee to Selectmen sector. They had planned to talk to Priorities. It’s currently still in an undecided state. There was a vote: 1 abstention, 1 against, 4 for. Alyssa Wiener voted against, Bob Levy abstained. The Trustees requested a budget time table.
16. The Finance
Committee will review and finalize the budget format at the next meeting. There is a Capital Outlay meeting this
Thursday at
17. ARTICLE 14. Stabilization Fund.
18. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Alpert for indefinite postponement of Article 14.
19. Ira Miller summarized the position of the committee. A group feels you have funds available for any extraordinary expenditure and the other side feels we shouldn’t raise money for purposes which would be in the future as yet unknown.
20. There was discussion held on this motion.
21. VOTED:
22. NEW BUSINESS
23. Ira Miller
announced that Capital Outlay is meeting on Thursday. The Selectmen’s meeting is on Wednesday at
24. Ira Miller stated that something on the King Philip Estates will come up on that hearing. A discussion how to bring that to resolution. The negotiation between the town, Conservation Commission, and owner have been resolved and in process of being purchased.
25. The next
meeting will be the Open Warrant Meeting at the High School Library at
26. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
27. VOTED: 9-0-0.
28. The meeting
adjourned at