Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – November 26, 2007

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman,

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Gregory Sydney (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Laura Nelson,

                               Edward Philips

1. The first item on the agenda was the FY’09 budget.

2. There was much discussion regarding what the budgets should be for the Finance Committee sector.  It was decided to have three proposals:  (1) Primary budget, contractual plus obligations.  (2)  FY’08 appropriations plus an additional 2.5%.  (3)  FY’08 appropriations plus an additional 3.5%.

3. Ira Miller reported on some meetings he had attended.  One was the Norfolk County Retirement System meeting.  There was an update on the investments in the system, which have done fairly well since 2005.

4. There was some discussion on this report.

5. Ira Miller next reported on the meeting of the Insurance Advisory Committee for the Town of Sharon.  School, Police, Fire, DPW met to discuss the town insurance plan.  There was an update by the insurance consultant with an expected increase of 10%.

6. There was considerable discussion regarding the town’s health care insurance and what can be done to reduce these costs.

7. The next item on the agenda was presented by Chuck Goodman regarding enterprise funds for specific activities, especially the Water Department.

8. There was some discussion on this.

9. There was a suggestion that the Finance Committee be an advocacy group.  There was much discussion on how to implement those advocacy positions.  There were some suggestions to use the Sharon Advocate column, write letters to the Advocate and write a strong opinion in the Warrant.

10. There was some discussion regarding Finance Committee members attending negotiating report sessions.

11. Gordon Gladstone reported that the Standing Building Committee has an office at the Community Center.  The Standing Building Committee turned the building over to the Board of Selectmen.  The maintenance is in the hands of DPW.  Scheduling and running of the building is in the hands of the Recreation Director.  The Council on Aging is starting programs the beginning of January.

12. There was some discussion on this report.

13. There was some discussion regarding departments switching sectors.

14. Ira Miller stated that the Finance Committee has a consensus on the budget.  Joel Alpert will make changes and send out through the secretary.  December 17 is the target date.  The Warrant will be opening and closing in January some time and the Charter Commission is on the ballot.

15. OTHER BUSINESS

16. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of November 5, 2007, as written.

17. VOTED:  6-0-1.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.

18. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to accept the minutes of October 29, 2007.

19. VOTED:  5-0-2.  Abstain:  Alpert, Sydney.

20. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to accept the minutes of October 22, 2007.

21. VOTED:  6-0-1.  Abstain.  Fitzgerald.

22. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of October 4.

23. VOTED:  6-0-1.  Abstain:  Sydney

24. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to accept the minutes of October 1, 2007.

25. VOTED:  6-0-1.  Abstain:  Sydney.

26. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to accept the minutes of September 24, 2007.

27. VOTED:  6-0-1.  Abstain:  Gladstone.

28. The next meeting will be December 17, 2007.

29. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

30. VOTED:  7-0-0.

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