MEETING POSTED, NO QUORUM

Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 5, 2007

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

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald (late), Jonathan Hitter,

                               Ira Miller, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Charles Goodman, Joel Lessard, Laura Nelson, Gloria Rose, Gregory

                                Sydney

1. There was no quorum for this meeting.

2. The agenda was the S. Main Street Rezoning Proposal and the budget review of the Conservation Commission.

3. Present for the Intoccia Group was Dean Stratouly and Bob Shelmerdine regarding the S. Main Street Rezoning Proposal.

4. Bob Shelmerdine brought the Finance Committee up to date.  They had met at a joint meeting with the Economic Development Committee and the Selectmen.  They were going forth with a zoning amendment draft.  The town had engaged a consultant, Tom Houston of PSC Services.  They were advertising in newspapers this week.  Also meeting with neighbors and abutters.  They are meeting on February 13 at the High School Library and on February 14.  February 28 is the Planning Board formal meeting.  Meeting tonight with the Finance Committee to go over some tax generation and what the site will produce.

5. Jon Hitter did an analysis comparing a residential development vs. the commercial development we are actively talking about to see what the revenue to the town and relative costs are.  This was done as a purely financial and economic impact.  From these assumptions there was $3.3 million revenue for commercial and a $700,000 cost for the town for residential.  There was a $4 million gap in commercial vs. residential from a pure financial standpoint.

6. There was considerable discussion regarding the analysis.

7. There was much discussion regarding tax revenue, development of other parcels, well-site testing, conveying cranberry bogs to the Conservation Commission, draft zoning amendment, and Memorandum of Agreement.

8. Paul Lauenstein brought up the question about the impact on Shaw’s and Shaw’s Plaza.  There was some discussion on this topic.

9. Next on the agenda was the Conservation Commission budget with Peg Arguimbau and Greg Meister.

10. There was discussion held regarding the need for additional money for legal expenses, ground water recharge, and appraisal and soil testing at Camp Gannett, and to buy development rights to protect the property.

11. There was continued discussion on the budget including salaries, land acquisition, and in-state travel.

12. Peg Arguimbau indicated that the Conservation Commission is not opposed to the S. Main Street Proposal at this time, and she also felt it was a good idea to have sectors.

13. Ira Miller stated that the next agenda item regarded the Priorities meeting for Wednesday evening at which there was to be an item to vote on sector allocation.  This involved where to put the library for budget purposes.  The Finance Committee had taken a vote to keep things as they were and not to support or vote for a change.  The Committee had discussed whether there was authority for Priorities to make that decision.  The Library Board of Trustees and the Selectmen agreed to put the library in the Selectmen’s sector.

14. There was discussion held regarding this topic.

15. OTHER BUSINESS

16. Jon Hitter reported that Capital Outlay is meeting tomorrow night.

17. There was discussion held regarding the $1.5 million from the Standing Building Committee and how to use it.  There was to be discussion on this at the Selectmen’s meeting and the Capital Outlay meeting.

18. Ira Miller reported on the Capital Tour regarding the condition of the buildings in town.  Some problem with East renovation.  Community Center is going well.  Opening expected at end of 2007.

19. The next meeting will be February 12, 2007.

20. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M.