Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 10, 2007

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

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Laura Nelson, Edward

                               Philips (late), (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Gloria

                               Rose, Gregory Sydney

1. There was no quorum for this meeting.  Ben Puritz was to be at the meeting at 8 p.m.  The agenda was to discuss the Warrant articles that had not been discussed.

2. ARTICLE 24.  Veterans’ Exemption.  Voted in favor, 6-0-0 on 4-9-07.

3. ARTICLE 25.  Closing Offices on Saturday/Legal Holiday.  Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.

4. ARTICLE 26.  Community Center Funding-Standing Building Committee.

5. There was discussion on this article that the Finance Committee needs to hear from the Standing Building Committee and to see if Ben Puritz had any information.

6. ARTICLE 27.  Sealing Fees – per statute rate schedule.

7. There was discussion that Ben Puritz could have information on this article.

8. ARTICLE 28.  Septic System Improvement Loan Program.

9. There was some discussion on this article and that Ben Puritz may have more information.

10. ARTICLE 29.  Historical Building Demolition By-law (revision).

11. There was no information on this article.

12. ARTICLE 30.  Revolving Funds.

13. There was no information on this article.

14. ARTICLE 31.  Authorize Absentee Vote for One Missed Meeting.

15. Joel Alpert stated that the Finance Committee voted previously to endorse this article.

16. There was much discussion regarding the budget and the override.

17. Joel Alpert announced that without a quorum tonight there would need to be a meeting on Friday.

18. Ben Puritz had some information on the following articles:  ARTICLE 26.  Community Center funding.  This was a placeholder article to be followed up with Gordon Gladstone.  ARTICLE 27.  Sealing Fees.  Raising fees to statutory limit because it was not in the By-laws.  ARTICLE 28.  Septic System.  It will occur every annual meeting until it is paid off.

19. There was further discussion on the overrides, $1.7 million this year, total of $2.9 million.

20. Ben Puritz explained about the multi-year override to be used by the School Department and the Selectmen.  Much discussion followed this explanation.

21. There was discussion on what the increase in taxes would be, the budget, and the Finance Director.

22. Ben Puritz stated that due to reduction in health insurance, the Southeastern Regional Vocational School had an allocation change in the amount of $172,000.

23. The next meeting will be Friday, April 13.  There must be a quorum or articles cannot be voted for Warrant.

24. The meeting ended at 9:30 p.m.