Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – July 9, 2007

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

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Gordon Gladstone, Jonathan Hitter, Josh

                               Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Edward Philips, Gregory Sydney

                               (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Laura Nelson

1. The first item on the agenda was to review Finance Committee minutes.

2. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to approve the Minutes of June 4, 2007.

3. VOTED:  8-0-1.  Abstain:  Gladstone.

4. There was some discussion regarding the Fall Town Meeting beginning Monday night, November 5.  There was a preliminary draft schedule for Town Meeting.  The opening of the Warrant is July 24, closing, September 4.  Petition articles and all others are due September 4.  The Finance Committee is not putting anything on the Warrant.

5. There was some discussion regarding Reserve Fund transfer requesting additional funds for overage on Legal Budget.  This committee asked for additional information which was provided to us.

6. The next item on the agenda was to review changes to the School Committee budget from last May.

7. Sam Liao, School Committee Chair, stated that a lot of things have happened since the override including the transition from Dr. Jackson to current Superintendent Barbara Dunham.  There was some departure of staff.  There were opportunities for adjusting various items in the budget.

8. Dr. Barbara Dunham, Superintendent, reviewed items regarding teachers, salaries, and health care insurance.

9. There was considerable discussion regarding the foreign language program at the elementary schools especially the re-implementation of Chinese which is budgeted for $150,000.

10. There was discussion held regarding health care insurance.

11. There was some discussion about transportation costs which have doubled over the past four years along with utilities, gas, and cost of insurance.

12. There was discussion regarding cell phone cost which is used as school security devices.

13. There was discussion regarding the cost of athletics to the school including lacrosse which should be fully self-funding.

14. The next item on the agenda was the legal bills and Reserve Fund transfers to be discussed with the Board of Selectmen.

15. There was discussion regarding an update of the Wilber project and cost of Special Town Meeting on March 12.

16. There was discussion regarding the question of a savings by having Town Counsel in-house as opposed to having a firm of attorneys that work on municipal law.

17. Attorney Dick Gelerman was present to give information on this topic.

18. There was discussion regarding the Law Budget amount for Reserve Fund transfer.

19. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to accept the original proposal of Reserve Fund transfer to the Law Budget in the amount of $53,050.87.

20. VOTED:  8-0-1.  Abstain:  Sydney.

21. There was discussion regarding the status of the cell tower expansion around town with the Board of Selectmen having signed leases with three sites:  Upland Road water tower, monopole at DPW, and Massapoag Avenue water tower with one provider, Verizon.  AT&T asked to be co-provider.

22. There was some discussion regarding health insurance and an education component to be implemented in the fall.

23. There was discussion regarding an update on the status of the Sharon Commons and the Sharon Hills projects.  Also Avalon Bay should be breaking ground and the Lexus dealer is open for business.

24. Ira Miller stated that the Community Preservation Committee requested a slot this evening, but due to our full agenda, he requested he come in at our next meeting on July 23.

25. The next item on the agenda was John Lee of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a Reserve Fund transfer for legal bills.

26. There was discussion held regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals legal bills.

27. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve a Reserve Fund transfer to the Zoning Board of Appeals for legal bills provided that said amount does not exceed $8,800.

28. VOTED:  9-0-0.

29. There was discussion about topics for upcoming meetings such as Revolving Funds, Town Counsel, other legal bills that are in the system, and the status of the Finance Director position.

30. The next meeting will be on July 23 or July 30.

31. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

32. VOTED:  9-0-0.

33. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.