Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 13, 2007
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Joel Lessard, Laura
Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Gloria Rose, Gregory
Sydney
1. The agenda was to deliberate on the Warrant articles.
2. ARTICLE 27. Sealing Fees. Explanation regarding these fees was given at previous meeting.
3. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 27 as written.
4. VOTED: 6-0-0.
5. ARTICLE 28. Septic System. This has to be done annually in May Town Meeting. Allows the town to use a fund from the state to make septic improvements and then pay back the state.
6. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 28 as written.
7. VOTED: 6-0-0.
8. The next item on the agenda regarded the budget. The Finance sector has $14,108 more to allocate. Reconsider the budget for Conservation Commission, Board of Health, and Town Clerk.
9. Joel Alpert stated that the Finance Committee reconsider the motion recommending three budgets then discuss the budgets.
10. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to reconsider all the Finance Committee budgets for the purpose of reallocation and new numbers.
11. VOTED: 6-0-0.
12. Maria Anderson suggested that all original balances be reinstated and what is left to go to Town Clerk. It will leave $11,043.
13. There was discussion held on how to reallocate the $14,108.
14. Joel Lessard made another suggestion to allocate what the departments need and return the rest.
15. There was more discussion on the way to reallocate the money.
16. Joel Alpert suggested four options. Option 1.—return all money taken in first budget. In addition add $6,616 to the Health Department budget, $3,204 to Town Clerk, and $325 to Conservation Commission. Option 2.—just do Health Department and Town Clerk and return some money. Option 3.—Health, Town Clerk, Conservation Commission and add some money to Finance Committee budget. Bring everybody up to their original budget in addition add $6,616 Health; $3,204, Town Clerk; $325 in addition to the $675 Conservation Commission. Option 4.—add everybody’s back to where it was and add $2,000 back to Finance Committee budget.
17. There was considerable discussion on the four options and also some discussion on hiring someone to help put the Warrant together.
18. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to put budgets back to where they were, put the excess in Town Clerk, Conservation Commission, Board of Health. $3,065 took away. $3,963 left to allocate.
19. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to amend the motion by adding the remaining funds,$898, to Finance Committee to go to salary and expenses.
20. VOTED: 3-2-1. For: Anderson, Lessard, Philips. Against: Alpert, Nelson. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
21. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Joel Lessard that $6,616 go to the Board of Health; that $3,204 go to the Town Clerk; that $325 in addition to $675 go to the Conservation Commission, $1,000; $3,065 taken from budgets; $898 added to Finance Committee labor side of things.
22. VOTED: 3-2-1. For: Anderson, Lessard, Philips. Against: Alpert, Nelson. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
23. The agenda continued with the Warrant articles.
24. ARTICLE 1. Personnel By-law.
25. There was much discussion on this article. Ben Puritz explained some of the salary issues.
26. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make a recommendation on Article 1 at Town Meeting.
27. VOTED: 3-1-2. For: Alpert, Anderson, Philips. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Lessard.
28. There was some discussion on the Selectmen’s budget.
29. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to accept the Selectmen’s budget as presented.
30. There was discussion held regarding the Selectmen’s budget. Ben Puritz stated it was a 2% increase budget.
31. VOTED: 6-0-0.
32. Joel Alpert stated that the School sector budget would be what we did last year. Three options. Option A budget, 2.5%, Option B budget without override, and Option C with override. Recommend which option we recommended to voters. There will be two options sector budget with no override and one sector budget with override.
33. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to recommend acceptance of budget without override.
34. There was discussion held regarding the $1.7 million override, the multi-year override, and the ballot question of a $2.9 million tax levy.
35. VOTED: 5-0-1. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
36. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend a second option including $1.7 million override of School Department budget.
37. There was continued discussion regarding this motion and the two override amounts.
38. VOTED: 4-1-1. For: Alpert, Anderson, Lessard, Philips. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
39. There was more discussion regarding the $1.7 million override and the $2.9 million multi-year override.
40. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make a recommendation at Town Meeting on Option 2 of the budget.
41. VOTED: 6-0-0.
42. There was discussion on Article 2 with Ben Puritz explaining that two budgets would be presented and that the Finance Committee could separate the town portion from the school portion. He stated that the Selectmen wanted a combined or multi-year override.
43. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard to make a recommendation at Town Meeting of the Special Town Meeting. Motion withdrawn.
44. The next item on the agenda was the 1-5 Articles of Special Town Meeting on detail with Rattlesnake Hill.
45. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to make a recommendation at Town Meeting on Articles 1-5 of the Special Town Meeting.
46. VOTED: 6-0-0.
47. WARRANT ARTICLES.
48. ARTICLE 1. Personnel By-law. Recommendation at Town Meeting.
49. ARTICLE 2. Budget/Compensation of Elected Officers. Recommendation at Town Meeting.
50. ARTICLE 3. Finance Department/Finance Director. Voted, 6-1-0 for indefinite postponement, on 3-28-07.
51. ARTICLE 4. Zoning By-law Posting Requirements. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-9-07.
52. ARTICLE 5. Town Meeting Debate Process. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-9-07.
53. ARTICLE 6. School Department. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-9-07.
54. ARTICLE 7. Department of Public Works. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
55. ARTICLE 8. Police Department. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
56. ARTICLE 9. Recreation Department. Voted, 4-2-0 on 3-28-07.
57. ARTICLE 10. Data Processing. Voted, 5-0-1 on 3-28-07.
58. ARTICLE 11. Civil Defense. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
59. ARTICLE 12. Fire Department. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
60. ARTICLE 13. CPC Projects Funding Recommendations. Recommendation at Town Meeting.
61. ARTICLE 14. Finance Committee Members. Voted, 7-0-0 on 3-28-07.
62. ARTICLE 15. Act Upon Reports. Voted, 7-0-0 on 3-28-07.
63. ARTICLE 16. Funds – Sharon Friend School Fund/School Funds. Voted, 7-0-0 on 3-28-07.
64. ARTICLE 17. Stabilization Fund.
65. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard for indefinite postponement of Article 17.
66. VOTED: 6-0-0.
67. ARTICLE 18. Norfolk County Retirement. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
68. ARTICLE 19. Annual Audit. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
69. ARTICLE 20. Unemployment. Voted 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
70. ARTICLE 21. Transfer Borrowed Funds. Voted, 5-1-0 on 3-28-07.
71. ARTICLE 22. Community Preservation Committee Enlargement. Recommendation at Town Meeting.
72. ARTICLE 23. Naming of Community Center. Voted, 5-1-0 on 3-28-07.
73. ARTICLE 24. Veterans’ Exemption. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-9-07.
74. ARTICLE 25. Closing Offices on Saturday/Legal Holiday. Voted, 6-0-0 on 3-28-07.
75. ARTICLE 26. Community Center Funding – Standing Building Committee.
76. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Brian Fitzgerald to make a recommendation on Article 26 at Town Meeting.
77. VOTED: 6-0-0.
78. ARTICLE 27. Sealing Fees. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-13-07.
79. ARTICLE 28. Septic System Improvement Loan Program. Voted, 6-0-0 on 4-13-07.
80. ARTICLE 29. Historical Building Demolition By-law (revision).
81. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to make a recommendation on Article 29 at Town Meeting.
82. VOTED: 5-0-1. Abstain: Lessard.
83. ARTICLE 30. Revolving Funds.
84. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to make a recommendation on Article 30 at Town Meeting.
85. VOTED: 6-0-0.
86. ARTICLE 31. Authorize Absentee Vote for One Missed Meeting. Voted 6-0-0.
87. The next meeting will be April 23.
88. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
89. VOTED: 6-0-0.
90. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m.