Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – March 31, 2008
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira
Miller, Edward Philips, Gregory Sydney (Hamilton)
Absent: Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hitter, Laura
Nelson
1. The agenda was to finish the review of the budget and also to start the review of the Warrant articles.
2. Greg Sydney reported on the Personnel Board. Raises were approved on salaries. Library 1.5% increase. Concern because members had not reviewed her review. This came up with regards to Finance Committee raise to Clerk of 5%. Did not have review.
3. There was some discussion regarding the need to give the Personnel Board a written review on the Town Clerk.
4. The first item on the agenda was the review of the Water Department. Discussion of water meter readers and installation.
5. Ben Puritz reported that the Water Department is in the process of bidding for a contract arrangement. The work could be eight weeks. Once the contract is awarded it would be 18 months to finish. There is sufficient capacity to support the contract to bring about the objective of installing the water meters within 18 months.
6. Paul Lauenstein reported that the Water Advisory Committee voted the radio meter installation would be accelerated. There was money in the account, but Town Meeting had to appropriate the funds.
7. There was some discussion regarding the employees of the Water Department on Worker’s Compensation, and the cost of installing the water meter readers which was estimated at $500,000 by an outside contractor.
8. Ira Miller reported that today Maria Anderson had added $50,000 to the Recreation budget which would be coming from the mitigation funds to do work around the beach. That money could be earmarked for a Stabilization Fund and then appropriated after Article 5. We would change the figure, a $50,000 reduction. Line 35 on recap sheet would be $183,307. The article of reallocation of $25,000 for the Conservation Commission for their use at Cedar Swamp. That hadn’t been added to the budget. At Town Meeting we could appropriate those funds.
9. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to accept the appropriation at Town Meeting in the amount of $64,599,070.
10. VOTED: 7-0-0.
11. The next item was the Warrant articles.
12. ARTICLE 1. Finance Committee Members (Pro Forma)
13. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 1 as written. (To fill vacancies).
14. VOTED: 7-0-0.
15. ARTICLE 2. Act Upon Reports (Pro Forma)
16. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 2 as written.
17. VOTED: 7-0-0.
18. ARTICLE 3. Increase in Funding of Stabilization Funds
19. Ira Miller stated this is to add to the current fund. $375,000 on top of it. In our recommendation we can announce the amount.
20. There was discussion regarding Article 3 and the first step was to accept the funds.
21. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 3 as written.
22. VOTED: 7-0-0.
23. There was some discussion on Articles 4 and 5.
24. ARTICLE 4. Personnel By-Law
25. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 4.
26. VOTED: 7-0-0.
27. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to apply $118,000, apply $325,000 adding to Stabilization Fund and raising the rest on the tax.
28. After continued discussion on the Stabilization Fund, Gordon Gladstone withdrew the motion.
29. ARTICLE 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers
30. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 5 by using a sufficient amount of the Stabilization Fund to obviate the tax levy and raise the rest by taxation.
31. There was some discussion on the motion regarding not using the override capacity.
32. VOTED: 7-0-0.
33. ARTICLE 6. To authorize transfer of $25,000 from Rattlesnake Hill Appraisal Account for Supplemental Funding for Conservation Commission Budget.
34. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 6.
35. VOTED: 7-0-0.
36. ARTICLE 8. Establishment of Water Department Utility Enterprise Fund.
37. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 8.
38. VOTED: 7-0-0.
39. ARTICLE 7. Quarterly Tax Bill.
40. There was some discussion on Article 7 regarding the costs of the additional mailings.
41. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 7.
42. VOTED: 5-1-1. For: Gladstone, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Goodman. Abstain: Sydney.
43. ARTICLE 9. Norfolk County Retirement.
44. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Greg Sydney to recommend Article 9 as written.
45. VOTED: 7-0-0.
46. ARTICLE 10. Unemployment.
47. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 10.
48. VOTED: 7-0-0.
49. ARTICLE 11. Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments.
50. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 11.
51. VOTED: 7-0-0.
52. ARTICLE 12. Allow Selectmen to reallocate funds of and to take action as it relates to the Sharon Friends School Fund.
53. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make a recommendation of Article 12 at Town Meeting.
54. VOTED: 7-0-0.
55. ARTICLE 13. Annual Audit.
56. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 13.
57. VOTED: 7-0-0.
58. ARTICLE 14. Public Works – Streets & Sidewalks (Capital Outlay).
59. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 14.
60. VOTED: 7-0-0.
61. ARTICLE 15. Public Works – Vehicles & Equipment (Capital Outlay).
62. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 15 as written.
63. VOTED: 7-0-0.
64. ARTICLE 16. School Department (Capital Outlay).
65. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 16. (repairs and replacing seats in the auditorium)
66. VOTED: 7-0-0.
67. ARTICLE 17. Feasibility Study for Sharon Middle School (Capital Outlay).
68. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 17 as amendment reads Standing Building Committee instead of School Committee.
69. VOTED: 6-1-0. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Sydney.
70. ARTICLE 18. Fire (Capital Outlay).
71. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 18.
72. VOTED: 7-0-0.
73. ARTICLE 19. Police (Capital Outlay).
74. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 19.
75. VOTED: 7-0-0.
76. ARTICLE 20. Civil Defense (Capital Outlay).
77. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make a recommendation of Article 20 at Town Meeting.
78. VOTED: 7-0-0.
79. ARTICLE 21. Library (Capital Outlay).
80. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 21.
81. VOTED: 7-0-0.
82. ARTICLE 22. Recreation (Capital Outlay)
83. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 22.
84. VOTED: 7-0-0.
85. ARTICLE 23. Fire Department Equipment Grant.
86. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 23.
87. VOTED: 7-0-0.
88. ARTICLE 24. Conservation Commission Acquisition – Piona Property.
89. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 24.
90. VOTED: 7-0-0.
91. Article 25 was withdrawn.
92. ARTICLE 26. Veteran’s Exemption.
93. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 26.
94. VOTED: 7-0-0.
95. ARTICLE 27. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses.
96. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 27.
97. VOTED: 4-2-1. For: Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Gladstone, Goodman. Abstain: Sydney.
98. ARTICLE. 28. Non-criminal Violation – Penalties for Feeding Water Fowl.
99. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 28.
100. There was discussion on this article regarding the enforcement.
101. VOTED: 0-5-2. Against: Gladstone, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Goodman, Sydney.
102. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to make a recommendation of Article 28 at Town Meeting.
103. VOTED: 7-0-0.
104. ARTICLE 29. Easement for property at 145 Beach Street
105. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 29.
106. VOTED: 6-0-1. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Sydney.
107. ARTICLE 30. Correct Error in Zoning Map.
108. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 30.
109. VOTED: 6-1-0. For: Gladstone, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Sydney. Against: Goodman.
110. ARTICLE 31. Accept Gridley Pond Estates Easement.
111. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to make a recommendation of Article 31 at Town Meeting.
112. VOTED: 7-0-0.
113. ARTICLE 32. Authorizations Regarding Trench Safety Permits and Fees.
114. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 32.
115. VOTED: 7-0-0.
116. ARTICLE 33. Revolving Funds Reauthorizations.
117. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 33 from A – L.
118. VOTED: 6-0-1. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Philips, Sydney. Abstain: Kiernan.
119. ARTICLE 34. Establish “Waterfront Recreation Programs” Revolving Fund.
120. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 34.
121. VOTED: 6-1-0. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Philips, Sydney. Against: Lessard.
122. ARTICLE 35. Establish “Community Center Building Maintenance” Revolving Fund.
123. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 35.
124. There was some discussion on this article.
125. VOTED: 5-2-0. For: Gladstone, Kiernan, Miller, Philips, Sydney. Against: Goodman, Lessard.
126. ARTICLE 36. Correct Numbering Error from May 2007 Annual Town Meeting.
127. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 36.
128. VOTED: 7-0-0.
129. Ira Miller read Question 1. Shall a commission be elected? The Finance Committee never takes a position. We can discuss it. We can make a recommendation prior to Town Meeting. That is a simple ballot question: Shall we elect commission to frame a charter? We can deal with this but not in the Warrant.
130. The next meeting will be April 7.
131. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
132. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.