Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 7, 2008

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

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Joel

                               Lessard, Ira Miller, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hitter, Laura Nelson,

                               Gregory Sydney

1. The first item on the agenda was Mike Polimer, Civil Defense Director, appointed by Selectmen, regarding a $10,000 request for Capital Outlay.

2. Mike Polimer stated that they got one bid for six office windows for $15,450.  They asked for $10,000 from Capital Outlay.

3. There was much discussion whether this request should only be for windows or should be for the roof and doors, what the condition of the building was in, and if there would be any energy savings.  There was a suggestion to have a plan and that the Selectmen need to address all the buildings in town.

4. Chuck Goodman commented that there were Capital requests in the last three years totaling $41,000 and this year another $10,000.

5. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend approval of Article 20.

6. There was continued discussion on the motion.

7. VOTED:  3-3-1.  For:  Gladstone, Kiernan, Philips.  Against:  Alpert, Lessard, Miller.  Abstain:  Goodman.

8. The next item on the agenda was a discussion of the Conservation Commission.  One was to discuss the Reserve Fund Transfer and plan for future needs.

9. Greg Meister reported on the figures of what we would need between now and June 30.  What the ground water levels are this time of year before we decide if some manipulations of the swamp, that we don’t impact the Heights, Wolomolopoag, and Bird Streets.  Got benchmark elevation, eight monitoring wells.  The ones that are in there go across.  These are more sophisticated.  The upper limit is based on putting in monitoring wells, $15,000.  Asking for $11,500.  Town Meeting will appropriate $25,000.  In terms of elevation the $25,000, we should be able to cover that.

10. There was considerable discussion regarding the Reserve Fund request on both the $11,500 and the $4,862.64 for the presentation of the report regarding Cedar Swamp.

11. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend $11,500 Reserve Fund Transfer to the Conservation Commission for the purpose of setting up monitoring wells and elevation.

12. VOTED:  7-0-0.

13. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Alpert to recommend a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Conservation Commission in the amount of $4,862.64 to pay additional costs incurred for the report and for continuation of past work.

14. There was some discussion on this motion regarding the printing of the Cedar Swamp report.

15. VOTED:  7-0-0.

16. The next item on the agenda was discussion of water fowl, Article 27. Ira Miller stated that it just sets fines and enforcement for breaking the town’s by-law.  It is similar when we put fines for septic regulations.  The intent wasn’t to fine young children who feed ducks or geese.

17. There was some discussion regarding this article, but more information was needed so no action was taken.

18. The next item was ARTICLE 30.  Gridley Pond Estates.  Ira Miller stated that we now have the location.

19. Ted Philips said it was across Wolomolopoag, down Furnace St. being the connector between Wolomolopoag and Sharon Woods.

20. Ira Miller said if one is coming from S. Main going down Wolomolopoag, it is right after you pass the Ward’s fields.  It is a drainage lot.  According to town regulations.

21. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 30, as written.

22. VOTED:  7-0-0.

23. The next item was Gordon Gladstone reported that our Finance Director has been working on the tax rate recap leading to the $16.  For ’09, it is $17.23, a 2.63% increase over last year.  Everything is pointing to the assessed value.

24. There was considerable discussion regarding the tax recap sheet and a suggestion was to make a slide presentation at Town Meeting to show how the tax rate is going up 2.63% starting in ’08.

25. The next item was a Report on ARTICLE 12.

26. Gordon Gladstone stated that in 1826 twenty residents put up $1,860 for fund for the promotion of education.  No money has been taken out of that fund.  The Selectmen thought there was $11,000.  Principal not touched, only interest.  Thought $11,000 out of fund balance of $20,000-$23,000.  If they put in 1826, the rest is all interest.  What was the purpose the fund would be used for?  There is no information.  Town Clerk, Marlene Chused, bringing every Town Meeting.  Article 11 pro forma.  Marlene had list of original contributors.  One man gave $1,000 out of the $1,860.  Suggest indefinite postponement.

27. Chuck Goodman suggested reading the mileage of vehicles on an annual basis.  Ask as of an annual date to present to Finance Committee for the vehicle used by each department for all town vehicles.

28. There was some discussion regarding this suggestion to have departments present this information when they present their budgets to the Finance Committee.

29. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Lessard that the Finance Committee requests each department that has a vehicle to give annual miles, the year and model, and who has been using the vehicle for a period from May 1, 2008, to February 28, 2009, thereafter on an annual basis on April 1.

30. VOTED:  7-0-0.

31. There was some discussion regarding a statement for the Charter Commission with a suggestion that they could discuss this as a committee and possibly put something into the Sharon Advocate.

32. The next meeting is Thursday, April 24.

33. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

34. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.