Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – July 14, 2008

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson (late), Donald Gilligan (late), Brian Fitzgerald,

                               Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira

                               Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

               Absent:   Jonathan Hitter

1. The first item of business was to approve the minutes of June 30.

2. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve the minutes of June 30, 2008.

3. VOTED:  5-0-3.  For:  Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman.

4. The next item on the agenda was reviewing the Committee Assignments.  Brian Fitzgerald offered to take the Personnel Board.

5. The next item was a discussion on the goals for the year.  The following is a list of the goals:  (1) Monitor revenue expectations of new projects:  Sharon Hills, Sharon Commons, Wilber; (2) Encourage Town Health Insurance coverage reflect typical resident coverage; (3) Monitor FY 2009 Energy Budgets; (4) Review Town-wide Maintenance Department Proposal; (5) Review Mitigation Funds received for Avalon in Sharon; (6) Request Selectman representative attend Finance Commmittee meeting; (7) Review policies of Town owned vehicles (employee use, type purchased); (8) Publish Annual Town Report with full details (all positions, salaries, employees); (9) Prepare Town Department budgets with separate line items for salaries; (10) Formally support Capital Outlay debt buy-down strategy; (11) Minimize FY 2010 Override request; (12) Continue “It’s Your Money” articles in Sharon Advocate; (13) Adopt Finance Commmittee Mission Statement.

6. The next item on the agenda was an update on the Brickstone Development Agreement on proposed changes suggested by the Board of Selectmen and the developers.

7. Rich Powell stated that there were four subject areas.  (1)  Change in schedule of mitigation payments to move up to accommodate our fiscal schedule.  (2)  Dealt with water supply issues in neighborhood and payment option to town.  (3)  Site plan reconfiguration.  Move the waste water facility into the complex itself.  (4)  Amend the agreement to allow access to property from Mountain Street.  Access shall be for emergency purposes.  Only for construction.

8. There was considerable discussion on the four subject areas.  There could be a Special Town Meeting on this matter before the day of Fall Town Meeting or it could be done at the Fall Town Meeting if there were changes to Mountain Street access.

9. Rich Powell stated that Tom Houston is engaged as a consultant regarding the reports on traffic issues and a more substantive proposal to be presented to the Town.

10. There was some discussion regarding the 2007 Annual Audit Report.  Ben Puritz stated it was in draft form, but should be received this month or very soon thereafter.  The Audit Committee will meet on July 22 to report on the scope of the audit for FY’08.

11. There was discussion held regarding the employee contracts recently settled and insurance provisions.

12. Ben Puritz stated that all bargaining units except for two have agreed to the health insurance program Network Blue; higher co-pay, $10; pharmacy, $10, $20, $35.  Contribution percentage of employees as of July 1, 2007, is 70/30.

13. There was some discussion regarding energy including natural gas and electricity.

14. Ben Puritz stated there are multi-year agreements on an annual basis on natural gas and electricity in a consortium for four years with one more year on this agreement ending November, 2009.  All Town buildings have been switched to natural gas except for one building at Horizons for Youth, which is oil.  There is no lock-in on price for gasoline.  There is a solar energy challenge of 150 individual donations of $100 with matching state funds.  The Town gets back $25,000 in panels.  More information to come from Silas Fyler of the Energy Advisory Committee.

15. There was some discussion regarding the Community Center maintenance plan.  Ira Miller stated there was a study on how to maintain the building, the implementation of that plan, and the funding for it.

16. Ben Puritz stated that the primary responsibility for maintenance was the Public Works Department.  He will check with Eric Hooper about that report.

17. OTHER BUSINESS

18. There was some discussion regarding Reserve Fund transfers at the previous meeting about the DPW request.  It was suggested that bills be presented with the request.

19. Ira Miller will put together a schedule of meetings.

20. There was discussion held on filling the vacancy on the Finance Committee and that the Nominating Committee had been interviewing prospective members.

21. The next meeting will be on July 28, unless there is a public meeting with Brickstone and Selectmen on July 29.

22. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

23. VOTED:  10-0-0.

24. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.