Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – August 25, 2008

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone, Charles

                               Goodman, Josh Kiernan (late), Joel Lessard, Laura Nelson, Edward

                               Philips, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller

1. Joel Lessard was Acting Chair for this meeting.

2. The first item on the agenda was to approve the August 11 meeting minutes.

3. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of August 11, 2008, as written.

4. VOTED:  6-0-1.  For:  Anderson, Gilligan, Goodman, Lessard, Nelson, Philips.  Abstain:  Gladstone.

5. The next item on the agenda was the Town Consolidated Maintenance Study.

6. There was considerable discussion on this report.

7. Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler attended the meeting.  The Town Automobile Information was not completed, but should be available at the next meeting.

8. Ben Puritz gave additional information on the review of the Maintenance Consolidation report.  Implementation has been made through the DPW for the Community Center, the Library, and other town buildings.

9. There was much more discussion regarding the maintenance consolidation, the costs involved, approximately $300,000, what has been done to date, and the use of existing resources.

10. The next item on the agenda was the review of the Warrant articles.

11. Ben Puritz announced that in terms of Brickstone and amending the agreement, the meeting that was to take place on September 4, has been postponed to at least mid-September.  There is a question of sufficient time to deal with the issue for the November 17 Fall Town Meeting.

12. There was some discussion regarding this announcement.

13. Article 2.  710K for Stabilization Fund from Avalon Bay with $310K for sidewalk improvements and $400K for waterline improvements.

14. Bill Fowler stated that this is the same as Brickstone mitigation by taking in Stabilization Fund, 2/3 vote at Town Meeting; 2/3 vote to appropriate.  Same language as Brickstone, then use for mitigation purposes.  Not considered donations by Attorney General ruling.

15. There was some discussion held on Article 2.

16. Article 5.  Dissolve the Sharon School Friends Trust.  Bill Fowler stated that we’ve gone back 40 years.  Still real discrepancy between Accounting and Treasury.  Have to come up with agreed upon balance.  Have to go to Probate Court.  Legal fees to dissolve the trust.  The whole account has between $27,000 and $40,000.

17. There was discussion held which determined the need for appropriate action from outside audit to reconcile the bank balance in order to be acted upon at the Fall Town Meeting.

18. Article 6.  Right of Way By-Law.  Ben Puritz stated that three towns adopted the by-law, Sharon, Foxboro, and Easton, under the Southeast Regional Services Group.  Easton has rescinded its by-law at the behest of a utility, FIOS, under Verizon’s umbrella.  Easton also left the group.  The town enacted the by-law, the utility challenged by-law.  Attorney General says lawful by-law.  FIOS and Verizon will pass over Sharon.  They don’t want to be governed.  The other communities would want to access this and subject Verizon to regulation and fees.  Verizon would be governed by this.

19. There was much discussion on this article.  It is a placeholder until a decision is made as to what action is to be taken.  The Selectmen and Verizon would need to meet and have discussion.  If there is not sufficient time for public notification, it will be dealt with in the spring.

20. Article 11.  Roadway Layout for Johnson Drive, off Rte. 1.  Information from Peter O’Cain.  Property owner would like to buy land to build a business, three or four stories high, in that location near Walmart at Rte. 95.

21. There was some discussion regarding this property that the county would have to consider surplus or abandoned and that would require an appraisal and fair market offering.

22. Article 12.  Easement for Lakeview Street for sidewalk project.  Information from Peter O’Cain.

23. Ben Puritz stated that determining whether a sidewalk on Lakeview Street impedes what encroaches on private property either provision or acquire the property.

24. There was some discussion on this article that could involve the Planning Board if it’s a scenic road, and if it involves existing stone walls or trees.  Mitigation funds, not borrowing, could be used for sidewalks on Lakeview.

25. Article 10:  Alcohol Rules and Regulations Revisions.

26. Ben Puritz stated that this relates to Sharon Commons to sell beer and wine.  Restaurants provide alcohol with a meal at a table.  No bars.  Asked counsel if that is within local rules and regulations.  Mall would have separate bar service.  Local means Board of Selectmen.  Not allowing package stores.  Amended once from 100 seats to 50 seats.  Further amended for outdoor service.  Waiting for ABC (Alcoholic Beverages Commission) and Town Counsel.

27. There was some discussion on this article.

28. OTHER BUSINESS

29. There was a suggestion regarding a list of salaries that the information not be made public by mishandling.

30. A suggestion was made to bring back discussion of consolidated maintenance and that the School Committee and Board of Selectmen to be at the meeting.

31. Joel Lessard announced that Eli Hauser has three vendors to appear at a meeting of the Economic Development Committee at Town Hall this Thursday.

32. The next meeting will be on September 8, 2008.

33. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

34. VOTED:  7-0-0.

35. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.