Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – June 30, 2008

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

Members Present:  Gordon Gladstone, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira

                               Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan, Charles

                               Goodman

1. The first item on the agenda was to approve the outstanding minutes.

2. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to approve the Executive Session minutes of March 20, 2008.

3. VOTED:  4-0-3.  For:  Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller.  Abstain:  Gladstone, Nelson, Philips.

4. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to approve the minutes of April 24, 2008.

5. VOTED:  4-0-3.  For:  Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Gladstone, Kiernan, Nelson.

6. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to approve the minutes of April 28, 2008.

7. VOTED:  5-0-2.  For:  Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Gladstone, Nelson.

8. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve the minutes of June 2, 2008.

9. VOTED:  6-0-1.  For:  Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.  Abstain:  Gladstone.

10. The next item on the agenda was Reserve Fund Transfers.  Ben Puritz stated that the balance of the Reserve Fund as of June 30, 2008, was in the amount of $301,277.36.  The amount of the DPW, Snow & Ice Reserve Fund Transfer Request was $228,000.

11. The Fire Department Reserve Fund Transfer Request was previously estimated at $50,000 and is now $15,000 to fill in for injured firefighters.  The decrease was that the length of injury was less than estimated.

12. The Veterans Services Reserve Fund Transfer Request was $11,116.  That brings the requests to $255,750 leaving a balance in the Reserve Fund of $46,000.

13. The next item on the agenda was Paul Laurenstein with an update on Inclusionary Housing.

14. Paul Lauenstein stated that the State Supreme Judicial Court upheld the 40B laws.  Unless they come up with affordable housing, the town is subject to 40B unless we get the 10%.  We stopped the Pine Woods Development.  We approved Avalon Bay and got a two year grace period.  We thought we had a pathway to 10%.  The Simpson project was turned down.  The Mass. Highway has bought the property.  Those 200 units would have been the biggest single source.  Avalon Bay, 156; S. Main Street, 117; Wilber, 79.  We might get 8%.  Not going to make it unless we can find some other source of affordable housing.

15. There was some discussion regarding Brickstone and their contribution toward affordable housing and the question of whether or not to exempt Brickstone.

16. The next item was to vote on the Reserve Fund Transfers.

17. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer to the DPW in the amount of $228,749.52 for the purpose of Snow & Ice removal and to cover expenses.

18. VOTED:  6-0-1.  For:  Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Nelson.

19. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Fire Department in the amount of $15,000 for salaries.

20. VOTED:  7-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

21. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Veterans Agent in the amount of $11,116.00.

22. VOTED:  7-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

23. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Zoning Board of Appeal in the amount of $20,923.04 for an overage of legal services and other expenses.

24. VOTED:  7-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

25. OTHER BUSINESS

26. Items for further discussion were committee goals, committee liaisons, having Mike Bossin of Horizons for Youth Committee come in, an update on insurance, and Town Meeting involvement by the Finance Committee.

27. The next meeting will be Monday, July 14.

28. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

29. VOTED:  7-0-0.

30. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.