Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – January 12, 2009

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

Members Present:  Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan,

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan

1. The first item on the agenda was to review the Town Clerk’s budget.

2. Marlene Chused, Town Clerk, stated that the level funded budget would meet all statutory obligations, but the minus 5% budget would not.  She reported on the numerous duties in the Town Clerk’s office and also new statutes have been added.

3. There was much discussion regarding this budget year’s financial constraints and where cuts could be made to the budget, but she did not want to give up passports because of revenue it brings in and once it is gone, it can’t be returned.  Also, tax work-off people and volunteers in the Elections & Registration area are a big help.

4. Jon Hitter left the meeting.

5. The next item on the agenda was the review of the Lake Management Committee’s budget presented by Cliff Towner.

6. This budget is small at $2,500.  Mr. Towner reported that the lake is free of fanwort and milfoil, but continued testing and surveying will be done to be sure there is nothing there.  It was caught at the beginning and is now one of the cleanest lakes in the area.  Other communities are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove it.

7. The next item on the agenda was the review of the Zoning Board of Appeals budget presented by John Lee.

8. The biggest item in the budget is usually legal expense, but, as of December, only 10% has been spent.  The applicant for a peer review has their attorney prepare a draft opinion, that the applicant pays for, which saves Town Counsel time and money.

9. There was considerable discussion on this budget and on what is coming up before the Zoning Board of Appeals, such as the Commons 40R site plan approval, Mountain Street site plan approval, and cell towers.

10. The next item on the agenda was the review of the Planning Board budget presented by Arnold Cohen.

11. There was some discussion regarding tentative zoning articles for the May Town Meeting or Fall Town Meeting.

12. The Planning Board prepared two budgets for FY’10.  One was level funding and one was a minus 5% decrease.  Legal expense, as of December, had not been spent.  Expense for salary would be needed.

13. There was a suggestion that the Finance Committee send a liaison to the Planning Board and the Planning Board send a liaison to the Finance Committee.

14. OTHER BUSINESS

15. It was announced that Capital Outlay would be meeting Thursday.

16. Ira Miller reported on the Priorities Committee meeting.  For FY’10 budget purposes, Priorities recommended a 1.62% increase over the FY’09 budget.  To keep the same level of services, it would require a 4.5% increase.

17. There was considerable discussion on this report of the Revenue Forecast, which did not include the $1.2 million override.  It was estimated that taxes would increase 8.2% and if the $1.2 million override was used, it would increase about 10% over and above 2.5%.

18. Ira Miller stated that we have to make a recommendation to Priorities whether to access and raise levy capacity by the $1.2 million available which means raising the taxes above the 2.5% and collecting that, with the difficulties everyone is going through.

19. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to approve the minutes of December 1, 2008, as written.

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

21. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to approve the open meeting minutes of December 15, 2008.

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

23. Bill Fowler explained Maintenance of Service:  That is the number that was targeted to maintain existing services at existing level.

24. There was some discussion on how the percentage figure was determined and how the revenue estimates keep changing.

25. After Bill Fowler explained the new numbers from the Revenue Forecast, it was estimated that the increase in the tax rate would be around 6%.  Corrects item 17 above.

26. There was some discussion regarding the Community Center and additional work to be done for approximately $30,000-$50,000.  About $400,000 had not been borrowed.  The town got $160,000 reimbursement from the state for project cost for Americans for Disabilities Act.  $300-$350,000 was not going to be spent or borrowed.  $50,000 was to be borrowed.

27. Chuck Goodman reported that the Nominating Committee had a meeting on the 9^th.  Information was going out on website and newspaper saying what the Finance Committee does for the purpose of obtaining members.

28. Laura Nelson reported that she and Maria went over six different salary reports workable for Town of Sharon to be included in the Annual Report.

29. Josh Kiernan suggested putting a simple pie chart in the Annual Report where town expenses are shown.

30. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to approve the Executive Session minutes of December 15, 2008.

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

32. The next meeting will be January 26, 2009.

33. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

34. VOTED:  7-0-0.

35. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.