Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 9, 2009

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

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

                               Gladstone, Charles Goodman (late), Jonathan Hitter (late), Josh

                               Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (late)

                               (Hamilton)

1. The Finance Committee meeting convened and then adjourned for the Priorities meeting.  After the Priorities meeting the Finance Committee meeting was to resume.

2. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting.

3. VOTED:  7-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson

4. The meeting adjourned for Priorities at 7:33 p.m.

5. At 7:50 p.m. the Finance Committee continued their meeting.

6. The first item for this meeting was the Personnel Board budget presented by Len Sacon, Chair.  They have a small budget, around $3,000-$3,400, mostly for the secretary.

7. Len Sacon reviewed Article 4 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.  He also explained to the committee what the Personnel Board does through the Personnel By-laws by classifying all town employee positions excluding the School Department.

8. There was much discussion on these procedures.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

10. The next item was a committee report on Capital Outlay.

11. Gordon Gladstone reported on the Capital Outlay Tour of February 8.  It was well attended.  Finance Committee members Ira Miller, Gordon Gladstone, Josh Kiernan, and Ted Philips attended.  They saw DPW, Civil Defense, Fire Station, Police Station, High School, and Library.  There will be a Capital Outlay meeting Thursday night, February 12, to begin deliberations on recommendations for capital expenditures.

12. Gordon Gladstone reported on the Charter Commission meeting.  He stated that the work they are doing was going to be very influential in the future of the town.  He believed the Commission was not interested in a city council type government.

13. The next item was discussion on the town employees’ salaries to be published in the Town Report.

14. A MOTION was made by Don Gilligan and SECONDED by Ted Philips that the listing of town employees’ compensation information not include names.

15. There was some discussion on the motion.

16. Gordon Gladstone agreed to meet with Bill Fowler to determine what information is available from the system and whether the gross amounts paid as a burden in the calendar year can be provided.

17. VOTED:  4-6-1.  For:  Gilligan, Hitter, Kiernan, Philips.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Anderson.

18. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to publish in the Town Report salary information by employee name.

19. VOTED:  6-4-1.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Against:  Gilligan, Hitter, Kiernan, Philips.  Abstain:  Anderson.

20. Ira Miller stated that the Warrant must be ready for the Selectmen April 6.

21. There was some discussion regarding the town vehicle list with mileage information.

22. Joel Lessard was to get an update on the mileage.

23. The next meeting will be February 23 to review the Selectmen’s sector budgets.

24. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

25. VOTED:  11-0-0.

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