Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 23, 2009

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan, Gordon

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

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Laura Nelson

1. The first item on the agenda was an overview of the Selectmen’s sector budgets by Ben Puritz, Town Administrator.

2. Ben Puritz explained that through the Priorities Committee there was an allocation process which the Selectmen’s sector budgets fit into that allocation amount.  The budgets for FY’10 was level services and level staffing to maintain those services.

3. The first budget presented for review was the Police Department.

4. Chief Joseph Bernstein stated that this budget represents level services, level funding.

5. There was much discussion regarding salaries, union contracts, and how many contracts have been settled or not.

6. The next budget for review was the Fire Department presented by Chief Dennis Mann.

7. Chief Mann explained that the FY’10 budget was level service with a 2% placeholder for possible additional training costs.

8. There was considerable discussion on this budget regarding salaries, the $160,000 appropriation for four firefighters, Ambulance Reserve down to $460,000 from $510,000 for FY’09, and the need for a new pumper.

9. The next budget was the DPW presented by Eric Hooper, Superintendent.

10. Eric Hooper stated that they have been out of Snow & Ice for awhile.  The salary component increased up to 2%.  Steps as well.  Modest increase in materials and services to reflect increases.  The Community Center custodian was part time, now full time position.  It represents increase of $30,000.

11. There was much discussion on this budget regarding Community Center, plowing, maintaining playing fields, Railroad Parking, Recycling, Water, and 70% of meter changes are complete, to be completed by the fall.

12. There was some discussion on wells.  Annual pumping has dropped to 500,000,000 barrels a year due to repairs of leaks, conservation, and watering restrictions.

13. Paul Lauenstein, member of the Water Management Advisory Committee, stated there was a $55,000 recommendation.  $25,000 for conservation coordinator.  $25,000 for water rebates.  $5,000 for water bill inserts.

14. Eric Hooper stated that their biggest needs are roads and sidewalks, replacement trucks, building maintenance, upgrading lights, HVAC, and carpeting in Town Hall as the first building to be targeted.

15. The next item on the agenda was the preliminary list of Annual Town Meeting articles.

16. Ben Puritz stated that the article regarding Friends of School Trust Fund was dropped.

17. Article 1.  Property Adjacent to the High School.  Placeholder for School Department for additional parking, Ames Court.

18. Article 2.  Telecommunications By-Law.  Placeholder.  To reach contract with Verizon to provide FIOS service.

19. Article 3.  Johnson Drive.  Small commercial overlay district.  Letter from Sharon Housing Partnership.  Meeting with owners.  Interest in having area for affordable housing.

20. Article 4.  Brickstone – Mountain Street.  Pending, working through ZBA.  Non-transportation issues.  The routes for construction traffic.

21. There was discussion regarding going to ZBA so residents would know what the plan would be.  If not known, it would not come forward.  If ZBA was not an issue, site plan approval would be placed over for Town Meeting.

22. Article 5.  Light Industrial District.  Request from property owner.  Planning Board engaged consultant to develop language for Planning Board.  Changes in zoning requirement to allow on Route 1.  Allow for other uses to be specified.  Planning consultant would review.  Engaged Tom Houston.  Some of the language obsolete and archaic zoning by-law.

23. Article 6.  Sign By-Law.  Fix objections we had.

24. Article 7.  Accepting New Growth Legislation.  One time benefit to accelerate tax.

25. Ben Puritz explained Town would capture new growth by changing date from January to July.  Quarterly tax billing line up.

26. Article 8.  Raising Minimum Value for Personal Property Tax.

27. Ben Puritz explained it would cost more to collect.  Raise from $1,000 to $2,000.  Short money.  Personal property tax very little.

28. Article 9.  Conservation Restriction for Camp Gannett Property.  Horizons for Youth adjacent property.  Would preempt development of site.  Town received appraisals from Elizabeth Peabody house.  Engaged in appraisal.

29. Article 10.  Placeholder for Horizons for Youth Lease.  One is for Administration Building and one is for other portions of property proposed for camp use.  RFP for Administration recommended, $2,500 a month.  $30,000 a year.  That one property meaningful contribution of property.  In RFP number of options allow for maintenance.  Recommendation would be in place.  Selectmen Town Meeting authority.  Selectmen entering into lease.  Subject to Town Meeting approval.

30. Article 11.  Subzone C for Sharon Commons 40R.

31. Ben Puritz stated they are not sure they are going to make it.  168 units.  211, the difference between the two.

32. Article 12.  Reimburse Intoccia for $200,000 for 40R Zoning Incentive Payment.  40R zoning payment advance to us ahead of state.

33. Ben Puritz stated that there is a Memorandum of Understanding by property owner.  Timely to have funds before Town Meeting.  Might not receive from state.  Property owner advance $200,000.  When town receives from state, would reimburse property owner.

34. Article 13.  Special within the Annual – Transfer from FY’09 Fire Department Budget to Stabilization Fund.  $160,000 from Stabilization Fund.

35. Article 14.  Public Safety Communications.  System amplification in commercial buildings.  From 9-11.  Inability to communicate.  Advanced by Fire Chief.  Present to Selectmen on the 10^th.

36. Gordon Gladstone stated that the School Department was looking for additional funds for architect for Middle School.  It didn’t make the list of articles.

37. Ira Miller stated that we will need to review capital articles.

38. Don Gilligan will write the next article for “It’s Your Money”, the subject to be: Getting information in a timely manner.

39. OTHER BUSINESS

40. There was discussion held on various topics such as summary of all towns insurance plans, what services residents might rather cut than having override or losing teachers, and emblems on town vehicles.

41. Ira Miller announced that Southeastern Regional School District sent a letter with their annual budget and want to come before us.  We will try to set some time.

42. Jon Hitter left meeting early, around 9:30 p.m.

43. The next meeting will be March 2, continuing Selectmen sector budgets.

44. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

45. VOTED:  10-0-0.

46. The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 p.m.