Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – March 23, 2009
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter
(late), Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard (late), Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,
Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone
1. The agenda was to review and deliberate on the Warrant articles. Bill Fowler, Finance Director, was present to give information on articles and Ben Puritz was to attend later.
2. Special within the Annual Articles.
3. Special Article 1. Transfer from FY’09 Fire Department Budget to Stabilization Fund.
4. Bill Fowler stated that the purpose was to transfer $160,000 back to Stabilization Fund. Taking out of Fire budget with intent at Annual Meeting to fund part of those positions next year. It would be immediately available for use from Stabilization. The rest would be funded through coming year’s budget.
5. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend Article 1 of the Special within the Annual Meeting.
6. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
7. Special Article 2. Use of Wilber School Payments for FY’09.
8. Bill Fowler stated that the purpose was to take a portion of the money from Wilber School and use to offset any potential deficit in ’09. $477,000 placeholder. Number going down. Will have final number by Town Meeting.
9. There was some discussion on Special Article 2.
10. Annual Town Meeting Articles.
11. Article 1. Finance Committee Members.
12. Ira Miller stated that four of our current members’ terms will expire: Laura Nelson, Chuck Goodman, Jon Hitter, and Ira Miller. We are going before the Finance Committee Nominating Committee. That leaves one open that we have had vacant. They will make recommendation known before Warrant goes to print and will be included in the Warrant.
13. Article 3. Increase in funding of Stabilization Funds.
14. Ira Miller stated that it would be a possibility because it was in the Warrant.
15. Article 4. Personnel By-Law. It is incomplete.
16. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.
17. Ira Miller stated that the Selectmen agreed to approve a 2% raise for Executives. Vote was 2-1. Ben will report on this.
18. Article 6. Norfolk County Retirement.
19. Bill Fowler stated that the amount was $2,269,602, an increase of $199,358 over ’09. 9.63% increase. It is to pay the pension liability for past and present town employees.
20. There was some discussion on Article 6.
21. Article 7. Unemployment Insurance.
22. Bill Fowler stated that there is $86,052 in the Unemployment Trust Fund.
23. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 7 as written for unemployment insurance.
24. VOTED: 7-0-1. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Lessard.
25. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend Article 6 as written, $2,269,602, 9.63% increase.
26. VOTED: 6-0-2. For: Anderson, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Kiernan.
27. Article 8. Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments.
28. Bill Fowler stated that the outside audit firm reconciled the amount in the fund. The names to be appointed will be on the motion.
29. Article 9. Annual Audit.
30. Bill Fowler stated that another annual appropriation to pay for outside audit. The fee is $52,779. 5% increase on last year. It is an FY’10 expenditure for ’09 audit. It will be done in ’10.
31. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 9 to allocate and raise $52,779 for an audit of 2009 to be done in FY’10.
32. There was some discussion on the motion.
33. VOTED: 6-0-2. For: Anderson, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Nelson.
34. Article 10. Conservation Restriction for Camp Gannett Property. No details.
35. Article 14. Accepting New Growth Legislation.
36. Bill Fowler stated this allows the town to assess as of June 30. Capture more new growth. All three members of the Board of Assessors support the change.
37. There was some discussion on Article 14.
38. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 14 to change date of assessment of new growth from January 1 to June 30.
39. VOTED: 7-1-0. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Against: Goodman.
40. Article 15. Raising Minimum Value for Personal Property Tax.
41. Bill Fowler stated that the smaller the personal tax property, the less likely to be paid. Needs to be $2,000. The town is losing money on smaller amounts due to the cost of billing and not getting paid.
42. Article 18. Reimburse Intoccia for 40R Zoning Incentive Payment.
43. Ben Puritz stated that when the town receives payment from the state, this will be reimbursed.
44. Bill Fowler stated that the town needs a legal mechanism to spend it. It has to be voted as an appropriation.
45. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 18, reimburse Intoccia.
46. VOTED: 7-0-2. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Hitter, Nelson.
47. Ira Miller stated that the Committee has already discussed Articles 20-30.
48. Article 31. Veterans’ Exemption. Real estate exempt. Every year renewing veterans’ exemption. Standard procedure.
49. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 31, Veterans’ Exemption.
50. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
51. Article 32. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses. No details.
52. Ben Puritz stated this article is to provide for committee funding. The Community Preservation Committee indicated they would like to have the article in the Warrant.
53. Article 33. Revolving Funds Reauthorizations. Reauthorization of various town’s revolving funds, A-N.
54. Bill Fowler explained the use of revolving funds.
55. There was much discussion on Article 33 and revolving funds. This article was deferred for more information.
56. Article 2. Act upon Reports. Print annual reports.
57. Ben Puritz stated reports are available from Town Accountant’s Report. Considered a pro forma article.
58. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 2, acceptance of town reports.
59. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
60. Article 4. Personnel By-Law. Incomplete.
61. Ben Puritz explained that a Memorandum has gone to the Personnel Board. Selectmen voted on this article to increase salaries 2% across the board for the portion not governed by collective bargaining, the Executives. These are the non-represented positions.
62. There was some discussion on Article 4.
63. Article 5 Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers. Still some deliberations. Two salaries outside Article 4. Town Clerk is one, elected position.
64. Article 8. Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments. To be held for names of Trustees.
65. Article 10. Conservation Restriction for Camp Gannett Property.
66. Ben Puritz stated that the property is on the lake. It has some differences, some similarities with respect to Horizons for Youth property acquired by the town. It will be deferred until November meeting. Town has expert appraiser, Elizabeth Peabody House in Somerville.
67. There was some discussion on Article 10.
68. Article 11. Conveyance of 810 South Main Street. Sale of land, small parcel.
69. Ben Puritz stated the need to have Tom Houston explain about this property.
70. Article 12. Telecommunications By-Law Change. Verizon. FIOS.
71. Ben Puritz stated that the article is broadly written to rescind telecommunication by-law. The article is there to open up that discussion. Bring before Town Meeting and town will make decision.
72. There was considerable discussion on Article 12.
73. More information was needed before Town Meeting.
74. Article 13. Johnson Drive (old Article 6). No details.
75. Ben Puritz suggested meeting with Peter O’Cain, Town Engineer. Last time there were three articles. Abandonment of layout. The last time the abandonment was linked to potential sale of property. Abandonment of paper street and layout that should have been done some time ago. Bring into proper format.
76. There was some discussion on Article 13.
77. Article 16. Long-term lease for Horizons for Youth Property not including Administration Building.
78. Ben Puritz stated that the Reuse Committee will evaluate inspection. Provide recommendation to Selectmen. Minimum rental $55,000 per year. Additional points in evaluation proposals for capital improvements and maintenance.
79. Article 17. Long-term lease for Horizons for Youth Administration Building.
80. Ben Puritz stated that the building is on lakeside. Includes improvements of facility and maintenance. Minimum $85,000 a year for non-profit or educational use of buildings.
81. There was considerable discussion on Articles 16 and 17, which are to be held.
82. Article 19. Public Safety Communication Article.
83. Ben Puritz stated this article is for a communications amplification system. When inside buildings their handheld radios will not broadcast.
84. More information was needed on Article 19.
85. The next meeting will be Monday, March 30. Another meeting that week will be Wednesday, April 1.
86. Josh Kiernan left the meeting at 9:30 p.m. and Brian Fitzgerald left the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
87. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
88. VOTED: 7-0-0.
89. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.