Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 1, 2009
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone, Charles
Goodman, Jonathan Hitter (late), Josh Kiernan, Ira Miller, Laura
Nelson, Edward Philips, (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Joel Lessard.
1. The agenda was the continuation of the Warrant articles.
2. Article 8. Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments. No information.
3. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 8 at Town Meeting.
4. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
5. Article 10. Conveyance of 810 South Main Street. Wait for information.
6. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 10 at Town Meeting.
7. VOTED: 7-1-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Against: Goodman.
8. Article 14. Raising Minimum Value for Personal Property Tax.
9. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 14 as written.
10. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
11. Article 18. Public Safety Communication.
12. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 18.
13. There was some discussion on this motion.
14. VOTED: 7-1-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
15. Article 20. Public Works-Vehicles & Equipment.
16. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 20.
17. There was some discussion on the motion regarding safety issue of current carpeting at Town Hall.
18. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
19. Article 22. Feasibility Study for Sharon Middle School.
20. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 22 at Town Meeting.
21. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
22. Article 27. Recreation.
23. There was considerable discussion regarding the purchase of a car for the Recreation Director.
24. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend $10,000 for scheduling software in Article 27.
25. VOTED: 5-3-0. For: Anderson, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson. Against: Gilligan, Gladstone, Philips.
26. Article 31. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses. Still don’t have a figure.
27. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 31 at Town Meeting.
28. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
29. Article 12. Roadway Layout for Johnson Drive. Peter O’Cain and Selectmen included Article 12. Previous opportunity at Town Meeting to consider matter. Discussion with possibility for owners to resolve issues of that 124 sq. ft., 29.5 frontage. If ownership issue can be resolved.
30. There was discussion held regarding this article.
31. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 12 at Town Meeting.
32. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
33. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers. Recap sheet. In Article 4 we reduced Executive compensation 2%. It would be offset in budgets in Article 5. We discussed the fairness issue. How we would deal with our sector and school sector. The Selectmen sector amount was $160,000.
34. There was considerable discussion on Article 5 regarding sustainability and Priorities Committee allocation.
35. Ben Puritz stated that 2.5% increases in all people in school except teachers. The teachers’ contract is open. All other employees are getting 2.5% increase. Steps added to contracts so that all employees are receiving 2.5% with steps.
36. Ira Miller stated that we need to come to an agreement on the budget we’re going to propose for Article 5. Last meeting the Finance Committee reduced 2%. Raises not equitable to entire town employees. It is our chance to be fair and equitable. We have difficulty without representatives from the School Committee here. In fairness to them they did, in order to achieve this budget, cut $1 million from their budget, cut 11-12 positions. If we cannot feel comfortable reducing the school budget any further, there are options: (1) to go back and replace the money from Selectmen sector or (2) try and find an amount that would signify a likely reduction in the school budget. Decide how that checks out to the Finance Committee sector.
37. A MOTION was made by Don Gilligan and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to reconsider our action from last meeting to remove $160,000 from Selectmen’s budget.
38. There was much discussion on this motion.
39. Maria Anderson left the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
40. VOTED: 6-1-1. For: Gilligan, Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Goodman.
41. A MOTION was made by Don Gilligan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 4 as written.
42. VOTED: 6-1-1. For: Gilligan, Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Goodman.
43. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Don Gilligan to increase Town Clerk’s salary by 2% from FY’09 budget.
44. VOTED: 7-0-1. For: Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Nelson.
45. The Finance Committee’s total budget was $443,560.
46. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to restore $5,666 to Finance Committee sector and authorize the Clerk to make the changes.
47. VOTED: 7-1-0. For: Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
48. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend in Article 5 the amounts allocated at Priorities Committee to sectors and to recommend the budgets created subsequently which should result in no increase in taxes.
49. VOTED: 7-1-0. For: Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
50. The next meeting will be April 13, 2009.
51. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
52. VOTED: 8-0-0.
53. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.