Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – May 4, 2009

Sharon High School Library – 6:00 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone, Charles

                               Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller,

                               Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (late), (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson

1. The agenda was to discuss any new information on Warrant articles prior to Town Meeting.

2. Ira Miller stated there were three articles.  One article was waiting for a figure and an update on the other two.  Regarding Article 27, Recreation, for $35,000.  $10,000 was for acquiring scheduling software; $25,000 to replace the Recreation Director’s automobile.  The Finance Committee voted 5-3 to support the $10,000 acquisition of software.  Opposed to automobile.  At the Capital Outlay meeting prior to this meeting, the Recreation Department withdrew their request for the automobile.  It was reported that $2,000 was used to repair the existing automobile.

3. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Jon Hitter to reconsider Article 27.

4. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

5. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 27 for $10,000 Capital Outlay request for Recreation Department.

6. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

7. Article 22.  Feasibility Study for Sharon Middle School.  Funding necessary for feasibility study to get documents in line to move forward the Middle School Project.

8. Gordon Gladstone reported that proposals were received from the architect for fees necessary to do schematic and design development.  Total amount needed was $875,000.  Town Meeting appropriated $410,000 last November.  Reduces requirement from $875,000 to $475,000.

9. Article 21.  School Department.  Dr. Barbara Dunham explained that $280,000 for Special Education vans would come from School budget and not Capital request.

10. There was some discussion on these two articles.  It was noted that it would be necessary to maintain town’s priority position for MSBA reimbursement funding.

11. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Donald Gilligan to recommend $475,000 for Article 22.

12. VOTED:  10-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

13. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to reconsider Article 21.

14. VOTED:  10-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

15. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Donald Gilligan to recommend the reduction of amount in Article 21 to $957,569.

16. VOTED:  10-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

17. There was some discussion regarding Special Article 2.  Use of Wilber School Payments for FY’09.

18. Bill Fowler updated the estimate of $200,000 to avoid tax debt.  What is not used flows back as free cash for the ’11 budget.

19. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to reconsider Article 18, Public Safety Communication.

20. VOTED:  10-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

21. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 18.

22. VOTED:  10-0-0.  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

23. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

24. VOTED:  10-0-0.

25. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.