Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – June 22, 2009
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan (late), Gordon
Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel
Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson (late), Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald
1. The first item on the agenda was to vote the previous meeting minutes.
2. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to approve the minutes of June 1, 2009.
3. VOTED: 7-0-2. For: Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Garte, Gladstone.
4. The next item on the agenda was a report by Bill Fowler on the Revenue Forecast.
5. Bill Fowler stated that Motor Vehicle Excise Tax was ahead of projection of $2.2M. Now above $2.3M. Real estate tax collections holding. May have higher number by June 30. Building permits were adjusted down to $180,000. Regarding State aid. Substituted stimulus for Chapter 70. Should be the same number. Regarding investment income. Banks not having any interest. Expecting Brickstone the last week in June, $325,000. Roll to free cash. The second year mitigation payment. Brickstone mitigation payment not included in FY’10. Looking at $470,000 reduced State aid. Meal tax and hotel tax are back in the mix. Drop down to $300,000. $197,000 best guesstimate with local option tax and meals. Collected by State and then returned to Town. Get .75% of 1% of what’s collected back. Combined $198,000 starting November. If cities and towns vote local option, .75% on meal tax.
6. There was much discussion regarding local aid from the State.
7. Ben Puritz will notify the committee regarding the $200,000 advance payment from Sharon Commons on the 40R statute.
8. Bill Fowler reported on the Wilber School that tax bill going out for $44,000-$45,000. On expenditure side, covered Snow & Ice. Substantial amount will be going back to free cash. Request for $4,000 from Reserve Fund. About $320,000 back. $325,000, Brickstone. Unused free cash even with Snow & Ice. Outstanding encumbrances. Everything reduced comes back.
9. The next item on the agenda was the Maintenance Department.
10. Ben Puritz reported on recommendation to consolidate facility of maintenance operation. Benefit was to enhance preservation of assets of town buildings and facilities through improvement of quality of maintenance. The cost of implementing the recommendations was summarized in the final report. The bottom line was $288,000 or $300,000. Subject to provision of adequate funding.
11. There was considerable discussion regarding Consolidated Maintenance Department with information and updates provided by Eric Hooper, Superintendent of DPW, and Ken Wirtz, Maintenance Director, School Department. One suggestion was to add an Assistant Maintenance Director to oversee and manage custodial services. Eric Hooper and Ken Wirtz were to put together a realistic budget that could be implemented and return to the committee with their report.
12. The next item on the agenda was the Brickstone update.
13. Ben Puritz reported that there was a presentation to the Selectmen just before Town Meeting from the Brickstone group. The first public hearing to be July 14th. The second public hearing in September. Timely receipt of mitigation funds, $325,000. Primary proposed changes to Development Agreement, use of Mountain Street for building of development for construction purposes, changes in configuration of construction development area called pod. There was to be a meeting with Brickstone engineers and our engineers for proposed traffic plan. Include public attendance, Fire, Police, Town Engineer. The July 14th meeting will be at the Community Center or the High School Library. Points of responsibility. Proposed as a single phase instead of multiple phases. More information will become available following tomorrow’s meeting and the submission of changes of traffic plans the week prior to the July 14th meeting.
14. There was much discussion held regarding Brickstone and scheduled hearings, traffic plan, amendment to Development Agreement, use of Mountain Street for Fall Town Meeting, and concern that information will not be available in enough time before Town Meeting.
15. The next item on the agenda was Town owned vehicles and automobile insurance.
16. Ben Puritz stated that he met with insurance agent, and we have vehicle inventory that are all insured.
17. There was some discussion regarding Town owned vehicles, automobile insurance, and decals for vehicles.
18. The next item on the agenda was the Annual Report and how to handle going forward and collecting data.
19. It was suggested to keep the same format, add other benefits, and provide information on pre tax and post tax.
20. The next item on the agenda was voting salary line items on budget.
21. Bill Fowler recommended against taking a separate vote on the salaries.
22. There was some discussion on voting salary line items, accountability and flexibility.
23. There was a suggestion that perhaps the Planning Board could have hearings sooner so the Finance Committee would have the information to make recommendations for Town Meeting.
24. The next item on the agenda was Reserve Fund Transfer.
25. Ben Puritz presented a request from the Veterans’ Agent for $3,679 over expenditure in benefits category.
26. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make a Reserve Fund Transfer to Account No. 00015432-577000, Veterans’ Cash Benefits, in the amount of $3,679.00.
27. VOTED: 11-0-0. For: Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
28. Defer Goals and Assignments to next meeting.
29. OLD BUSINESS
30. Update on meeting on Middle School from June 4.
31. Defer to next meeting.
32. The next meeting will be on July 13.
33. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
34. VOTED: 11-0-0.
35. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.