Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – July 13, 2009
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room
Members Present: Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman,
Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Edward
Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Laura Nelson
1. The first item on the agenda was to vote the minutes of the last meeting.
2. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to accept the minutes of June 22, 2009.
3. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Garte, Gilligan, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Gladstone.
4. Ira Miller brought up that two prior meeting minutes, December 15, 2008, Executive Session, and June 1, 2009, needed a slight technical change. To be brought up again at another meeting.
5. The next item on the agenda was to hear Kevin McCarville, Vice Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals, regarding Inter-Board Communications.
6. Kevin McCarville suggested that once a month all town boards and committees meet to exchange information.
7. There was much discussion on how to implement this type of meeting. Gordon Gladstone volunteered to work with Kevin McCarville to try to arrange a meeting under the Open Meeting Laws and report back to the Finance Committee over the next two meetings.
8. John Lee, Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals was at the meeting. The Finance Committee asked questions regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals and what had happened with Brickstone since Fall Town Meeting. John Lee indicated Brickstone had not applied for Special Permit to access Mountain Street.
9. Jon Hitter announced there was to be a Brickstone meeting tomorrow at the high school library. An open forum, 8:15 p.m., to discuss zoning changes and amendment to Development Agreement.
10. There was continued discussion regarding the Brickstone Development Agreement and changes in Zoning By-law.
11. John Lee reported on a number of cell tower applications. Denied in steeple in Unitarian Church. Approved Massapoag water tank and building at DPW. Revenue on water tanks, $9,000 a month, three cell companies. Nothing in the way of commercial development; 40R out of Commons. Approved for 14 units. As to access, they want access out to S. Main Street. They have access to Old Post Road. There has been no progress on the commercial development at lifestyle mall. It hasn’t stopped, but not moving forward. A project that has slowed dramatically.
12. John Lee stated Zoning By-law changes at Town Meeting are extremely complicated such as 40R. People did not understand what was approved. The final draft was released the day of Town Meeting. It was a multiple page zoning change.
13. Jon Hitter reported information provided by Ben Puritz regarding $200,000 from Sharon Commons. Second amendment provided $100,000, received it June 30. $100,000 balance plus interest and penalties due in 60 days. Brickstone came up with $325,000 under second payment of mitigation. $200,000 from Sharon Commons to be paid back when received from state.
14. Ira Miller stated that the $325,000 from Brickstone is earmarked for free cash.
15. There was some discussion regarding 40B affordable housing and what the accurate housing count is.
16. Ted Philips stated that he would get the numbers as the State gets information from the town for numbers. The State decides what qualifies towards the 40B count.
17. The next item on the agenda was the FY’10 goals.
18. The Goals from last year: (1) Monitor new projects. Change new to ongoing projects. (2) Town health insurance coverage. (3) Monitor energy budgets. (4) Maintenance Fund. (5) Review mitigation funds.
19. There was a suggestion to move toward implementation of Maintenance Department. Pursuing it rather than reviewing it.
20. Eric Hooper and Ken Wirtz were putting together a proposal and will come back at the end of August or beginning of September with that information.
21. (6) Mitigation from Avalon and monitor funds to be received from Sharon Commons and Sharon Hills. (7) Ongoing monitoring of town-owned vehicles. (8) Publish Annual Town Report. Continue to publish Annual Report. Make a decision as to whether the committee was satisfied as to format.
22. (9) Formally support Capital Outlay. Continue to support. (10) Any FY’11 override support. Not just minimize. Use of one time funds. Use of extra money. Not sure an override was in anyone’s sights, except Middle School.
23. There was some discussion regarding the use or non-use of the override money and levy limit.
24. There was a suggestion to monitor town compensation contracts that are signed. Some were recently signed for the DPW, Fire, and Police. Our duty to monitor those contracts as well as the School contracts being signed. See how the funds are being appropriated. The figures were 3% for ’09, 2% for ’10, 1% for ’11.
25. (11) Continue “It’s Your Money” articles in Advocate. Worthwhile but very time consuming. (12) Adopt Finance Committee Mission Statement. That was done. Update the list and add monitor revenue projects, Sharon Commons and Sharon Hills. Health insurance coverage. Monitor energy budgets. Pursue town-wide Maintenance Department. Monitor mitigation funds from Sharon Commons and Sharon Hills. Monitor town-owned vehicles. Publish Annual Town Report. Capital Outlay support. Levy limit. Monitor salary compensation agreement. Vote at next meeting.
26. Suggestion to add improve inter-board communication.
27. Suggestions on getting “It’s Your Money” articles written.
28. There was much discussion on Goals for FY’10.
29. Suggestion to continue the same Committee Assignments.
30. OLD BUSINESS
31. Final accounting of reserve fund. Almost $4,000 for Veterans Agent, $25,000 for Charter Commission, leaving almost $320,000 in Reserve Fund.
32. Jon Hitter reported on the update of the Middle School. School Committee met, voted to push forward. Chairman of School Committee coming to August 3 meeting. To discuss what the rationale was for their decision. What is the estimate, what it’s going to cost for potential override?
33. Update on Commons. $100,000 on June 30. Balance in 60 days by September 1. Whole $200,000 was due but $100,000 was paid and second $100,000 to be paid. Brickstone $325,000 was paid by Tuesday, June 30.
34. NEW BUSINESS
35. Jon Hitter announced that tomorrow, July 14, Brickstone meeting, 8:15 p.m. at high school library. Documents available on Town web site. Second amendment to Development Agreement. Red line draft.
36. Jon Hitter announced that the Finance Committee needs to pay the Association of Town Finance Committees for Annual Dues of $231.
37. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to pay the FY’10 annual dues to the Association of Town Finance Committees in the amount of $231.
38. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Lessard, Miller, Philips.
39. Chuck Goodman announced that the Audit Committee meeting is August 11. Everybody received real estate bill. Whoever received an abatement, the bill that was received is incorrect. Didn’t adjust quarterly. They will be sending out change.
40. The next meeting is August 3. Two guests, Paul Bouton, Moderator, and Glenn Allen, Chair, School Committee.
41. The Moderator will discuss how you operate a Town Meeting. Whether to make first motion or not. Some other ideas about omnibus motion for pro forma.
42. Glenn Allen will talk about the Middle School project. August 24 ask Brickstone or have them sooner at August 3 meeting?
43. There was discussion to have Brickstone attend August 3 meeting and Paul Bouton and Glenn Allen to come on August 24.
44. The consensus of the committee was to try to have Brickstone at the August 3 meeting.
45. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
46. VOTED: 9-0-0.
47. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.