Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – October 15, 2009

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald (late), Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan, Gordon

                               Gladstone (late), Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan,

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Edward Philips, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Maria Anderson, Laura Nelson

1. The agenda was to vote on Warrant articles.

2. Glenn Allen, Chair, School Committee, was present to discuss Warrant articles pertaining to Middle School renovation, interim costs, and Circuit Breaker.

3. There was much discussion regarding School articles.

4. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend to appropriate or borrow money, $50,540,287, ultimately $21,370,000, will be reduced by $358,000 for Article 5, Middle School debt exclusion, in the amount of $21,370,000.

5. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.

6. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend to raise and appropriate approximately $357,000 to fund Article 6, architect, engineer, and owners project manager expenses, between November and January.

7. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.

8. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend indefinite postponement for Article 7, placeholder for Circuit Breaker.

9. There was some discussion on this motion.

10. VOTED:  5-4-0.  For:  Garte, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller.  Against:  Gilligan, Gladstone, Hitter, Philips.

11. Next item on the agenda was to discuss the Brickstone Warrant articles.

12. John Twohig, Attorney for Brickstone, announced the Planning Board vote was 3-2 in favor of Article 1, Height.  Paul Lauenstein and Amanda Sloan were against.  5-0 voted in favor of Article 2, Fire Station.

13. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 1, Brickstone – Height.

14. There was some discussion regarding this motion.

15. VOTED:  8-0-1.  For:  Garte. Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.  Donald Gilligan recused himself.

16. Article 2 – Fire Station.  Amend zoning by-laws.  Water pumping station.

17. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 2, Brickstone-Fire Station.

18. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Donald Gilligan recused himself.

19. Article 3.  Brickstone – Changes to MOU – material obligation only.  Use of Mountain Street.  Some traffic patterns.

20. There was considerable discussion on this article.  Police Chief asked to be at next meeting to discuss traffic pattern, routing, and safety especially if Middle School is also under construction at the same time.

21. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald for indefinite postponement of Article 3, Brickstone – changes to MOU.

22. There was no second for this motion.

23. There was continued discussion on this article.

24. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 3, Brickstone – changes to MOU.

25. There was much discussion on this motion.

26. Ira Miller withdrew his second.

27. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 3, Brickstone-Changes to MOU material obligation only, at Town Meeting.

28. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Donald Gilligan recused himself.

29. Article 4.  Brickstone – Home rule petition to create a Finance District.

30. There was some discussion on this article.  The Fire Chief asked to be at next meeting to discuss difference in plans for the fire station.

31. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 4, Brickstone – Home rule petition to create a Finance District, at Town Meeting.

32. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Donald Gilligan recused himself.

33. Board of Selectmen asked to be at next meeting to comment on Article 4 and any other articles that needed clarifying.

34. Article 8.  Off premises consumption for square and for Heights – beer and wine only.

35. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to limit the town wide number of licenses to be five and add two new districts to other district, Article 8, off premises consumption – beer and wine only.

36. There was some discussion on this motion.

37. VOTED:  5-5-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Lessard, Miller.  Against:  Garte, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Philips.

38. There was more discussion on Article 8 and a suggestion to ask Police Chief his opinion regarding number of licenses to be available.

39. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 8, Off Premises consumption for Square and Heights – beer and wine only, at Town Meeting.

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

41. Article 9.  Zoning article that seeks to amend the uses allowable in the light industrial district.

42. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 9, Zoning article that seeks to amend the uses allowable in the light industrial district.

43. VOTED:  9-1-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.  Against:  Lessard.

44. Article 10.  Community Preservation Committee.

45. Community Preservation Committee voted to bring two things to Town Meeting, the library renovations that Capital Outlay approved at Town Meeting.  Augment funding of replacing outside doors, additional lighting, and repair foyer stairs.  And the Historic Commission inventory survey.

46. Ira Miller stated that the Historic Commission request was $25,000 for Phase 2 to fund inventory on historic property.  Phase 1 was funded by grant.  Phase 2 to finish the survey.

47. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend library restoration project in the amount of $14,650 of Article 10, Community Preservation Committee.

48. There was some discussion on the motion.

49. VOTED:  4-6-0.  For:  Garte, Hitter, Miller, Philips.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard.

50. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan for indefinite postponement of the library section of Article 10, Community Preservation Committee.

51. VOTED:  6-4-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard.  Against:  Garte, Hitter, Miller, Philips.

52. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan for indefinite postponement of the historical section of Article 10, Community Preservation Committee.

53. VOTED:  6-4-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard.  Against:  Garte, Hitter, Miller, Philips.

54. Article 11.  The legislation amending the maximum work off amount under Ch. 59 section 5K has been enacted as Outside section 24 to the FY’10 Budget.  Previously voted 10-0-0 in favor.

55. Article 12.  Former Pozza Property on Belcher Street to petition legislature to release Town Land to complete land swap as voted in 1999.

56. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 12, land swap.

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

58. Article 13.  Purchase of land by Sharon Department of Water Zone:  Assessors Map 31 parcel 16 owned by Nicholas G. Diesso to be purchased for the protection of Well #6.

59. There was discussion on this article.

60. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone for indefinite postponement of Article 13, purchase of land for protection of Well #6.

61. VOTED:  9-1-0.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Against:  Hitter.

62. Article 14.  Animal Control changes in by-law.  Previously voted 10-0-0 in favor.

63. Article 15.  Roadway acceptance of Eisenhower Drive Extension.

64. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 15, roadway acceptance of Eisenhower Drive Extension, at Town Meeting.

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

66. Article 16.  Horizons for Youth – Lease Authorization Extension.  Previously voted 8-0-0 indefinite postponement.

67. Article 17, Sign by-law change.

68. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 17, Sign by-law change.

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

70. The next meeting will be October 19.

71. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

72. VOTED:  10-0-0.

73. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.