Finance Committee Meeting
Open Warrant Meeting
Minutes – November 1, 2010
Sharon High School Library, 8:00 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Keith Garte,
Gordon Gladstone, Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller
(Hamilton)
Absent: Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips
1. The agenda was the Open Warrant Meeting for Fall 2010.
2. Announcements were made to welcome Alex Korin as the new member on the Committee, and that Ira Miller was elected to the Governing Board of the Municipal Association of Town Finance Committees.
3. Article 1. Post Office Square Zoning Changes. Vote: 7-2-0 in favor.
4. There was considerable discussion on this article with an explanation of the revisions by Susan Price, Chair of the Planning Board; questions and comments from several attendees of the meeting and members of the Committee.
5. Article 2. Change former landfill use from Recreation to General Municipal purposes to allow utility scale solar project. Vote: 8-1-0 in favor. Authorized Board of Selectmen to petition State Legislature. Authorized Selectmen to enter into agreement to operate landfill project.
6. There was some discussion on this article.
7. Article 3. Change sign by-law to comply with Attorney General’s recommendations. Vote: 8-0-1 in favor.
8. There was some discussion on changes regarding First Amendment rights.
9. Article 4. Accepting deeds in lieu of foreclosure for various properties. Vote: 8-0-1 in favor. Properties included in the Warrant.
10. Article 5. Transfer sale proceeds from Glenview Road home sale from Community Preservation Fund to Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Vote: 5-3-1 in favor pending Community Preservation Committee vote. The Community Preservation Committee voted against Article 5. This committee took a vote before the Warrant went to print.
11. Article 6.Transfer portion of Community Preservation Fund revenues to Debt and Interest Budgets. Vote: 6-2-1 in favor pending Community Preservation Committee vote. The article is looking to transfer $218,000 as partial payment of funds to reduce town’s borrowing. Horizons for Youth property. The Community Preservation Committee voted in favor. Each year there would be an article in the Warrant until the debt is paid.
12. Article 7. Reduce the Debt and Interest Budgets. Vote: 8-1-0 in favor.
13. Article 8. Funding for High School Roof Replacement – contingent upon MSBA approval. Vote: 9-0-0 in favor. At the May Annual Town Meeting School Committee requesting for payment of Project Management Services.
14. Article 9. Changes to the by-law that would result in the discretion of the Selectmen to not call for a Fall Town Meeting. Vote: 5-4-0 for indefinite postponement. Change from shall to may. Fall Town Meeting not compulsory. Becomes optional depending what’s before the town if there were not enough for the expense to the town. Should have the option to not hold Fall Town Meeting.
15. There was some discussion on this article that it was a recommendation of the Government Study Commission; also, there should be the option to not have the meeting if no need for it; the voters can petition to have Special Town Meeting.
16. Closing of the Open Warrant portion of the meeting.
17. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to reconsider Article 5, transfer sale proceeds from Glenview Road home sale from Community Preservation Fund to Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
18. There was some discussion on the motion.
19. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller.
20. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack for indefinite postponement of Article 5, transfer sale proceeds from Glenview Road home sale from Community Preservation Fund to Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
21. VOTED: 8-0-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller.
22. Fall Town Meeting will be Mon., November 8, 2010, at Sharon High School at 7 p.m.
23. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
24. VOTED: 8-0-0.
25. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.