Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 22, 2010

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Keith Garte, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman,

                              Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,

                              Edward Philips, (Hamilton)

               Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan

1. Minutes were not voted at this meeting.

2. The first item on the agenda was the Town Clerk’s budget.  Marlene Chused, Town Clerk, made the presentation.

3. Marlene Chused brought up new unfunded mandates:  Conflict of Interest, Ethics Commission, and changes to Open Meeting Law.  Non-criminal violations were $1,000.  Everything else was level.  She stated of the four options for the budget, Primary and Option 1 will not meet the purposes.

4. There was much discussion on the budgets and that the unfunded mandates will be a drain on time and money to fulfill requirements.  The tax work-off program and volunteers are a big help.

5. The next item on the agenda was the Selectmen’s budget.

6. Ben Puritz presented an overall look at the Selectmen’s sector budgets bringing the committee up to date regarding Middle School, Avalon Bay, Wilber, Brickstone, leases with Horizons for Youth, Sacred Heart property, and Priorities allocation to each sector of 2.47% increase over the last budget.

7. There was some discussion on this information.

8. Dennis Mann, Fire Chief, presented the Fire Department budget.  He stated he is working on level staffing budget.  Major increases are $100,000 in budget for Central Dispatch as well as step increases.  Six firefighters.  A 1% salary increase per direction of Selectmen.  Those are the major changes.  Eliminated Capital requests, pagers and boots are included in the budget.  Just apparatus maintenance increased significantly to bring back to FY’09 levels, $36,000.

9. There was much discussion on the Fire Department budget regarding the Central Dispatch System and how it will be a big help by freeing up a firefighter on each shift.  Sharon is the pilot town and will make sure everything works right before going to other towns.

10. The Fire Chief stated they have 24 firefighters at present, but for a population of 18,000 should have 36.  It was also stated that there was no room at the fire station for more personnel.  Also 20 out of the 24 are paramedics, 4 EMTs.

11. Next item on the agenda was the DPW budget.

12. Eric Hooper, Superintendent, presented the DPW budget.  An addition of a part-time custodian at the Community Center for week-ends.  A 2.15% increase in total budget, $2M.  The budget as a whole has very little change over previous year.  $250,000 spent on Snow & Ice so far.  Almost spent double what was budgeted.  There has always been Reserve Fund money to cover Snow & Ice.  Snow & Ice has always been governed by state law.

13. There was considerable discussion regarding the DPW budget especially Snow & Ice and the amount of the overtime which was 70%, $173,000.

14. The next item on the agenda was the Police Department budget.

15. Chief Joseph Bernstein presented the Police Department budget.  He stated it was close to level services.  Maintains personnel.  911 grant fund discontinued.  $91,000 in salary that had to be made up.

16. Ben Puritz stated that the Quinn Bill was cut back considerably.  In FY’09 the town received $172,000.  In FY’10 the town received $35,000.  For FY’11, the town is getting $17,000.  The town has to pick up the difference.  This was adopted by Town Meeting to provide guarantee of funding.

17. There was much discussion on the Police Department budget and the need for additional officers for the Sharon Commons which is expected to open one store in late 2011 and more in 2012.

18. There was some discussion regarding the position of Deputy Police Chief that was an article on the proposed Warrant.

19. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 9:15 p.m.

20. Ben Puritz will be back on March 8 with more Selectmen sector budgets.  The Annual Town Meeting is May 3.  A suggestion was made to have Andy Nebenzahl, Chair of the Charter Commission, come in to discuss their final report in April.  The final report was issued in December, is on the web, and will also be mailed.

21. The next meeting will be March 1, 2010, with the School Committee presentation on their FY’11 budget.

22. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

23. VOTED:  9-0-0.

24. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.