Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 28, 2011

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles

                               Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Alexander Korin, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,

                               Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Keith Garte, Joel Lessard

1. Josh Kiernan was Acting Chair since Joel Lessard could not attend.  The first item on the agenda was the Conservation Commission.

2. Greg Meister presented an update on Cedar Swamp and preliminary information on the FY’12 budget.  The State’s Ecological Restoration Division of the Fish & Game Department will be providing money to try to find a way to fix Cedar Swamp.  There is enough money for the team until June 30.  $20,000 will be in the budget for FY’12 for the team.  Because of legal issues on the land swap with Sportsman Club, they will probably need Reserve Fund Transfer of $5,000.

3. There was considerable discussion on both Cedar Swamp and the preliminary FY’12 budget.

4. The next item on the agenda was the Board of Health.

5. Linda Rosen presented the FY’12 budget.  There was a reduction in Public Health Nurse’s hours, and increase in Sanitarian, and increase in Administrative Assistant’s hours.  Redistributed amount from nurse so only small impact on budget.

6. There was much discussion on this budget.

7. Next item on the agenda was to have discussion regarding whether or not to go forward as a committee to produce a budget that is less than 2.4% increase that Priorities Committee voted on, 4-2 vote.  Should the Committee move forward to produce a budget that net expenditures of 2% over last year?

8. Ira Miller reported on the February 8 Priorities Committee meeting.  After the discussion was made by Priorities and preliminary budgets by sectors, use the 2.44% or 2.47% figure.

9. There was much discussion on the report of the Priorities Committee meeting.

10. There was considerable discussion regarding a 2% budget, that no taxes were to be raised in FY’11, and the publishing of the budget in the Warrant

11. Laura Nelson reported that salary information in Annual Report will remain the same.  Also reported on putting agenda in the Advocate.  Waiting to hear from editor.  Deadline, Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday.

12. Report on Capital Tour.  Big ticket item request by DPW to put building behind existing building to put equipment inside.  High school roof.  Needs repair.  Bathroom replacement at library.  Saw new pumper truck.  A year from now request from Police to do small addition to go up above garage.  Police Chief wants to replace three cars per year.  School wants to replace furniture.  There was to be a discussion by the Water Department regarding an increase in rates.

13. The next meeting will be on March 7, 2011.

14. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

15. VOTED:  9-0-0.

16. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.