Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – March 31, 2011
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles
Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Alexander Korin (late), Joel Lessard, Ira
Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Maria Anderson, Keith Garte
1. The first item on the agenda was to discuss the Assessors articles and Overlay Reserve. Article 1. Special Within the Annual Town Meeting, Request that funds from Fiscal Year 2010 be set aside for use on the FY 2014 revaluation. Article 12. To grant authority to extend date of re-inspection contract for three additional years.
2. Mark Mazur spoke about Article 12. The State requires re-inspection every nine years. Contract was for three years with option for additional three. Not allowed to sign a six-year contract. If they’re doing good work, to continue the contract another three years. The project going to be nine years. Have to get Town Meeting approval to extend contract three years. This is the time to get permission.
3. Mark Mazur spoke on Article 1. Special Within the Annual Town Meeting. Not allowed to encumber funds beyond the following year. Take excess funds from FY’10 for FY’14 revaluation. Take whatever is leftover from data re-inspection. $10,000 to $15,000 leftover. Allocated for FY’10 for updating and data re-inspection.
4. Mark Mazur stated every third year have to do full revaluation. Normally we have every third year. State given extra year. Doing four years in 2014 to accumulate money.
5. There was some discussion on the two articles.
6. Regarding the Overlay Reserve, Bill Fowler stated that $800,000 was released. Only used $350,000.
7. Mark Mazur stated that the State required a certain amount to be set aside for litigation regarding telecommunications. Then the State advised that not as much was needed to be set aside. Still need money set aside for abatements, exemptions, work-offs, and personal property cases.
8. There was considerable discussion regarding the Overlay Reserve Fund.
9. The next item on the agenda was to take position on Warrant articles.
10. Special within the Annual. Article 1. Request that funds from Fiscal Year 2010 be set aside for use on the FY’14 Revaluation.
11. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 1.
12. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
13. Article 1. Finance Committee Members.
14. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ted Philips to make recommendation at Town Meeting.
15. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
16. Article 2. Petition to change use of part of Sacred Heart parcel (Dan Rosen).
17. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend indefinite postponement.
18. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
19. Article 3. Petition to charge all riders of the bus regardless of distance from the school since the state does not reimburse for busing any longer (Laura Salomons).
20. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend Article 3.
21. There was some discussion on the motion.
22. VOTED: 2-6-2. For: Gladstone, Miller. Against: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Nelson. Abstain: Korin, Philips.
23. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Ira Miller to reconsider the vote on Article 2.
24. VOTED: 8-2-0.
25. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 2.
26. VOTE: 0-10-0. Against: Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
27. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.
28. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend budgets in Selectmen sector, all departments at 2.41% level.
29. There was considerable discussion on the motion regarding percentage for budgets. The motion was withdrawn.
30. Ben Puritz stated that we can improve the communication and pre-budget dialog. In August the chairman gets a call from me. We try to orient so there is an achievement of existing service merger.
31. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Bill Brack to approve Selectmen’s sector budget.
32. VOTED: 4-6-0. For: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson.
33. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve the Selectmen’s budget plus 2% over FY’11.
34. VOTED: 6-4-0. For: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson. Against: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Philips.
35. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Bill Brack to approve the School’s budget, as presented, a 2.41% increase.
36. VOTED: 4-6-0. For: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson.
37. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to approve the School’s budget at 2% above FY’11.
38. VOTED: 6-4-0. For: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson. Against: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Philips.
39. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to approve the Finance sector 2 % budget.
40. VOTED: 8-1-1. For: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson. Against: Philips. Abstain: Brack.
41. Article 4. Personnel By-law.
42. There was some discussion on Article 4 that compensation schedules do not reflect 2% increase because most agreements terminate on June 30, 2011, and are placeholder numbers.
43. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 4.
44. There was some discussion on the motion.
45. Joel Lessard withdrew the motion on Article 4.
46. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 4.
47. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
48. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.
49. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve Town Clerk’s salary as written in Finance sector budget in the amount of $68,652.
50. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
51. Article 6. Norfolk County Retirement.
52. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 6.
53. VOTED: 10-0-0. For: Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
54. Article 7. Addition to Stabilization Fund.
55. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 7.
56. There was some discussion on the motion.
57. VOTED: 5-5-0. For: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Nelson.
58. Gordon Gladstone left the meeting at 11:15 p.m.
59. Article 8. Unemployment.
60. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 8.
61. VOTED: 7-0-2. For: Brack, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Goodman.
62. Article 9. Sharon Friends School Fund records and appointments.
63. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Ira Miller.
64. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
65. Article 10. Act Upon Reports.
66. A MOTION was made by Bill Brack and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 10.
67. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
68. Article 11. Annual Audit.
69. A MOTION was made by Bill Brack and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 11.
70. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
71. Article 12. To grant authority to extend date of re-inspection contract for three additional years.
72. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 12.
73. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Korin.
74. Article 13. Change of use to allow for Cell Facility on Wolomolopoag/East Foxboro Street.
75. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 13.
76. VOTED: 6-0-3. For: Brack, Korin, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Goodman, Nelson.
77. Article 14. Capital Outlay Articles.
78. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 14.
79. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Brack, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
80. Article 15. Article to rescind capital borrowing authorized at Town Meeting/never borrowed.
81. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 15.
82. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Against: Goodman.
83. Article 16. Change to Police Department regulations regarding declared emergencies and specific hours for overnight parking.
84. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 16.
85. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
86. Article 17. Permit Police Department to fingerprint and CORI check door to door hawkers and peddlers in community.
87. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 17.
88. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
89. Article 18. Veterans’ Exemption.
90. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 18.
91. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
92. Article 19. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses.
93. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 19.
94. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
95. Article 20. Transfer of funds to debt service budgets for bond payments regarding Horizons for Youth land.
96. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend Article 20.
97. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
98. Article 21. Community Preservation Committee Projects Funding Request.
99. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 21.
100. VOTED: 1-6-2. For: Goodman. Against: Brack, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Nelson.
101. Article 22. Community Preservation Committee appropriation and transfer to the Conservation Commission Fund.
102. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 22.
103. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
104. Article 23. Increase the number of members of the Council on Aging.
105. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 23.
106. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Brack, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald.
107. Article 24. Edit General By-law language regarding the Selectmen’s choice to call a Fall Town Meeting due to contradiction in current article.
108. A MOTION was made by Bill Brack and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend Article 24.
109. VOTED: 6-0-3. For: Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Goodman, Korin.
110. Article 25. Revolving Fund Re-authorizations.
111. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 25.
112. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Against: Kiernan.
113. Article 5. Recommend department level budgets: Moderator, $50; Finance Committee, $11,016; Personnel Board, $3,462; Town Clerk, $135,325; Conservation Commission, $108,347; Lake Management, $2,500; Planning Board, $13,600; Board of Appeals, $21,765; Board of Health Services & Admin., $167,547. Total 2% increase budget, $463,612. Board of Selectmen sector voted increase over FY’11 of $11,748,911, 2%.
114. At next meeting to vote department level and have Maria Anderson’s input before voting.
115. The next meeting will be April 4.
116. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
117. VOTED: 9-0-0.
118. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 p.m.