Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 4, 2011
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, William Brack, Gordon Gladstone, Charles
Goodman, Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,
Edward Philips (late), (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Keith Garte, Josh Kiernan
1. The first item on the agenda was to discuss the Conservation Commission’s need for $20,000 for Cedar Swamp. Bill Fowler said there was $25,000 from contingency, $6,500 to Norfolk Agricultural School, the balance of $18,500 for Cedar Swamp. A one time thing. There was $1,600 left over to go to the Conservation Commission’s budget.
2. There was some discussion regarding some Conservation Commission expenses such as cell phone that Greg Meister said they could cover from the Administration Protection Act.
3. The next item on the agenda was the budget for the Selectmen’s sector. Needed to go department by department. Maria Anderson prepared another recap.
4. There was much discussion on the adjustment of the Selectmen’s sector to show a 2% budget and 2.41% Priorities allocation.
5. It was MOVED and SECONDED to take a 15 minute recess.
6. VOTED: 9-0-0.
7. Resumed meeting to vote Selectmen sector by department.
8. Each department. Selectmen budget 2% increase, $286,456. Accountant $225,503. Board of Assessors, $244,208. Treasurer, $417,615. Law, $128,877. Information Technology, $226,665. Elections & Registration, $105,125. Town Report, $12,426. Police, $3,213,655. Fire, $2,775,392. Weights & Measures, $4,533. Animal Inspection, $3,772. Civil Defense, $3,752. Animal Control, $66,825. DPW, $2,693,938. Council on Aging, $258,950. Veterans, $31,132. Graves, $3,765. Commission on Disability, $499. Library, $859,345. Recreation Department, $200,659. Historical, $649. Community Celebrations, $2,563. Total, $11,773,914.
9. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to approve Selectmen’s Department Level Budgets.
10. VOTED: 6-3-0. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson. Against: Anderson, Brack, Philips.
11. The next item on the agenda was Alice Cheyer speaking about Article 21. Community Preservation Committee Projects Funding Requests.
12. Alice Cheyer stated that she has no new information but wanted the Committee to reconsider their vote to contract Mass. Audubon for Billings conservation land and not postpone until long term process comes to fruition.
13. There was some discussion regarding information from Alice Cheyer on state restriction protections especially change of use.
14. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to reconsider vote on Article 21.
15. VOTED: 3-6-0. For: Anderson, Goodman, Nelson. Against: Brack, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Not to reconsider.
16. The next item on the agenda was to reconsider vote on Article 1, Finance Committee Members.
17. There was some discussion regarding Finance Committee Nominating Committee recommendation.
18. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to reconsider vote on Article 1.
19. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Nelson, Philips. Against: Miller.
20. There was discussion held regarding announcing names of candidates, not voting individually, and voting in favor of the process.
21. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend to Town Meeting to accept Nominating Committee recommendation.
22. VOTED: 3-6-0. For: Brack, Lessard, Philips. Against: Anderson, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson.
23. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 1 as written.
24. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
25. The next meeting will be April 11 to discuss Reserve Fund transfer for Norfolk Agricultural School.
26. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
27. VOTED: 9-0-0.
28. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.