Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – May 23, 2011

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

 

Members Present:  William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Alexander Korin,

                               Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Jacqueline Modiste, Laura Nelson (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan

 

1.      Recap from last meeting:  1)  Potential role in collective bargaining.  Request to be heard by Selectmen in Executive Session with plan of what the committee would like to achieve.  2)  Lisa Whalen, Counsel on Open Meeting Laws, regarding sub-committee, said if task specific enough and few members, there could be outside open meeting; a brainstorming session.

 

2.      The first item on the agenda was to go over the FY’11 goals to see if they had been met.

 

3.      1.  Monitor ongoing projects:  Sharon Hills, Sharon Commons, Wilber.

 

4.      Report from Ira Miller:  We didn’t have quarterly updates of revenue.  We received $225,000 payments on mitigation funds from Sharon Hills; fencing around Lake Massapoag.  $238,000 annual taxes from Brickstone property.  Commons:  Nothing has taken place.  Still hearings in front of Zoning Board of Appeals.  Wilber:  All tax credits.  Some due in five years.  Annual tax on Wilber, $225,000.  Few more low income or subsidized apartments that may impact assessment.  Should still monitor changes.

 

5.      There was a suggestion to start a spreadsheet with the original mitigated funds and what is ongoing, what the original tax estimate revenue was and what the funds were used for, as a history.

 

6.      2.  Encourage Town health insurance coverage that reflects typical resident coverage.

 

7.      There was some discussion regarding the state health insurance plans and to keep informed about them.

 

8.      3.  Monitor policies of town-owned vehicles (employee use, type purchased).

 

9.      The Committee has a completed spread sheet.  Roni Thaler committed to updating it at end of fiscal year.  This would be done annually.  Two-three year project.  Not only mileage, but numbers and record if they are taken home.  School vehicles separate from town.

 

10.  4.  Ensure Town Report includes relevant information.

 

11.  Suggestion to keep as checkpoint.  Bill Fowler, Finance Director, would help with whatever needs to go into it.

 

12.  5.  Continue to support Capital Outlay debt elimination strategy.

 

13.  There was some discussion regarding this year’s recommendation in the Warrant.

 

14.  6.  Continue to resist use of unused levy limit.

 

15.  Suggestion to work on budget form.  Discuss with Town Administrator before the budget letter is distributed.

 

16.  7.  Improve Inter-board communication.

 

17.  There was work done on deadline on positions, but there was much discussion about inter-board meetings, liaisons, attendance at other board meetings, and improving budget process.

 

18.  8.  Improve Warrant Recommendations.

 

19.  There was considerable discussion regarding the Warrant recommendations.  Suggestions to limit recommendation at Town Meeting, check the facts and numbers for accuracy before sending to printer, need more time, have meeting and final read before turning in, and do more recommendations in advance.

 

20.  9.  Improve Finance Committee performance at Town Meeting during long debates.

 

21.  Discussion regarding annual debate whether Finance Committee should advocate.  Suggestion to improve information exchange at Town Meeting.

 

22.  10.  Improve budget review process.

 

23.  There was some discussion that this process ties in with Goal 6 for uniform format and Goals 8, 9, and 10 for better outreach of information.

 

24.  The next item on the agenda was to discuss what to focus on and improve for FY’12.

 

25.  There was a report that the sub-committee hasn’t had a meeting.  One purpose was to explore the idea of getting motions at Town Meeting closer to Warrant articles.

 

26.  Suggestion that better recommendations would be a topic.

 

27.  There was much discussion regarding Ed Keenan’s letter in the Sharon Advocate about the Finance Committee Nominating Committee and his dissatisfaction with the process.  Suggestion to talk to new Moderator since he appoints Nominating Committee.

 

28.  General discussion on several topics:  insurance review, town job fair for volunteers to boards and committees, and goals for FY’12.

 

29.  Laura Nelson stated that there should be some level of accountability and assistance of members so work load is shared.  Attendance is part of it.  People being liaison.

 

30.  Some discussion about liaisons and how to get information without it being so time consuming.

 

31.  There will be need of a Reserve Fund Transfer for Snow & Ice, $314,525, without the list of expenses.  $17,475, Land Management.  Finance Committee will meet on June 13 and June 27.

 

32.  A suggestion was made by Alex Korin to create a sub-committee to discuss whether or not to have a committee website or use the town’s website for providing information to the town.

 

33.  Joel Lessard announced the schedule of Memorial Day activities:  Friday, May 27, 6 p.m.  Saturday, 28th, 10 a.m.  Volunteers needed.  East and Mountain Streets, 2:20 p.m. parade and civic ceremony.  Sunday, 29th, 3 p.m. at plaque in front of Town Hall for World War I and II participants.

 

34.  The next meeting will be on June 13, 2011.

 

35.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

36.  VOTED:  8-0-0.

 

37.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.