DRAFT

Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 12, 2011

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

Members Present: William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman

(late), Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Jackie Modiste

(late), Laura Nelson, (Hamilton)

Absent: Brian Fitzgerald

The first item on the agenda was to go over articles for Fall Town Meeting and assign write-ups.

Draft list of twelve articles: Article 1. Community Preservation Committee Funding Request - Purchase Antique Fire Truck. Article 2. Community Preservation Committee Funding Request - Station Street Park located on 1 acre lot abutting Wilber School parcel. 3. Potential purchase of Town owned property next to 810 South Main Street (Shaw’s Plaza). 4. Various articles regarding changes of zoning of Post Office Square. 5. Edit Scenic Road By-law to include a $300 fine for cutting down each tree. 6. Convert management of a parcel that the Town owns at the end of Oakland Road from Board of Selectmen to Conservation Commission. 7. Very tentative – Route 1 - Change of zoning for one lot to include use – Landscaping/Nursery Business (675 General Edwards Highway). 8. To accept voluntary donations to assist low income, elderly and disabled to pay their property taxes. 9. Authorization to borrow for Water Department projects. 10. Accept local meals tax option. 11. Accept local motel/hotel rooms tax. 12. Rescind authorizations to borrow on assorted items.

Assigned Write-Ups: Articles 1 and 2, Community Preservation Committee Funding Requests, Arnie Cohen; Article 3, Potential purchase of Town owned property (Shaw’s Plaza), Alex Korin; Articles 5 and 8, Scenic Road By-law and Voluntary donations, Laura Nelson; Article 7, Change of zoning, Route 1, Joel Lessard; Article 9, Borrow for Water Department projects, Jackie Modiste; Articles 10 and 11, Local meals tax and Local motel/hotel rooms tax, Gordon Gladstone; Article 12, Rescind authorizations to borrow, Ira Miller.

There was much discussion regarding the editing of recommendations, meetings to review write-ups before printing in Warrant and when meetings could take place. Four Mondays available were September 19, 26, October 3, 17. Additional meetings on Thursday, October 13, tentative, and Thursday, October 20, tentative. Tentative meeting on October 24. Recommendations due that day. Need to take positions on October 17.

Joel Lessard announced he will be away November 7 and 14 and will not return until November 20. Laura Nelson and Ira Miller will co-chair the Open Warrant Meeting and the Fall Town Meeting.

For the next meeting Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler will be asked to discuss Articles 3, 6, and 8-12. Also ask the Conservation Commission to discuss Article 6 and Corey Snow, Chair, Community Preservation Committee, to discuss Articles 1 and 2.

There was some discussion regarding community outreach and reports on the meetings from Sharon Patch or Sharon Advocate that would also give information on the purpose of the Open Warrant Meeting which is for clarification of the articles.

There was discussion regarding a Finance Committee member if speaking from the table, would be as a committee member. Speaking at a microphone on the floor would be as a private citizen.

There was some discussion regarding printing of motion in Warrant that residents can follow. If it is different, especially amount of money, it is confusing, and not what the committee voted on.

There was an announcement that the Municipal Finance Committees Association Annual Meeting was to be held on October 15, in Franklin. Budget 101, Collective Bargaining, presented by the Town Manager of Needham, moderated by Ira Miller. Your town’s credit and bond rating also on the agenda.