Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 6, 2012

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

Members Present  William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles

                              Goodman, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Jacqueline Modiste, Laura Nelson

                              (Hamilton)

               Absent:   Alexander Korin

1. The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes of prior meetings.

2. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to approve the minutes of October 3, 2011.

3. VOTED:  7-0-2.  For:  Brack, Cohen, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Modiste, Nelson.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone.

4. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve the minutes of October 13, 2011.

5. VOTED:  7-0-2.  For Brack, Cohen, Goodman, Lesard, Miller, Modiste, Nelson:  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone.

6. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve the minutes of October 17, 2011.

7. VOTED:  7-0-2.  For:  Brack, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Lessard, Miller, Modiste, Nelson.  Abstain:  Gladstone, Goodman.

8. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve the minutes of October 20, 2011.

9. VOTED:  7-0-2.  For:  Brack, Cohen, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Modiste, Nelson.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone.

10. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve the minutes of October 24, 2011.

11. VOTED:  6-0-3.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Brack, Gladstone, Modiste.

12. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve the minutes of November 7, 2011.

13. VOTED:  4-0-5.  For:  Cohen, Goodman, Miller, Modiste.  Abstain:  Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Lessard, Nelson.

14. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve the minutes of November 14, 2011.

15. VOTED:  5-0-4.  For:  Cohen, Goodman, Miller, Modiste, Nelson.  Abstain:  Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Lessard.

16. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve the Regular Session minutes of January 9, 2012.

17. VOTED:  4-0-5.  For:  Cohen, Goodman, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Lessard, Modiste.

18. The next item on the agenda was the Finance Committee sector budget letter.  This will follow the Selectmen’s budget which is primary and three options, but the Finance Committee’s will be primary level funded incorporating 2% and first option budget plus 2% wage increase.

19. Joel Lessard announced that there was a letter from Norfolk County Agricultural School to Superintendent Farmer.  The Norfolk Agricultural School has set the 2012-2013 school tuition at $2,000 per student as per Acts of 1991.

20. The next item on the agenda was the Planning Board appointment.

21. Susan Price explained about the Adult Use Zoning District By-Law, and that it would be better to have in place before it was needed.

22. There was considerable discussion on this zoning article especially regarding the percentage of stock and the term significant or substantial.

23. The next item on the agenda was the appointment with Karen Friedman, Chair, Sacred Heart Reuse Committee.

24. Karen Friedman updated the committee on the status of the Sacred Heart building.  There were no proposals to a second RFP.  It would cost $289,000 to get building taken down.  There is a proposal for town to take down building.  Question whether there would be an article or this should be a budget item.

25. There was some discussion on this article.

26. The next item was Committee Reports.

27. Ira Miller reported on the Priorities meeting.  Reviewed FY’12 budget to date.  On track to raise revenue as expected.  Began review of revenue forecast for FY’13.  Meeting tomorrow evening.  Sectors of Selectmen and School want allocation number.  It looks like a 3% increase on the tax levy for FY’13.

28. There was considerable discussion regarding the Priorities information.

29. On February 13^th Lake Management will come and present their article before the School Department budget.  On February 27^th Council On Aging with Rob Maidman; Conservation Commission and Community Preservation Committee; Ben Puritz will make presentations.

30. Arnie Cohen spoke on article about Hawker and Peddlers; that it is just to amend.  Town Counsel would have to come up with language for that.  As described, it is not a substantive change to by-law.  Another part, as part of Attorney General’s letter, said there were portions of it that were improper because of the way the language was worded.  Police chiefs have general counsel trying to work out some language and overcome this problem.  Just certain items deleted.

31. The next item regarded updating information presented to Annual Town Meeting.  Sharon has highest tax rate in state.  Use same data point.

32. There was some discussion on the Town Meeting presentation.

33. The next meeting will be February 13, 2012.

34. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

35. VOTED:  9-0-0.

36. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.