Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 13, 2012

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

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

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

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman

1. There was an announcement that the Finance Committee is looking for members.  E-mail Sharonfincom@gmail.com.  Two openings at least.

2. The first item on the agenda was Article 24.  Lake Management – Article to ban dogs from Veterans Memorial Park and Beach.

3. Cliff Towner, Chair, Lake Management Committee, reported that this article is to penalize people not dogs.  There is nutrient/fertilizer problem at lake.  Last two years weeds developed.  People bring dogs and all ends up in the lake.  Board of Health had sign put up that dogs not allowed on beach.  When closed only on walking path.  Add $100 fine.  The lake is one of our most valuable natural resources.  The only place weeds building up is at beach front.  Also a goose problem.  Requested Selectmen to put up snow fence so they can’t get on shore, and then they will go to other places.  The Lake Committee sponsored this article.  Does the Town want to protect lake or want dog dumping area?

4. There was some discussion on this article regarding special permit from Board of Selectmen for exempting seeing-eye dog and dog training with police, but other dogs are banned without special permit.  Sharon has one of the cleanest lakes in the state.  Fanwort is gone.

5. School Department Attendees:  Tim Farmer, Superintendent; Glenn Brand, Asst. Superintendent; Susan Owen, Business Manager; Laura Salomons, Chair, School Committee; Glenn Allen, School Committee; Emily Smith Lee, School Committee.

6. The next item on the agenda was the School Department FY’13 Preliminary Budget presentation.

7. Tim Farmer, Superintendent, presented an overview.  Five major sections.  Line item base.  Building budgets for central office.  Program narratives.  Goals and what was accomplished.  Items section to budget.  Budget priorities:  We will meet on federal and state requirements and meet all contract obligations.  Enrollment numbers.  Expecting decreasing 110 students, 3343.  3233 next year.  Our graduating students are larger than incoming kindergarten.  2.13% increase overall.  2.13% smallest increase over past several years.  Redistricting Task Force.  From Heights to Cottage from Cottage to East using more classroom space.  Redistricting among elementary, reduce teachers.  2.13% increase.  Federal grant, Educational Jobs, $448,000.  Not available this upcoming year.  Had for past two years.  The top two contractual obligations for teaching sources.  1% is added to teacher’s base salary, 2% increase for experience.  $1.1M rolling forward contractual obligation.  As of July 1, base goes up 1%; September 1, additional 2%.  There is no payment until the school year starts.

8. There was considerable discussion as the budget information was presented.  Plan to hire an instructional coach, a master teacher, to assist teachers with different methods of teaching in the classroom.  There are more in-house programs for Special Education students instead of sending out of district.  There is a program for children on the autism spectrum at Heights.  With reduction in Special Education, Circuit Breaker reimbursement is affected.  Last year received 65%, but it could go back to 40%.

9. The next item was the Priorities Report.

10. Ira Miller reported that the Priorities Committee reviewed revenue estimates.  The items that were of most interest were the insurance items.  Those were undeclared.  Don’t know what budget number to take.  Selectmen voting on State Local Option to do insurance changes or plan design.  Bottom line vote was taken on the preliminary allocation number and the vote was supposed to be 2.1% increase over last budget.  School budget is 2.13%, proposed.

11. There was some discussion on this report.

12. Ira Miller stated that the motion was to propose 2.1% increase budget for all allocations of sector budgets.  If revenues came in higher than expected before tax rate set in November, increased revenue would reduce any real estate tax increase.  That passed 4-2.  Priorities vote.

13. There was continued discussion on the Priorities report and information on the proposal of the new insurance plan design and mitigation under Chapter 69.  The Town could still be on its own, and there was an estimated savings of $655,000.  $174,000 subscribers’ savings.  The Town share would be $481,000 annually.  25% of savings or $163,000 must go to mitigation fund.  $317,000 savings in year one.  Information was sent to the Insurance Advisory Committee.

14. The next meeting will be on February 27, 2012.

15. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

16. VOTED:  8-0-0.

17. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.