Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes, March 22, 2012
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, Laura Nelson (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Jacqueline Modiste
1. The first item on the agenda was to discuss and vote the Warrant articles until Finance Director Bill Fowler arrives around 8:30 p.m. to discuss the special articles.
2. Article 1. Permit all alcohol package stores in certain districts; Shaw’s, Sharon Commons and Route 1.
3. There was some discussion on the article.
4. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend approval of Article 1.
5. VOTED: 4-3-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Korin, Miller. Against: Gladstone, Lessard, Nelson.
6. Article 2. Lessen number of seats for on-premises liquor licenses in certain districts.
7. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to not recommend Article 2.
8. There was much discussion on this motion.
9. The motion was to recommend against approval.
10. VOTED: 4-3-0. For: Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Nelson. Against: Brack, Cohen, Miller.
11. Article 3. Article to ban dogs from Veterans’ Memorial Park and Beach. Will allow only service dogs on Memorial Beach without permit. Other dogs will be allowed application for permits. Enforcement not kept except by guards at gate and only when open.
12. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend approval of Article 3.
13. There was considerable discussion on this motion.
14. VOTED: 4-2-1. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard. Against: Brack, Miller. Abstain: Nelson.
15. Article 6. Finance Committee Members.
16. Joel Lessard announced the people who were nominated: Laura Nelson, Chuck Goodman, Ira Miller and Ted Phillips.
17. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend approval of Article 6.
18. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
19. Article 7. Norfolk County Retirement. There was no number.
20. Article 8. Addition to Stabilization Fund. Annual article.
21. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend against approval.
22. There was some discussion on the motion.
23. VOTED: 6-0-1. For: Brack, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson. Abstain: Cohen.
24. Article 9. Unemployment. Article 10. Sharon Friends School Fund records and appointments. Article 11. Act Upon Reports. All pro forma.
25. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend approval of Articles 7, Norfolk County Retirement, Article 9, Unemployment, Article 10, Sharon Friends School Fund records and appointments, Article 11, Act Upon Reports, Article 12, Annual Audit.
26. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
27. Article 13. Capital Outlay Articles. Hold until next Monday.
28. Article 14. Requires second hand shops for the purchase, sale or barter of certain metals, jewelry, second hand articles and electronics to obtain a license issued by the Board of Selectmen.
29. Arnie Cohen stated that he did e-mail this recommendation. Requires items be held for 30 days and submit to police to help with recovery of property. Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor.
30. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Ira Miller to recommend approval of Article 14.
31. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
32. Article 15. Permit Police Department to fingerprint and CORI check door to door hawkers and peddlers in community.
33. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend approval of Article 15.
34. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
35. Ben Puritz arrived at 9:15 p.m.
36. Ben Puritz stated that the Selectmen had voted to support the health insurance agreement. Five bargaining units. Scheduled to meet by Wednesday, March 28.
37. Article 16. Veterans’ Exemption.
38. There was some discussion on this article regarding the cost to the town. Ben Puritz was to get the Committee a fact sheet from the Assessors’ Office with the information needed.
39. Article 17. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses and Articles. Next week.
40. Article 18. To allow eligible people who are homebound to participate in the work-off program by allowing another individual to take their place in the work-off program. Jackie Modiste was doing the write up on this and was not there.
41. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend approval.
42. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
43. Bill Fowler arrived at the meeting so Special Articles were discussed.
44. Special Article 1. Request that funds from prior years’ encumbrance be set aside for use on the FY’14 revaluation.
45. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend approval of Special Article 1.
46. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
47. Special Article 2. Article to rescind capital borrowing authorized at Town Meeting/never borrowed.
48. Bill Fowler stated that there were thirteen old authorizations to borrow. They were authorized but never borrowed. They need to be rescinded.
49. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to recommend approval of Special Article 2.
50. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
51. Special Article 3. Reallocations on money left over from prior borrowings.
52. There was considerable discussion on this article. Bill Fowler was to make a spread sheet showing a more complete explanation of this article.
53. Special Article 4. Debt Budget Appropriations.
54. There was considerable discussion on this article with Bill Fowler to work up a spread sheet showing the benefits and the savings.
55. Chuck Goodman arrived at the meeting at 10 p.m.
56. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
57. Ben Puritz stated that the Recreation Director was away and would have the Recreation Revolving Fund next week. He also stated that they are trying to have an audit performed early in the fiscal year and do better in this area.
58. The committee resumed discussing and voting on the Warrant articles.
59. Article 20. Accept and adopt and implement FEMA Flood Maps.
60. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend approval of Article 20.
61. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller.
62. Article 21. Revise flood plain by-law to adjust for FEMA Flood Map change.
63. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend approval of Article 21.
64. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller.
65. Article 19. Purchase of Diesso Property for $10,000 – for Water Department purposes.
66. There was some discussion on this article.
67. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to recommend approval of Article 19.
68. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller.
69. Article 22. Recreation Advisory Committee – Reevaluate purpose number of member, etc.
70. There was some discussion on this article regarding the addition of the word advisory in the name of the committee. There was also a suggestion that one of the members on this committee should be a parent who has children participating in the Recreation Program in town.
71. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend approval of Article 22.
72. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller,
73. Still to be discussed: Revolving Funds. Personnel. Budgets. Articles 3 and 4 from the Special Articles. Capital Outlay, Monday. CPC, Monday. Veterans’ Exemption. Ben Puritz will be here to review any budgets. Thursday, March 29, the Town Clerk’s budget and salary.
74. Joel Lessard reported on correspondence which was a letter from Sharon Firefighters Local 1880 stating that the Finance Committee should not enter into Executive Session regarding negotiations on health insurance. The Committee got an opinion from Town Counsel. We have that authority. This letter will be forwarded to Town Counsel.
75. The next meeting will be on March 26, 2012.
76. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
77. VOTED: 7-0-0.
78. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m.