Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes, April 2, 2012

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

Members Present:  Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller,

                               Laura Nelson (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Brian Fitzgerald, Jacqueline Modiste

1.  The first item on the agenda was the Town Clerk’s budget.

2. Marlene Chused, Town Clerk, stated that the FY’13 budget, including salaries, was an increase over FY’12.  She went over salaries, expenses, and a decrease in revenue because passports had to be eliminated.

3. There was considerable discussion on the Town Clerk’s budget and salary.

4. Ben Puritz arrived at the meeting at 8 p.m.

5. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to move that we vote a salary of a 3% increase, a total in the amount of $70,711, a $2,049 increase.

6. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

7. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve Town Clerk’s budget in the total amount of $134,662.

8. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

9. The next item was the Finance Committee sector budget.

10. There was some discussion on the budget.

11. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to approve the following Finance Committee sector budgets:  Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Finance Committee, Lake Management, Moderator, Personnel Board, Town Clerk, Zoning Board of Appeals.

12. Leaves out Planning Board, $13,600.

13. VOTED:  6-0-0.  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

14. The next item was continuation of Warrant articles.

15. Article 17.  Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding – Administrative Expenses and Articles.

16. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to recommend approval of Article 17 subject to correction of discrepancy on address of Richards Avenue, 45 or 55.

17. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

18. Article 23.  Creation of an Adult Use Zoning District in order to prevent the forcible location of adult uses in inappropriate locations (Planning Board).

19. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to recommend approval of Article 23.

20. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

21. Article 24.  Revolving Fund Authorizations.

22. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend approval of Article 24.

23. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

24. Bill Fowler clarified Special Article 4.  Debt Budget Appropriations.

25. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend approval of Special Article 4.

26. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

27. Ben Puritz explained about the change in the insurance budget which was a result of recent collective bargaining under the new statute.  New rates for adopting PDC, Plan Design Changes.  Numbers in agreement resulted in reduction of line item of $259,209.

28. There was considerable discussion on the budget, the health insurance, unemployment, assessment and additional students from Sharon at Southeastern Regional School.

29. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to amend the amount in the Selectmen’s sector budget from $30,541,927 to $30,540,416.

30. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

31. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to approve the reduction of $12,052,490 from the Selectmen’s budget for a total amount of $30,540,416.

32. VOTED:  5-1-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard,Miller, Nelson.  Against:  Korin.

33. The next item was the School Budget.

34. $36,947,797 Total reduced from 2.1% to 2%.  $12,000 reduction.  Less than presented.

35. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend approval of the School Budget in the amount of $36,947,797.

36. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

37. A MOTION was made by Joel Lessard and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend approval of the Planning Board budget in the amount of $13,600.

38. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

39. Article 4.  Personnel By-law.

40. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to recommend approval of Article 4.

41. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

42. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 4.

43. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

44. VOTED:  6-0-0.

45. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.