Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes, April 9, 2012

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

Members Present:  Arnold Cohen (late), Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman (late),

                               Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Jacqueline Modiste

1. The first item on the agenda was Susan Price, Chair of the Planning Board, for a Reserve Fund Transfer.

2. Susan Price explained the reason for the Reserve Fund Transfer.  It was primarily for legal, $1,700 and some advertising, $600; that was the overage.

3. There was some discussion on this Reserve Fund request, and it was determined that it was extraordinary and unforeseen.  The legal was $1,700 and the advertising was $614.40.

4. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller to make a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Planning Board in the amount of $2,314.40.

5. VOTED:  8-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

6. Five minute break at 8 p.m. to get the recap numbers.

7. Meeting resumed at 8:05 p.m.

8. The next item was Warrant articles to vote.

9. Finance Committee total budget:  $467,640 total.  $13,000 left over and not to be used.

10. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to appropriate $467,640 for the Finance Committee budget.

11. VOTED:  8-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.

12. Article 5.  Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.   Selectmen’s sector and School Department was done at prior meeting.  Didn’t vote Fixed and Uncontrollable.  Separate.  Includes our sector Finance Committee, $467,640.  Selectmen, $12,052,490.  School, $36,957,713.  Fixed and Uncontrollable, $18,972,466.  Vocational Education, $281,582.  Total Town number, $68,731,841.  1.7% increase over last year.

13. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to appropriate $68,731,841, for the total Town budget.

14. There was considerable discussion regarding  the budget, especially  the Fire Department’s Ambulance  Reserve Fund.

15. VOTED:  7-1-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Against:  Korin.

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

17. There was some discussion regarding the correct address of the parcel of land on Richards Avenue.  It was decided that there was enough information about the parcel to identify it without an exact address.

18. It was announced that pre-Town Meeting would be on Tuesday, May 1, 8 p.m., Selectmen’s meeting room.  Open Warrant Meeting, April 30, at Sharon High School Library.  Annual Town Meeting May 7.

19. The next meeting will be on April 30, 2012.

20. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

21. VOTED:  8-0-0.

22. The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.