Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – June 18, 2012
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman
(late), Alexander Korin, Ira Miller, Jacqueline Modiste, Laura Nelson, Ted Philips
(Hamilton)
1. The first item on the agenda was to reorganize the committee.
2. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Jackie Modiste to nominate Ira Miller as Chairman.
3. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Brack, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Korin, Modiste, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Miller.
4. A MOTION was made by Arnie Cohen and SECONDED by Bill Brack to nominate Laura Nelson as Vice Chair.
5. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Alex Korin to nominate Bill Brack as Vice Chair.
6. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Jackie Modiste to unanimously elect Laura Nelson and Bill Brack as Vice Chairs.
7. VOTED: 8-0-2. For: Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Modiste, Philips. Abstain: Brack, Nelson.
8. A MOTION was made by Arnie Cohen and SECONDED by Bill Brack to nominate Alex Korin as Clerk.
9. VOTED: 9-0-1. For: Brack, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Miller, Modiste, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Korin.
10. Next item on the agenda was Reserve Fund Transfer for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
11. The Zoning Board of Appeals requested $6,500 from the Reserve Fund. $5,967.50 for excess legal, namely to cover legal work for the cell phone tower. $532.50 for salary of secretary of Zoning Board of Appeals for extra work for hearings in preparation of meetings. Accept Reserve Fund Transfer subject to proper paper work. Outstanding bills have been requested.
12. There was some discussion regarding the process of this Reserve Fund Transfer.
13. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to approve Reserve Fund Transfer to the Zoning Board of Appeals in the amount of $6,500 subject to verification of backup documents.
14. There was discussion on the motion.
15. VOTED: 6-4-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Miller, Modiste, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Goodman, Korin, Nelson.
16. The next item on the agenda was to approve minutes.
17. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Alex Korin to approve the minutes of April 30, 2012.
18. VOTED: 5-0-5. For: Cohen, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson. Abstain: Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Modiste, Philips.
19. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Alex Korin to approve the minutes of May 7, 2012.
20. VOTED: 6-0-4. For: Brack, Cohen, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Modiste, Philips.
21. Ira: The next item on the agenda was to review the Annual Town Meeting.
22. There was considerable discussion with many suggestions for ways to improve the process: uniformity of budgets; long-range planning; revenue projection; schedule deadline; joint meeting with School, Selectmen, and Finance Committee; start budget process earlier; no pro forma salary increases; liaisons to department heads for preliminary review; residents feel budget not sustainable; Assessor to explain high tax rate; and present alternate budget.
23. The next item on the agenda was a review of goals.
24. 1. Monitor ongoing projects: Sharon Commons, Brickstone. Ira Miller reported as follows: BRICKSTONE, no activity. Received advance mitigation fund that was passed through for deferring some of the tax increases. No current information available on what the landowners are doing. SHARON COMMONS. Latest information is that the Zoning Board of Appeals met on Wednesday evening. Developer had proposed amendment. Plan had been approved many months ago. Developer was proposing some modification on that plan. 90% rotation of building and changes to roadway in and out of Target. At the end of the meeting it was apparent there was a majority of Zoning Board not in favor of modified proposal. It was removed. No vote. Continuing discussion between developer and town and town’s consultant, Mr. Houston, to see what commonality moving forward. Newspaper’s report was Target left town and it was done. Continuing discussion. The hope a new proposal would be brought to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
25. There was some discussion on this goal. Keep as goal and continue to monitor.
26. 2. Monitor policies of town-owned vehicles (employee use, type purchased). There was some action on that.
27. Having a decal on vehicles was a topic to investigate. Chuck Goodman was the point person.
28. 3. Ensure Town Report includes relevant information.
29. This goal was achieved.
30. 4. Continue to support Capital Outlay debt elimination strategy.
31. 5. Improve Inter-board communication. Ira Miller will work on this.
32. 6. Improve Warrant Recommendations. Continue this goal.
33. 7. Improve Finance Committee performance at Town Meeting during long debates. Continue this goal.
34. 8. Improve budget review process. Jackie Modiste will continue to work on this goal.
35. The next item on the agenda was to update the list of comparable towns to be used.
36. There was some discussion on this list and questions on whether the towns should be changed and why.
37. Chuck Goodman stated that the major items to compare are the town’s (1) population; (2) school population; (3) residential percentage of total taxes. Closest town to Sharon is Scituate on population, school population, and percentage of residential taxes.
38. Main reason to compare was that the town was losing employees to other towns, and equalization of salaries, which has been done.
39. Alex Korin brought up the topic of the Finance Committee’s website, which will be presented at the next meeting.
40. There was some discussion on beginning meetings at 7 p.m., but most members cannot make it that early, so 7:30 p.m. will continue to be the start time, but will try to end meeting by 10 p.m.
41. The next meeting will be July 9, 2012.
42. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
43. VOTED: 10-0-0.
44. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.