Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – July 23, 2012

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

Members Present:  William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Ira Miller,

                               Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Alexander Korin, Jacqueline Modiste

1. The Committee received information from the Assessor that had been requested regarding Sharon Commons and what the revenue impact might be when it is built out.

2. There was some discussion on the figures.

3. The first item on the agenda was the budget letter from the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen.

4. There was considerable discussion as to what approach to take for this year’s letter, starting earlier, trying to collaborate with the Board of Selectmen, and not to put in 2% salary increase in the Finance Committee letter.

5. There were some suggestions to have publicity in the newspapers, prepare an alternate budget to the Selectmen’s for residents to have a choice, departments being reviewed by Finance Committee to prepare two budgets:  one level funded and one with 2%, use of intern or consultant to gather information, and start reviewing budgets earlier including School Department.

6. There was a consensus to have a letter with three budget options:  (1)  Level funded, absorb contractual; (2)  Level funded plus contractual; and (3)  Level funded plus contractual plus 2%.  If the letter is only going to the Finance Committee sector, there was a suggestion to leave out the third option.

7. Ira Miller was to contact both Tim Farmer and Ben Puritz regarding coordinating the budget.

8. There was a suggestion to coordinate the budget format for all departments.  Ira Miller would work with Bill Fowler, Finance Director, to try to accomplish this.

9. A request was to be made to the Selectmen’s office to have them provide the schedule of contracts that are expiring, where they are in negotiations, and what’s left on them for salaries.

10. There was a suggestion to ask the Selectmen to propose articles for the May Warrant on the hotel/motel tax and meals’ tax increases for additional town revenue.  Another suggestion was for the Finance Committee to present those articles if the Selectmen do not.

11. The next item was to approve the minutes.

12. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve the minutes of July 9, 2012.

13. VOTED:  4-0-3.  For:  Cohen, Goodman, Nelson, Philips.  Abstain:  Brack, Gladstone, Miller.

14. There was a suggestion to reschedule Health Insurance Trust Fund discussion for the next meeting.

15. The next meeting will be August 6, 2012.

16. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

17. VOTED:  7-0-0.

18. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.