Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – January 14, 2013

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

Members Present:  Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Alexander Korin, Ira Miller, Edward Philips

                               (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Laura Nelson

1. The first item on the agenda was to review the Lake Management budget with Cliff Towner, Chair.

2. Cliff Towner requested the same amount, $2,500.

3. Cliff Towner reported on Cedar Swamp, the most valuable asset in Sharon. It is coming back, but will never get back the way it was.  The Team, Amelie Laderman and Peter Fletcher, requested time to come in with a twenty minute presentation, what we’ve done and what is happening.  This past summer there was a lake full of pristine water.  Not good habitat.  The state has taken an interest.  Quabbin was cleanest lake in state.  We’re just under it.  We get all extra trout and fish.  Mass. Wildlife was a tremendous help.

4. Cliff Towner then reported on Lake Massapoag.

5. The fanwort is gone and other weeds, but nutrient poor water.  We thought the lake was acidic, but it is neutral.  We will try to make a healthy habitat for fish and other lake creatures.

6. The next item on the agenda was a report on the Priorities Committee by Ira Miller.  Priorities passed an allocation for budgeting.  2.03% increase over FY’13.  The vote was 4-1.  Ira Miller was the one against.  One member missing from the School Committee.  Chuck Goodman said moving in the right direction.  Two years ago, 2.13%.  Last year, 2.19%.  2.03% was an appropriate amount for budgeting.  2.03% increase over the prior year includes the 2.5% levy plus $600,000.

7. There was considerable discussion on the report from Priorities with many explanations of how Priorities arrived at this amount.  There was also discussion regarding an alternate budget from the Finance Committee and on doing a budget first instead of spending first.  Selectmen now support the increase to the meals and hotel/motel room tax and will sponsor or jointly sponsor an article with the Finance Committee, which is already included in the Revenue Forecast, $148,000.

8. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Alex Korin to send out their budget letter to the Finance Committee’s sector departments.

9. VOTED:  5-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Miller, Philips.

10. The next meeting will be January 28.

11. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

12. VOTED:  5-0-0.

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