Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 11, 2013

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

 

Members Present:  Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander Korin, Ira Miller,

                               Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Laura Nelson

 

1.      The first item on the agenda was to review the Selectmen sector budgets with Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler.

 

2.      Ben Puritz presented the FY’14 consolidated budget, $12, 300, 000, working number for budget purposes established by Priorities last month on January 8.  Budgets are the expenditure side.  Revenue side:  Commons, Outdoor Advertising, Local Options, meals and hotel rooms.  An article will appear in this May Warrant.  There may be joint sponsorship with the Finance Committee.  The Town is getting credits for renewable solar energy.  One site in Sharon and one site in Fairhaven.  The Selectmen sector has responsibility of the fixed and uncontrollable portion.  That amount exceeds the sector allocation, $20M.  That includes insurance and debt service.

 

3.      Ben Puritz stated that the Sharon Commons has been permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.  A re-submission due to a design change initiated by Target.  The DPW engaged with developer.  Residences and commercial big infrastructure, improve road signalization, waste water treatment.  $8M in total.  The Fall Town Meeting approved the change of the sign by-law which allowed for outdoor advertising, billboards, for Route 1.  $2M over twenty-year term through combination of lump sum payment and annual lease.  The Selectmen will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Carroll Advertising.  General review of fees and charges is underway.  Recent meeting approved increase in ambulance and fire service fees and Railroad Parking.  Revenue 78% property, 14% state aid, 6% from local sources and 2% other revenue.  This category is mainly local sources.  Meals tax and room occupancy tax.  That would yield about $168,000.  The net metering way for town to receive solar renewable credits.  $250,000 a year for electrical supply and distribution.  A task force of people with expertise.

 

4.      Bill Fowler reported that all fees and charges were being studied.  For equity purposes, to make fee cover what it costs to provide.  The building permit is a major restructuring.

 

5.      There was some discussion regarding the information presented.

 

6.      The next item was a brief presentation of Sharon’s expenditures showing the categories the Commonwealth uses.  Five comparable contiguous towns:  Walpole, Easton, Mansfield, Canton, and Foxboro.  Not using Norwood and Stoughton.

 

7.      The most current information was from the FY’11 DOR data.  Presentation of expenditures in categories compared to five contiguous towns:  General Government, Police, Fire, Education, Public Works, Human Services, Culture and Recreation, Fixed costs, Debt Services.  CIP% non-residential tax base; 22% median.  8.14% lowest.  Non-contiguous comparable towns:  Holliston, Hingham, Duxbury, Westwood, Medfield.

 

8.      There was considerable discussion regarding this slide presentation.  The health insurance design plan was too new to estimate what the cost would be.

 

9.      Continued discussion on the amount of revenue to be raised and trying to increase the amount of local receipts.

 

10.  Two new categories:  OPEB and Benefit Accrued.  $100,000 in each for post-employment benefits.  There was much discussion on this issue.

 

11.  On February 25, the School Budget will be presented.  On March 4, the Finance Committee sector budgets, Town Clerk and Board of Health; and Sharon Residences will meet.  Police and Fire on March 11th, and DPW on March 18th will present their budgets.

 

12.  The next meeting will be on February 25.

 

13.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

14.  VOTED:  6-0-0.

 

15.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.