Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 4, 2013
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander
Korin, Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson
1. Bill Brack, Vice Chair, was the Chairman for this meeting because Ira Miller could not attend this meeting.
2. The first item on the agenda was to review the Warrant to vote on the articles.
3. The next Priorities meeting would be on April 9. This week’s meeting was postponed because information was not available.
4. Bill Brack stated that the committee could not take a vote on the budget without the information from Priorities. Special Articles 1. Request that funds from prior years’ encumbrance be set aside for use on the FY 2014 Revaluation, 2. Article to rescind capital borrowing authorized at Town Meeting/never borrowed, and 3. Article to appropriate a sum of money to close the Snow & Ice Deficit for FY 2013, was waiting for information from Bill Fowler. Same with information on Articles 6. Deferred Benefits and 7. OPEB Funds. The committee had held on Article 19. Motor Vehicle Excise Exemption for Residents on Active Military Duty.
5. Paul Bergeron, Veterans’ Agent, reported that the reason we specified service members who go overseas, the service member that remains in Continental United States is allowed a 180 day deferral. Not given free excise. The entitlements are different and address each one individually. If you merge into one you leave out the exempt. It had not been officially approved. Less than $2,000 maximum.
6. Bill Fowler stated that regarding Article 19, on the second notice, it would go up $3. Zero impact.
7. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 19.
8. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
9. There was considerable discussion regarding Article 4. Personnel by-law and Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of elected officials. Regarding the budget, because of free cash being certified, replaced excess capacity, and down on the levy, there was a decrease to 2.25% from 2.5%.
10. Special Article 1. Request that funds from prior years’ encumbrance be set aside for use on the FY 2014 Revaluation.
11. There was some discussion on this article.
12. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Special Article 1.
13. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
14. Special Article 2. Article to rescind capital borrowing authorized at Town Meeting/never borrowed.
15. There was some discussion on this article. There was nothing definite on the numbers.
16. Special Article 3. Article to appropriate a sum of money to close the Snow & Ice Deficit for FY 2013.
17. The DPW would need $25,000 to $30,000 above the Reserve Fund of $350,000. This article was held.
18. Article 6. Deferred Benefits.
19. Bill Fowler recommended putting $100,000 into a fund to pay for earned benefits upon termination or retirement.
20. There was much discussion on this article.
21. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Alex Korin to not recommend Article 6.
22. After some discussion, Gordon Gladstone withdrew his motion. Article 6 was held.
23. Article 7. OPEB.
24. Bill Fowler reported on the background of this article, that it could affect the town’s bond rating, and recommended funding $100,000 as a minimum.
25. There was some discussion on this article.
26. A MOTION was made by Arnie Cohen and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 7.
27. VOTED: 3-3-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Philips. Against: Gladstone, Goodman, Korin.
28. Article 21. Medical marijuana zoning/otherwise regulate.
29. There was some discussion on this article.
30. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 21 at Town Meeting.
31. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
32. Article 22. Adult Zoning – Moratorium.
33. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 22 at Town Meeting.
34. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
35. Article 2. Establish Professional District B and to place district on the land off of South Main Street.
36. There was some discussion on this article, the need for more information, and to see the MOU, Memorandum of Understanding.
37. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 2 at Town Meeting.
38. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
39. Article 3. Create a wastewater overlay district and place it on the Zoning Map on Old Post Road.
40. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 3 at Town Meeting.
41. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Philips.
42. The next meeting will be April 11.
43. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
44. VOTED: 6-0-0.
45. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.