Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 11, 2013
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander Korin, Ira Miller,
Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (late) (Hamilton)
Absent: William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald
1. The first item on the agenda was to discuss the Priorities report from the Tuesday, April 9, meeting. Bill Fowler, Finance Director, updated the changes in the Revenue Forecast number.
2. Bill Fowler explained the increase in free cash to $1M, eliminated $100,000 from OPEB Trust and Stabilization Fund, change in health insurance, and 2.5% increase to 2.25% increase to tax levy. The sector allocation was 2.22% from 2.01%.
3. There was considerable discussion regarding the Priorities report and where the changes to the allocation came from.
4. The discussion continued including Article 4. Personnel By-law and Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of elected officials.
5. The next item was the budget recap that goes at the end of the Warrant. The budget was discussed, the Town Clerk’s salary, and the $13,000 merit increase.
6. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 4. Personnel By-law.
7. There was much discussion on the motion.
8. The motion was amended to pass the $13,000 increase as a bonus.
9. VOTED: 2-5-0. The amendment was defeated. For: Gladstone, Miller. Against: Cohen, Goodman, Korin, Nelson, Phillips.
10. Article 4. Personnel By-law.
11. VOTED: 5-2-0. Passed. For: Cohen, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Philips. Against: Gladstone, Nelson.
12. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of elected officials.
13. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend the Town Clerk’s salary in the amount of $74,125.
14. VOTED: 6-1-0. Passed. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
15. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 5 with the recap budget at the back of the Warrant to read as presented with the change of Finance Committee, $485,538; Selectmen, $12,315,668; School, $37,766,329; Voc. Ed., $308,655; Fixed and Uncontrollable, $20,361,875; Water, $2,767,945. Total Town budget, $71,238,065. Excluding water; outside audit; unemployment; retirement. Separate articles.
16. VOTED: 5-1-1. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Korin.
17. The next item on the agenda was to take positions on the remaining articles.
18. Special Article 1. Request that funds from prior years’ encumbrance be set aside for use on the FY’2014 Revaluation.
19. Special Article 2. Article to rescind capital borrowing authorized at Town Meeting/never borrowed. The Selectmen voted indefinite postponement.
20. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend indefinite postponement of Special Article 2.
21. VOTED: 7-0-0. Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
22. Special Article 3. Article to appropriate a sum of money to close the Snow & Ice Deficit for FY 2013.
23. There was some discussion on this article. The committee would like a more accurate number of what it would be. Snow & Ice was short $22,000 above the $350,000 Reserve Fund.
24. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to make a recommendation at Town Meeting on Special Article 3.
25. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
26. Article 6. Deferred Benefits. $100,000 estimate.
27. There was some discussion on Article 6.
28. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 10:20 p.m.
29. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 6.
30. VOTED: 4-1-1. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Miller, Philips. Against: Korin. Abstain: Goodman.
31. Article 7. OPEB Funds.
32. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to reconsider Article 7.
33. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Philips.
34. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend indefinite postponement.
35. VOTED: 6-0-0. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Philips.
36. Article 10. Capital Outlay Articles.
37. There was discussion on this article regarding numbers to be included in the article.
38. Articles 21. and 22. Planning Board had vote on article, 4-0-1.
39. Article 21. Medical marijuana zoning/otherwise regulate.
40. A MOTION was made by Arnie Cohen and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 21.
41. VOTED: 5-0-1. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Goodman.
42. Article 22. Adult Zoning – Moratorium.
43. A MOTION was made by Arnie Cohen and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 22.
44. VOTED: 5-0-1. For: Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Goodman.
45. Articles 2 and 3. Planning Board voted 3-1-0. Anne Bingham: Not enough time to consider all issues, medical facility included construction. Board of Health will meet before Town Meeting. Amount of water treatment agreed to lower to 48,000 gallons. Memorandum of Understanding was signed Tuesday.
46. Article 10. Capital Outlay Articles.
47. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend the following Capital items: Civil Defense. $14,460; Police, $60,000; Fire: $365,000; DPW, $2,135,000; Water, $1,304,900; School, $618,450; Total $4,497,816.
48. VOTED: 5-0-1. For: Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Cohen.
49. The next meeting will be April 22, 2013.
50. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
51. VOTED: 6-0-0.
52. The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m.