Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – March 22, 2010

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

 

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan (late), Gordon

                               Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel

                               Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (late), (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald

 

1.      The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes of March 8, 2010.

 

2.      A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Keith Garte to approve the minutes of March 8, 2010.

 

3.      VOTED:  7-0-1.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller.  Abstain:  Nelson.

 

4.      The next item on the agenda was Bill Fowler, Finance Director, who explained about the Revolving Funds and the articles along with them.

 

5.      1.  Horizons for Youth Property Revolving Fund.  FY’09, $24,000.  Signing of long-term leases.  Long-term lease rental coming in.  Mostly for utilities.

 

6.      There was some discussion on this fund.

 

7.      2.  Cable Re-licensing with Comcast.  At end of FY’10, $9,500.  Revenue from Comcast.

 

8.      3.  Railroad Parking Revolving.  Money from daily collections.  Used for paving, striping, snow removal.  Looking to try to automate collections.

 

9.      4.  Street Opening Revolving.  Utility has to open street.  Repair set up.  $5,400 in FY’09.  Not much activity.

 

10.  5.  Recycling Revolving.  Money town receives from sale of recycling.  Not good economy so not much money.  Fees for public education.  People that manage recycling.  Postage:  calendars, advertising for hazardous waste.

 

11.  6.  Parking Lot Revolving.  High school lot behind Ames Street Playground.

 

12.  There was a little discussion on this fund.

 

13.  7.  Community Center Building Maintenance Revolving.  Money coming in for rental for functions, bar mitzvahs, weddings, etc.  Attempt to defray cost of running the building when function is on.  Trying to accumulate for wear and tear.  Cost was based on old building.

 

14.  There was much discussion on this fund.  Brett McGowan, Recreation Director, explained about the deposits for events held in escrow, returned to renter if no damage or overage for custodian, and cost of event.

 

15.  8.  Recreation Program Revolving.  Revenue from all classes and basketball.

 

16.  9.  Waterfront Program Revolving.  Swim lessons, beach tags, program related, Camp Massapoag.

 

17.  There was much discussion on the two Recreation Department revolving funds.  Need to increase cap on revolving fund from $75,000 to $150,000 or have to cut class or limit revenue.  Spent $147,000 last year.

 

18.  10.  Water Revolving.

 

19.  Bill Fowler explained that this is the last time we’ll see this.  Last piece for transitioning from General Fund Accounting to Enterprise.  They have been drawing down surpluses from $2.8M to $341,000.

 

20.  There was a little discussion on this fund.

 

21.  11.  Library Replacement Revolving.  Small dollar value.  Charges for copy machine, replacement of library books.  Not a lot of money coming in or going out.

 

22.  12.  Library Supply Revolving.

 

23.  13.  Conservation Advertising.  When people apply for variance, pay advertising cost.  Charge a fee.

 

24.  14.  Health Department Revolving.  Flu shots, H1N1 Clinic.  More medical supplies and office supplies.  Requested increase from $20,000 to $40,000.

 

25.  15.  Board of Health Septic Revolving Fund.

 

26.  Ben Puritz explained that the state subsidized low income fund.  There is a low level of activity, $1,000.  Title V loans.

 

27.  There was some discussion regarding an update with the state and revenue projections.  It was announced that the state will be making a 4% reduction to local aid.  Still in range of 2.47%.

 

28.  Ben Puritz stated that the state was taking away from Chapter 70 and putting back in Circuit Breaker.

 

29.  Paul Linehan will be coming to meeting on March 31st to discuss Capital Outlay articles and their vote.

 

30.  The next item on the agenda was to discuss the Warrant articles.

 

31.  Special within the Annual.

 

32.  Article 1.  Snow and Ice Deficit, up to $175,000.  That is the amount of anticipated short fall.

 

33.  There was some discussion on this article.

 

34.  Article 2.  Supplemental appropriation for school capital projects by re-allocating funds.

 

35.  Bill Fowler stated that there would be a vote tomorrow night at Capital Outlay.  Still $223,000 to cover.

 

36.  Annual Town Meeting.

 

37.  Article 1.  Finance Committee Members.  Nominating Committee meeting tomorrow night.  Gloria Rose Azer will have write-up to put in Warrant.

 

38.  Article 2.  Act Upon Reports.  Pro forma.

 

39.  Article 3.  Addition to Stabilization Fund.  Placeholder article.  This would be for Fall Town Meeting.

 

40.  Article 4.  Personnel By-law.  Concurred with Selectmen’s recommendations.

 

41.  Article 5.  Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.  Budgets we will be finalizing for on recap sheet.  Vote on Town Clerk’s salary.

 

42.  Article 6.  Norfolk County Retirement.  $2,328,188.

 

43.  Article 7.  Unemployment.  $75,000.

 

44.  Article 8.  Sharon Friends School Fund records and appointments.

 

45.  Article 9.  Annual Audit.  $52,800.  FY’08 is done, finalizing FY’09.

 

46.  Articles 10-17 discussed at March 8th meeting.

 

47.  Articles 18-26.  Capital Outlay articles.  These will be discussed at March 31st meeting.

 

48.  Article 27.  Veterans’ Exemption.  Pro forma.

 

49.  Articles 28. and 29.  Community Preservation Committee articles discussed at March 15th meeting.

 

50.  Article 30.  Revolving Funds Reauthorizations.

 

51.  The next item on the agenda was to deliberate on Warrant articles.

 

52.  Article 10.  Remove Deputy Chief of Police position from Civil Service.  Removes from Civil Service allowing town to control who we hire.

 

53.  A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone that based on Chief Joseph Bernstein’s report, to recommend Article 10.

 

54.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

55.  Article 11.  Grant match for fire fighter training for $3,382 for Homeland Security Grant.

 

56.  A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 11, not from Fire Department budget.

 

57.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

58.  Article 12.  Authorization of sale of 9 Glenview Road.

 

59.  A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 12.

 

60.  Ben Puritz stated that this is a formality to declare property for sale for $187,800 on lottery.  Figure prescribed by affordable housing by state.  Selectmen have surplus available for sale.  Further action by Town Meeting.

 

61.  VOTED:  10-0-1.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Nelson.

 

62.  Article 13.  Zoning by-law to allow for for-profit recreational use at Sacred Heart Property.

 

63.  Ben Puritz announced that the Planning Board is holding a hearing on April 12.  Notice period.

 

64.  A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 13 at Town Meeting.

 

65.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

66.  Article 14.  Change in use for the Sacred Heart Property.  Adds recreation.

 

67.  A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 14 at Town Meeting.

 

68.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

69.  Article 15.  Long-term lease for Sacred Heart Property.

 

70.  A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Article 15 at Town Meeting.

 

71.  Ben Puritz stated that Town Meeting has not capped lease term.  In RFP there is an upper limit.  When Town voted, Wilbur, 10 years; Horizons for Youth, 20 years.

 

72.  There was much discussion on Article 15.

 

73.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

74.  Article 16.  Horizons for Youth Property Conservation Restriction Conveyance.  Community Preservation Committee information.

 

75.  Article 17.  Authorize the Board of Selectmen to negotiate and enter into a written agreement and/or modify certain terms and conditions contained in the Waste Acquisition Agreement.  Placeholder.

 

76.  A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 17 at Town Meeting.

 

77.  VOTED:  11-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.

 

78.  Jon Hitter will contact Corey Snow regarding Conservation Restriction Conveyance by Community Preservation Committee.

 

79.  Bill Fowler to get information on Recreation, follow-up funds.

 

80.  The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 31.

 

81.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

82.  VOTED:  11-0-0.

 

83.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.