Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 5, 2010

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone,

                               Charles Goodman (late), Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Ira Miller,

                               Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Joel Lessard, Laura Nelson

1. The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from previous meetings.

2. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve the minutes of March 15, 2010.

3. VOTED:  5-0-3.  For:  Anderson, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone.

4. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Keith Garte to approve the minutes of March 22, 2010.

5. VOTED:  7-0-1.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Gladstone.

6. The next item on the agenda was Capital Outlay information.

7. Gordon Gladstone reported on the Capital Outlay article for the Weight Room at the High School, the track at the High School, and the Special Education van.

8. There was some discussion on this information.

9. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Donald Gilligan to recommend Article 18, all of Capital’s requests per the presentation that Paul Linehan made and per their spreadsheets.

10. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

11. The next item on the agenda regarded the budget recap sheet and possible change to some line items, bottom line not changing.

12. There was considerable discussion regarding a vote and what would be printed in the Warrant.  There was to be a Priorities meeting the following evening.

13. Snow and Ice Deficit, Article 1, Special within the Annual.

14. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 1, in the amount of $175,000 from funds to cover the overrun of the Snow and Ice deficit.

15. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

16. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend the budgets as captured in our recap sheet summarized tonight and consider any changes for future town meetings.

17. There was some discussion on the motion.  $66,226,171 was the bottom line number.

18. VOTED:  6-3-0.  For:  Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Philips.  Against:  Anderson, Goodman, Miller.

19. Chuck Goodman stated that there were unallocated funds in the Finance sector.  He suggested they be allocated to Finance Committee expenses, $2,144.

20. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to allocate unallocated funds in the amount of $2,144 to Finance Committee expenses.

21. There was some discussion regarding the use of these funds for hiring a consultant to get information that the Finance Committee didn’t have time to do or not able to be furnished by the town.  Some felt other departments could have used more money.

22. VOTED:  6-3-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller.  Against:  Gladstone, Hitter, Philips.

23. Article 4.  Personnel By-law.

24. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 4, Personnel By-law, as written.

25. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

26. Article 5. Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers.

27. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Keith Garte to recommend Article 5, Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers, as written.

28. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

29. Annual Town Meeting

30. Article 1.  Finance Committee Members.  Recommend to approve the slate as recommended by Nominating Committee.

31. Chuck Goodman stated that there are three current members, Josh Kiernan, Gordon Gladstone, Brian Fitzgerald.  A fourth member, Bill Brack, was a new member.  Everybody will be nominated for a three year term.

32. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Donald Gilligan to recommend Article 1, the slate as recommended by the Nominating Committee.

33. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

34. Article 3.  Addition to Stabilization Fund.

35. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 3.

36. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

37. Article 8.  Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments.

38. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips to recommend Article 8.

39. VOTED:  8-1-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.  Against:  Gladstone.

40. Article 21.  Revolving Funds Re-authorizations.  Voted everyone but Recreation.

41. Bill Fowler explained what happened with the Recreation Revolving Fund.

42. A MOTION was made by Donald Gilligan and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Recreation Department item G of Revolving Fund of Article 21.

43. VOTED:  9-0-0.  For:  Anderson, Garte, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.

44. Jon Hitter stated that there was a Priorities meeting tomorrow evening.  Next week meeting Conservation Commission.  Talk about Reserve Fund request for conservation restriction similar to Article 16.  Andy Nebenzahl at 7:45 p.m. to engage in discussion on the Charter.  Ask him to explain role of Finance Committee or what they’ve done to Finance Committee.

45. The next meeting will be April 12.

46. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

47. VOTED:  9-0-0.

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