Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – April 12, 2010

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan (late), Gordon

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

                               Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips, (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Keith Garte, Joel Lessard

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

2. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve the minutes of March 31, 2010, as written.

3. VOTED:  6-0-3.  For:  Anderson, Goodman, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Nelson.

4. The next item on the agenda was the Conservation Commission’s request for a Reserve Fund Transfer for a Conservation Restriction on a land swap with the Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club.

5. Hanford Langstroth, a member of the Conservation Commission explained about the conservation restriction.  This involved several pieces of property related to land transfer in 1998 and last fall.  There were several lawsuits regarding the property.  They applied to the Community Preservation Committee to get funds, but, under Community Preservation Committee regulations, they were not approved.  The Conservation Commission can’t hold a conservation restriction and monitor land.  Mass. Audubon will be monitoring and maintaining the restriction on an annual basis.  One time payment in perpetuity.  The $20,000 amount would cover 60 acres.  Unable to get Community Preservation Committee funds.  The Conservation Commission got notice too late to get on Warrant.  This was unforeseeable and extraordinary so they will need Reserve Fund transfer.

6. There was some discussion regarding the Reserve Fund transfer.  The Conservation Commission was waiting for State Legislature to pass act to allow transfer of property sometime this spring.

7. The next item on the agenda was Andy Nebenzahl, Chair of the Charter Commission, to explain the proposed Charter, primarily how it affects the Finance Committee.

8. There was considerable discussion regarding long-term planning, positions in town that may be changed, increased responsibilities, budgetary process, difference in existing Finance Committee and future Finance Committee, and Town Meeting process.

9. Andy Nebenzahl explained that the Finance Committee had too broad a mandate, would include Audit Committee and would only have financial matters on the Warrant, and monitor and supervise the outside audit.  There would be five members plus two members from the Legislative Committee.

10. There was more discussion on the issues of voter rights, the petition to have a Town Meeting, and notification to residents of issues being discussed by the Legislative Committee.  It was stated that if something was not workable, it could be amended by a 2/3 vote at Town Meeting.

11. It was announced that there will be a Charter Commission Open Forum Meeting on Tuesday, May 11, one week before the election.

12. The next meeting will be the Open Warrant Meeting on April 26, 8 p.m.  Regular Finance Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. beforehand.

13. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

14. VOTED:  10-0-0.

15. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.