Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 13, 2010

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

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Keith Garte,

                               Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman (late), Josh Kiernan, Joel

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

1. The first item on the agenda was to vote prior meeting minutes.

2. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve the minutes of June 14, 2010.

3. VOTED:  6-0-3.  For:  Fitzgerald, Garte, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Anderson, Brack, Gladstone.

4. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve the minutes of June 28, 2010.

5. VOTED:  4-0-5.  For:  Brack, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller.  Abstain:  Anderson, Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Nelson.

6. A MOTION was made by Josh Kiernan and SECONDED by Ira Miller to approve the minutes of July 12, 2010.

7. VOTED:  5-0-4.  For:  Brack, Fitzgerald, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller.  Abstain:  Anderson, Garte, Gladstone, Nelson.

8. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to approve the minutes of July 26, 2010.

9. VOTED:  7-0-2.  For:  Anderson, Fitzgerald, Garte, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Brack, Gladstone.

10. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of August 9, 2010.

11. VOTED:  4-0-5.  For:  Anderson, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Brack, Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Kiernan.

12. Chuck Goodman and Ted Philips were not present when minutes were voted.

13. The next item on the agenda was discussion on the open position on the Finance Committee.

14. Chuck Goodman reported that the Nominating Committee received two applications for members of the Finance Committee.  Both individuals know there is one opening.  The resumes originally went to the Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee only nominates for May Town Meeting.  Anything else is done at the election of the Finance Committee.  One candidate has been in town for awhile.  The other is a new resident.  One has been at Town Meetings.  The other attended meetings here.

15. There was some discussion regarding these candidates and their qualifications.

16. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Bill Brack to nominate Candidate #2 to fill out Jon Hitter’s two-year term.

17. There was some discussion regarding Candidate #2 not having direct financial experience but does have management organization experience, is a longer term resident, and is active in town government and what is happening on the Finance Committee.

18. VOTED:  2-7-2.  For:  Gladstone, Goodman.  Against:  Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Garte, Philips.

19. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan that the Finance Committee invite the candidates to the next meeting of the Finance Committee.

20. VOTED:  10-1-0.  For:  Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.  Against:  Goodman.

21. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Joel Lessard to nominate Candidate #1 to fill out Jon Hitter’s two-year term.

22. VOTED:  0-9-2.  Against:  Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.  Abstain:  Garte, Philips.

23. The next item on the agenda was the budget format.

24. Joel Lessard reported that the Administration budget (Selectmen sector) request was for three budgets.  Primary:  Level funding, includes 2% salary increase.  Second, first option, Primary, Steps, and 2% salary increase.  Second option up to 5% and overall option.  Regarding the Primary and First Option:  Should the Finance Committee make same request to our sector or something different?  Questions about our sector groups that report to us and whether we want to move under Selectmen for budgeting purposes.  Bill Fowler to come before us to discuss with Finance Committee to take position on keeping our groups under the Finance Committee sector or go to the Selectmen sector.

25. There was much discussion regarding the Finance Committee sector budgets.  Bill Brack read the by-law for Priorities and whether the Finance Committee has sector for budgets or not did not seem to affect their participation on Priorities.  It was decided to ask Ben Puritz to come to the next meeting to give input historically how the sectors were divided.  Then the committee decided to take this issue off the table and not to make any changes this fiscal year.

26. There was some discussion on the Finance Committee sector budgets and what to request for budgets.  There was a suggestion to have level funded with steps and contractual.  No salary increase.  If revenue becomes available, can add to budget.  There will be discussion with Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler before sending anything to Finance Committee sector to see if Selectmen sector memo and Finance Committee sector memo can be the same.  Need discussion on where 2% figure comes from and how it is funded.

27. OLD BUSINESS

28. Laura Nelson reported on Town Reports.  She spoke with Newton, Foxboro, and Stoughton.  They don’t have on-line.  Many other towns are on-line.  Canton through Westwood.  Towns we have compared ourselves to.  150-200-300 page reports.  Most from ’09.  Did not do analysis to see which pieces we don’t have we might want to have.

29. There was a suggestion to go through and see what other information that is useful and should be included and discuss with Bill Fowler about format to put in.

30. GOALS & LIAISONS

31. Joel Lessard talked to Bill Fowler regarding town vehicles.  He has been pursuing actively and will have updated list soon.

32. NEW BUSINESS

33. Liaison Reports:

34. Bill Brack stated he was not able to attend the School Committee meeting.  The Town has received stimulus funding for school.  This week starting budget sub-committee.  One of the questions for them, think about going back to level funding issue.  Use to add more programs, use to reduce to stay level?  One year piece of funding.  The state will take into consideration stimulus when it does the Circuit Breaker.  It’s additional revenue.

35. Joel Lessard reported on the Selectmen’s meeting from last Tuesday.  On the calendar supposed to close the Warrant.  Didn’t see them close the Warrant.  Chief Bernstein was there to talk about reorganization in Police Department.  Promote the three officers to the positions of Deputy Chief, lieutenant and sergeant.  Solar panel on land fill.  Long discussion.  Selectman Roach spoke whether to bring something before Town Meeting on this.  Didn’t want to put on agenda for Town Meeting with only 75% of the information.  Bill Heitin said we could get Selectmen to act for town and get information after.  Appointments: Capital Outlay, Heitin, Roach, and Priorities, Powell, Roach.

36. Chuck Goodman spoke on the Planning Board’s meeting for rezoning center of town.  He brought up hiring a consultant for a peer review on the rezoning issue.  Total cost $10,000 to $15,000 or $100-$125 per hour.  The Finance Committee has some funds for this.  Water treatment an issue that isn’t addressed in the rezoning.

37. There was continued discussion regarding traffic, parking, water consumption, and impact of number of children in schools.  Requests had been made for synopsis of zoning changes, list of owners and tax revenue, and had not been received.  A public hearing by the Planning Board on the P.O. Square rezoning was to be held on Wednesday, September 15, at Town Hall.

38. Gordon Gladstone reported that the Middle School opened on time and is in the next phase.

39. Ira Miller informed the committee that the MA Association of Town Finance Committees Annual Meeting would be held on October 23 and said that he would attend.

40. The next meeting will be September 27, 2010.

41. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

42. VOTED:  11-0-0.

43. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.