Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – October 14, 2010
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, William Brack, Keith Garte, Gordon Gladstone,
Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward
Philips (late), (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Joel Lessard
1. Josh Kiernan was Acting Chair for Joel Lessard who was unable to attend the meeting.
2. The first item on the agenda was further discussion on Article 1, Post Office Square Zoning Changes. Susan Price and Eli Hauser from the Planning Board were here to answer questions regarding any changes and provide further information.
3. The Planning Board voted 3-1 in favor of Article 1. Amanda Sloan was absent from the meeting, but sent information indicating she would have been in favor. The vote against concerned density, bringing buildings closer, not pedestrian friendly. Main concern was to do waste water and pollution before zoning.
4. There was considerable discussion on this article regarding density that went from 1,000 sq. ft. area to 2,000 sq. ft. area, parking spaces, building height of 45 ft. up to 50 ft. if architectural feature on roof, site plan approval by Planning Board, Special Permit by Zoning Board of Appeals, and Board of Health approval. More restrictive use.
5. Article 2. Change former landfill use from Recreation to General Municipal purposes to allow utility scale solar project.
6. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 2.
7. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
8. Article 3. Change sign by-law to comply with Attorney General’s recommendations.
9. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 3.
10. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Nelson.
11. The abstention was that there was no red line version.
12. Article 4. Accepting deeds in lieu of foreclosure for various properties.
13. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 4.
14. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Gladstone.
15. There was discussion about the changes to Articles 5 and 6 with Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler. The biggest change was the sponsor which is now the Community Preservation Committee. The purpose was still the same.
16. Article 5. Transfer sale proceeds from Glenview Road home sale from Community Preservation Fund to Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
17. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 5 in the amount of $161,478 pending vote of the Community Preservation Committee.
18. VOTED: 5-3-1. For: Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Kiernan, Philips. Against: Anderson, Goodman, Miller. Abstain: Nelson.
19. Article 6. Transfer portion of Community Preservation Fund revenues to Debt and Interest Budgets. Changing of sponsor from Finance Director to Community Preservation Committee. An annual article at May Town Meeting until debt is paid.
20. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 6 in the amount of $218,010 pending the vote of the Community Preservation Committee.
21. VOTED: 6-2-1. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Kiernan, Philips. Against: Goodman, Miller. Abstain: Nelson.
22. Article 7. Reduce the Debt and Interest Budgets.
23. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to recommend Article 7.
24. VOTED: 8-1-0. Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Against: Goodman.
25. Article 8. Funding for High School Roof Replacement – contingent upon MSBA approval. Adding in word Project Manager. Funding can pay for Project Manager and Design.
26. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Bill Brack to recommend Article 8.
27. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
28. Article 9. Changes to the by-law that would result in the discretion of the Selectmen to not call for a Fall Town Meeting. Changing the wording from shall to may. Attorney Gelerman said no reason to put date on for further restriction when Selectmen have to say yea or nay.
29. There was some discussion on this article.
30. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 9.
31. VOTED: 5-4-0. For: Anderson, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Nelson. Against: Brack, Garte, Miller, Philips.
32. Article 1. Post Office Square Zoning Changes.
33. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 1.
34. VOTED: 7-2-0. For: Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Anderson, Nelson.
35. The next item on the agenda was to vote the minutes of past meetings.
36. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of August 23, 2010.
37. VOTED: 5-0-3. For: Anderson, Brack, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller. Abstain: Garte, Gladstone, Philips. Nelson out of room at time of vote.
38. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Bill Brack to approve the minutes of September 13, 2010.
39. VOTED: 8-0-1. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Gladstone.
40. A MOTION was made by Maria Anderson and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to approve the minutes of September 27, 2010.
41. VOTED: 7-0-2. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller, Nelson. Abstain: Gladstone, Philips.
42. A MOTION was made by Laura Nelson and SECONDED by Ted Philips to approve the minutes of October 4, 2010.
43. VOTED: 4-0-5. For: Goodman, Kiernan, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Miller.
44. The next item on the agenda was to vote on the appointment of a twelfth member of the Finance Committee.
45. Laura Nelson proposed not to increase the committee at this time. Would need seven members for a quorum and better without even number voting.
46. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to appoint Alexander Korin to the Finance Committee to fill two year term of member who resigned.
47. VOTED: 7-1-1. For: Anderson, Brack, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Miller. Against: Nelson. Abstain: Philips.
48. Josh Kiernan stated that the Clerk should notify Alexander Korin of his appointment, and also Christian Greve to encourage him to remain in contact and contact the Nominating Committee for Spring Town Meeting. Get many people involved because there is turnover.
49. The next meeting will be November 1, 2010, Open Warrant Meeting.
50. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
51. VOTED: 9-0-0.
52. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.