Meeting Minutes
Minutes Accepted and filed with the Town Clerk on 12/18/12 by a vote of 3-0-1
(Stuart abstains not at 12/4/12 meeting/Hersom absent)
7:00 p.m. – December 4, 2012
Sutton Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members in Attendance:
Chairman Michael Chizy, Vice-Chair John Hebert, Selectmen Richard Hersom and David Hall
(Selectman Stuart absent)
Also in Attendance:
Town Administrator James Smith & Debbie Jacques, secretary
Chairman Chizy calls the meeting to order at 7:00 pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments under Public Forum
Selectman Hebert motions to approve as presented November 20, 2012 meeting minutes, Selectman Hall seconds passes 3-0-1 (Selectman Hersom abstains, not present @ 11/20 meeting, Selectman Stuart absent from tonight’s meeting)
Town Accountant year to date budget report: Town Accountant Tim Harrison is present. Tim begins by saying the free cash has been certified by DOR ($835,914.00). Capital budget requests are due to the Town Administrator by December 14th. Currently there are no outstanding issues. Tim reviews the preliminary revenue budget for FY2013. He will project how employee health insurance looks next month as a lot of changes take place between July 1st and October of each year. Tim goes on to say on the expense side we are on target; revenue side will show more after the 1st big excise tax commitment goes out the beginning of March. TA Smith breaks down where the free cash will be going (300k to free cash, 100k stabilization fund, 100k OPEB and 300k for solar panels on town
buildings) as well as informing the BOS there has been a change in the retirees Medex part 3 to Medex part 2, this reduced the premium for both the town and the retiree. This change takes place January 1st and should save approximately $750.00 per retiree. Current employee health insurance is also being reviewed and there will be a presentation at the Dec. 18th BOS meeting. TA Smith goes on to say Governor Patrick announced today there is a 540 million dollar budget deficit. Each town will be hit with some cuts. Looking forward this is probably not a good precursor to the House One Budget the Governor submits the end of January. The best case scenario will be for Department heads to level fund when submitting their budgets. The school will face a greater challenge. Selectman Hebert says that with a fiscal cliff possibly ahead and with the Governors budget cuts Sutton is fortunate to be ahead of the curve thanks to our financial team, looking
ahead, it will not be as easy as it once was, we may have to be faced with some grave decisions. Selectman Hall says it is never a good budget year but this year will be more difficult. If the current Chapter 70 funds are cut we could see the school with their own fiscal cliff for next year’s budget. The past few years the school was able to use stimulus funds but now they will have no way to fill the budget gap. We need to look at where we use the free cash. Chairman Chizy says there is no doubt next year will be a difficult budget but the leaders in Washington need to stop acting like spoiled children. Mike thanks Tim for a good update. Tim Harrison in response to Selectman Halls free cash comment says we cannot use free cash in place of school choice money (both are 1 X monies). Selectman Hall states he is not making suggestions but is concerned, he acknowledges that the different areas free cash goes to are good uses but if there is a really large funding gap at the
school even 1 time money will help fill the gap.
2013 License Renewals: TA Smith informs the BOS there are a few businesses that are late getting their paperwork back, if received they will be before the BOS on Dec. 18. Vice-Chairman John Hebert reads license renewals as listed (attached). These include Class II & III, Common Victuallers and alcohol. Selectman Hebert states it is up to the businesses to get their renewal paperwork back in time to go before the BOS, those that are late should be more responsible. John goes on to say those that do not renew; we should have the Police go around on January 1st to make sure they do not open without a license. Selectman Hersom says he could not agree more with Sel. Hebert we should get stricture with the stragglers, Chairman Chizy says maybe it is about time to get strict, if we do not have the
renewals by the Dec 18th meeting, those businesses will not have a license next year. Hearing no more comments, Selectman Hersom motions to approve the 2013 license renewals as presented, Selectman Hebert seconds passes 4-0
Town Administrators Update:
- Free Cash: recently certified by DOR, Breakdown of use is 300k for FY14, 100k stabilization fund, 100k OPEB and 300k solar panels on town owned buildings.
Selectman Hall asks if free cash is retained earnings, Tim Harrison replies yes. Dave suggests adding OPEB to the enterprise fund as well as at what point do we reach our goal with OPEB. TA Smith and Tim both agree that is a good question and one that has been discussed
- Jeff Paulhus has inquired about adding on a 3rd baseball field at Hough Road. Sutton Youth Baseball must first go to the Planning Board for a site plan review and then on to the Board of Selectman for consideration.
Health Care Proposed Changes: at the next BOS meeting there will be a power point presentation on the proposed health care changes that we have discussed with the insurance advisory committee.
- Christmas gatherings: Waters Farm December 12th/Town Hall gathering December 18th
- Saturday Dec. 8th @ 9:30am there will be a walk thru at the school, please let Jim know if you will attend.
Announcements:
Selectman Hebert: Sunday Dec. 9th 9am-noon there will be a hat drive in the center put on by the Dudley Dendron American Post 414 to benefit the Food Pantry.
Round Table:
Selectman Hersom begins by saying budget cuts this early are not a good indicator yet the Governor has decided to allow children of illegal immigrants attend Massachusetts colleges and pay in state tuition. Rick would like to discuss and vote on sending a letter to the Governor showing we are against this decision. Rick goes on to say no matter how good of a job we do, it is extremely frustrating with these types of decisions on Beacon Hill. Selectman Hersom is requesting that Senator Moore and State Rep. Fattman be invited to a January BOS meeting.
Chairman Chizy states he has no issue with inviting Moore and Fattman to a meeting. Mike goes on to say Christmas is coming; the Food pantry feeds a lot of mouths, please be generous.
Selectman Hebert says there were 40 baskets that went out for Thanksgiving, which is great; Fuel Assistance is also needed so please give generous.
Hearing no further discussion,
Selectman Hersom motions to adjourn, Selectman Hebert seconds passes 4-0 Meeting adjourned 7:56 pm
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