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Advisory Committee, October 23, 2008
ADVISORY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 23, 2008
7 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Cook, Chair, Lisa Fenton, Vice-Chair, Constantine Constantinides, Scott Roberts, Karen Connolly, Anthony Antoniello, Bob DeLorenzo, Maura Curran, Tony Villani
ALSO PRESENT: Rick Agnew, Town Administrator; Mary Gallagher and Mark Patterson
BOARD OF SELECTMEN PRESENT: Joseph Norton
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mr. Cook called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Scituate Town Library.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton, the agenda was accepted as amended by unanimous vote (9-0).
3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Mr. DeLorenzo, the minutes from 10.9.08 were accepted as amended by unanimous vote (9-0).
4. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – Mr. Rick Agnew, Town Administrator reviewed the Warrants for the Special Town Meeting to be held on 24 Nov. The warrant was opened and closed on 21 Oct 08 Board of Selectman meeting. He explained it would be too disruptive at this point in the fiscal year to make cuts.
• Article 1 proposes a transfer $219,249 from the Overlay Surplus fund and $322,751 from the Stabilization fund to cover a deficit of $542,000, which was primarily caused by a shortfall in the expected interest income.
• Article 2 proposes amending Article 4 item 3 wording voted at the 2007 Town meeting to change the wording from ‘one school bus’ to ‘one or more school buses’ or take any other action relative thereto. There is enough money left in that item to purchase a van.
• Article 3 proposes that in order to reconcile the Waterways budget, it is necessary to amend article 6 of the 2008 Annual town meeting to reduce the Waterways debt by $99,548 and conversely transfer $46,969 from the Waterways Retaining Earnings. Mark Patterson was the Waterways representative at the meeting.
• Article 4 is a Petition to Reinstitute the “take it or leave it” recycling area to its original location within the transfer station. Mr. Agnew stated his opinion that the Town Meeting does not have authority to run the transfer station.

• The 2009 recap sheet was discussed with Town Accountant Mary Gallagher and a request for more financial information was made.

5. INVITATION TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMAN MEETING ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008. The Committee discussed topics for agenda items for the November 5 meeting.

• Possibility of regionalization of certain Town functions.
• Information and technology consolidation.
• Possible increase in abatements
• Short vs. long-term goals (what we might need to do this year and
Renewing the 5-year master plan)

6. OLD BUSINESS –
• Mr. Cook informed the Committee of invitations to scheduled events in the Advisory Committee was invited to.
• Letter to the Selectmen and Departments was reviewed. Proposed adding liaisons and dates.
• Mr. Cook will get the password to log on to “The Beacon” a – Mass Municipal Association on-line publication.
• Circulate the Association of Town Finance Committee’s newsletter. Get a link from our website to theirs.