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Politics & Government

Sherborn Selectmen and Advisory Committee Look at Town's Fiscal Future

The Selectmen and Advisory Committe discuss ways to try and save the town money.

The Sherborn Advisory Committee and Board of Selectmen met in joint-session Monday night to discuss fiscal year 2012, the goals of fiscal year 2013 and the deadlines for the spring Town Meeting.

Mark Brandon, chair of the Advisory Committee, said everything looks as expected for fiscal year 2012. “Nothing jumps out,” he said. 

He did note the Federal Labor Department’s investigation into the fire department in which the town will have to pay approximately $45,000 to firefighters in back pay.

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He said because the town has not employed a Town Administrator for most of the year, they could use that money saved to offset the difference of the back pay.

Brandon asked if the Town Administrator Search Committee plans on having a Town Administrator in place by January 1, 2012.

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Chair of the Board of Selectmen Tom Twining said that it was “possible” but they couldn’t put a date on it and told the committee of their plans to reach out to the applicants who are still interested in the position.

Selectmen Paul DeRensis said that in the future they might need to add money to the Town Administrator salary. 

He said it looks like, “we’re under market,” for what they offer.

Police Chief Rick Thompson also noted that his overtime would decrease significantly beginning this November over last year. 

He will have one officer that was on medical leave retiring and another will be leaving the Sherborn Police for a job with the State Police. 

Notable revenue is an additional $26,000 from the meals tax that the Selectmen voted to approve last year. 

There is $25,574 from FEMA that the town received from last winter’s storms and CM&D Director Ed Wagner said the town may receive approximately $20,000 from FEMA for Tropical Storm Irene.

DeRensis said after using some of the $137,000 the town was granted in becoming a green community, they could save $35,000 in the first year of picking the town’s “low hanging fruit” of easily converted green opportunities.

Brandon asked if those projects would be completed this year.

DeRensis said yes and that there would be further grant rounds for investing in being a green community.

DeRensis said the Communications Committee is looking at a new cell tower and the town is still working on an RFP for a solar array.

Regarding the Town Meeting goals, DeRensis suggested they move the warrant article Notice Of Intent deadline closer to Town Meeting.

After a lengthy discussion with a suggestion from those in attendance, they resolved to make the Notice of Intent deadline Dec. 5 and to close the warrant on Feb. 1. 

The discussion then led to where the town could become leaner in its expenses.

Twining said, “The override discussion will be had.”

Twining said that the Selectmen would work toward creating a non-override budget for the town.

He suggested they start looking at departments that have never been considered and mentioned the Town Clerk’s office.

He asked if they needed such a large budget, which he said is close to $100,000 for someone who is only there four hours a day, four days a week.

Thompson echoed Twining and said he is looking into the regionalization of the fire and police department’s communications.

He added that another regionalization to look at would be the town’s library and asked why paying $3 million on a new library be the only option. 

Save Our Sherborn representative George Shea suggested that Sherborn take a better look at the regional school district.

He believes the town could find $1 million at the school district and find the, “same quality at a lower cost.

He did state he did not want to declare war on the school, but look at how they spend money.

Advisory Committee member Pete Lamson agreed, “It’s easy to play the emotional card,” with the schools he said. 

“We have to be able to have a candid conversation,” Lamson said. 



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