Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

November 15, 2006

A joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee was called to order by the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Charles Ampagoomian, Jr. at 6:00 PM, Northbridge Town Hall, 7 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA. Present: Messrs. Audette, Davis, Montecalvo, and Marzec.

Also Present: Northbridge School Committee Members: Chairman Carroll Paine, Kristin Burns, Paula Grabowski, Leeann Hansson, Andrew Myers, Karen Kittredge, and Susan Brouwer. Finance Committee Members: Chairman Mary Frances Powers, Mary Thompson, Salvatore D’Amato, and Andrew Todd, Jr. School Personnel: Superintendent Paul Soojian. Town Hall Staff: Neil Vaidya, Town Accountant and Sharon Susienka, Acting Town Manager.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present.

Chairman Ampagoomian called for a Moment of Silence in memory of Northbridge High School Student Brittany Norcross, who passed away as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

Town Accountant Neil Vaidya distributed a proposal to the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and School Committee for their review. (the document will be on file in Town Mgr.’s office) He suggested the following proposals: Plan A – postpone Town meeting until they hear from the DOR. Plan B – transfer free cash amount from stabilization ($850,000 estimated). Plan C – wait for free cash so there is a better indication on where the cuts need to be made. The Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee will need to decide which plan will work best.

The Finance Committee indicated there was a discrepancy in the numbers presented by Town Accountant Neil Vaidya. As such, Sal D’Amato called for a ten-minute break so that the Finance Committee and Town Accountant could meet to review their numbers and figure out where the mistake occurred.

A motion/Mr.Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to postpone the debate on Articles 1-8 [Financial] at Tuesday’s Town meeting to a further date agreed upon by the Acting Town Manager and Town Moderator.

After the break, Ms. Powers mentioned the Finance Committee was in agreement to move forward on the financial articles on Tuesday, November 21, 2006.

The School Superintendent Paul Soojian felt there needed to be some type of consensus before moving forward with the financial articles.

Ms. Powers stated that the Finance Committee would withdraw their statement made earlier in the meeting to proceed forward on the financial piece at Town meeting [Tuesday, November 21, 2006]. She wanted it said publicly that the Finance Committee does not want to be responsible for the delay in sending out tax bills.

A motion/Mr. Davis, seconded/Mr. Marzec to consider the financial articles 1-8 at a later date. Role Call Vote: Mr. Audette/No, Mr. Montecalvo/No, and Mr. Ampagoomian/No, Mr. Davis/Yes, and Mr. Marzec/Yes.

A motion/Mr. Marzec, seconded/Mr. Audette to adjourn the meeting. Vote yes/Unanimous.

Open Session Adjourned: 7:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

James Marzec, Clerk

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