Westport News

Present:    Bob McCarthy (BM), Jack Baughan (JB), Charles “Buzzy” Baron (BB), Hugh Morton (HM), John Miller (JM), Mark Carney (MC), Marybeth Ferrarini (MF), Warren Messier (WM)

Absent:    Tracy Priestner (TP)

1. HM, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the traditional salute to the flag.

2.    Health Insurance:    George Foster, Treasurer, and Christine Sylvia, Assistant Treasurer, were in attendance to speak about health insurance.  (See attached.)  We are part of a group called Southeastern Mass Health Group (SMHG).  It has been premium based until 7/1/10, where we are now self-funded.  The usage is high because of retirees.  We could lower that cost by accepting Chapter 32b Section 18 of the MGL, which pertains to retirees and Medicare.

3.    David Dionne stopped by to let the Fincom know that Mass and RI legislative commitment to renewable energy is required by law to be bought by the grid.  This has been since passing the Green Communities Act.

4.    Transfer Station:    Dr. John Colletti, Chairman of the BOH, stopped by to inform the Fincom that the amount needed to run the Transfer Station for the rest of the year is $95k, $63k for personnel and $32k for operating expenses.  The motion for the article at special town meeting will be with the funding of the $63k from free cash and the $32k from receipts reserved.  This has not been voted on by the BOH to date but should be in place by the special town meeting.

5.    CPC:    WM spoke on behalf of the articles for CPC along with Tony Connors, Jenny O’Neil and Betty Slade.  (See attached.)

6.    Special Town Meeting Articles:    All remaining articles were discussed and voted on.  (See attached.)

Adjournment and next meeting: There being no further business to come before this meeting, BB moved and WM seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:00pm.  The vote in favor was unanimous.  The next meeting will be on December 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the at the Westport High School for Special Town Meeting.
                            
Respectfully submitted,
Nicole Botelho, Recording Secretary