The Marion Finance Committee met on Wednesday, October 1 to go over various action items, including the reorganization of the committee with new appointments, discussion on the town’s Budget Timeline, and deliberation on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
It was announced at the beginning of the meeting that Shay Assad, not in attendance, would be stepping down as committee chair. Sean Healy was nominated and sworn in as the Finance Committee’s new chair with a unanimous vote. Healy recommended Assad become the new vice chair, though a decision couldn’t be made due to his absence. Healy explained Assad’s schedule has been busy, but “is gonna calm down next month, and he expects to be fully engaged in the budget process. Discussion on a vice-chair was tabled until the next meeting.
Next, member David Herron volunteered and was subsequently nominated and confirmed as committee clerk with a unanimous vote. Prior to this meeting, GR Pitman and Mal Durkee were appointed as alternate members.
Onto the meeting itself, chair Healy delegated work regarding the town’s budget, saying “I communicate with Mike Nelson and the School Committee; Tom (Crowley) would talk to police and fire; Fred (Mock) would work on civic, Dave (Herron) might do civic.” In planning like this, he’d like to have each member become an expert of a certain facet of the town’s budget.
For the Fall Town Meeting, the Finance Committee agreed they should, similarly to last Town Meeting, offer recommendations towards the different articles to the Select Board. The Select Board will discuss and close the warrant on Tuesday, October 14 at the Marion Police Department Conference Room at 6:00 pm. A Town Meeting Review has yet to be scheduled. The Fall Town Meeting will be held on Monday, November 24 at 6:45 pm at Sippican School.
The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee was unscheduled at adjournment, but will be held in November.
Marion Finance Committee
By Sam Bishop