Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 26, 2005

Sharon High School Library, 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Joel Alpert, Maria Anderson, Boris Deychman, Kenneth Goldberg,

                               Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Gloria

                               Rose (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, Gregory Sydney

 

  1. First item on the agenda is ARTICLE 7 & 8 – CSD and MUOD.  Conservation Commission Chair, Peg Arguimbau, and Agent Greg Meister are present.

 

  1. Peg Arguimbau stated that the MUOD change that we wanted was to keep the Planning Board as authority but delete site plan authority so Zoning Board would retain authority on zoning issues.  The Planning Board does everything.  There are no checks and balances.  Now the Planning Board has assumed this position on the MUOD so Zoning Board could have some input.  Also included Board of Health and Conservation Commission concerns.

 

  1. There was discussion on CSD regarding open space requirements, wetlands, and 10% bonus for developers.

 

  1. Greg Meister stated that this is supposed to be a conservation subdivision by-law.  Any change should not adversely affect anyone wanting to do the CSD.  It will help clustered housing and looks to the sensitivities of each site.  It is not limited to compete with 40B.  It can give incentive to willing development.

 

  1. ARTICLE 8.  The MUOD.

 

  1. Peg Arguimbau stated that what gets inserted is to be to the attention of the developer for drinking water, surface ground water, walkable neighborhood, accessible to transportation.  The MUOD was driven to help the town.  Left those areas out since we’re on septic not sewerage and ground water.  The is to focus developers’ attention to these issues.

 

  1. Greg Meister stated two MUODs are located in ground water protection district.  There was no language to tell the permitting authority to protect water supply.

 

  1. Paul Lauenstein of the Planning Board stated that the 2800 truck loads of gravel being removed from the building site could be worth $1,000,000.  There would be wear on the roads and some recompense should be made for use of roads.

 

  1. Discussion continued on the status of each article.

 

  1. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept ARTICLE 10 as written.

 

  1. VOTE:  9-0-0.

 

  1. Marjorie Asnes was present regarding ARTICLE 5.  She stated that Senator Joyce said if the town should vote to increase Selectmen from 3 to 5, there is easy home rule petition.  It would be a matter of six or seven weeks once voted by the town.

 

  1. There was discussion held on the pros and cons of this article.

 

  1. A MOTION was made by Joel Alpert and SECONDED by Ira Miller to support ARTICLE 5 to increase the Board of Selectmen from three to five members.

 

  1. VOTE:  5-3-1.  For:  Alpert, Anderson, Deychman, Goldberg, Miller.  Against:  Goodman, Hitter, Lessard.  Abstain:  Rose.

 

  1. ARTICLE 9.  Naming of Park.  Brought by the Historical Commission.  This was voted previously, 6-2-2.

 

  1. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Gloria Rose to accept Article 9 as written.

 

  1. VOTE:  7-0-2.  For:  Alpert, Deychman, Goldberg, Goodman, Hitter, Miller, Rose.  Abstain:  Anderson, Lessard.

 

  1. ARTICLE 6.  Residency.

 

  1. There was much discussion on the waiver of requirement.  Ira Miller will do more research on this issue.

 

  1. ARTICLE 4.  Law Budget.

 

  1. A MOTION was made by Jonathan Hitter and SECONDED by Joel Lessard for indefinite postponement.

 

  1. VOTE:  9-0-0.

 

  1. The articles left for deliberation are:  1,2,3,6,7,8.

 

  1. Discussion was held on ARTICLE 2.  More information is needed.

 

  1. ARTICLE 1.  Community Center.  More discussion continued on this Article.  Without all the information, the vote might be right before town meeting.

 

  1. A suggestion was made to postpone ARTICLES 1,2,3,6, and wait on 7 & 8.

 

  1. OTHER BUSINESS

 

  1. There will be a Capital Outlay meeting on Thursday and School Committee meeting on Wednesday.

 

  1. There were announcements made that there have been tax increases in the last five years and that Sharon’s taxes have come up 50%.  It is the fourth highest.  Sharon compares to Westwood which is the second highest average.

 

  1. An article in the September 20th Patriot Ledger stated that Canton’s employees can choose a health plan or a pay raise.  This could save the town $800,000.

 

  1. Chuck Goodman stated that health insurance costs are rising faster than town revenues.

 

  1. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 6, at the Town Hall Hearing Room.

 

  1. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

  1. VOTE:  9-0-0.

 

  1. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 P.M.