Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – October 20, 2008
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Donald Gilligan, Gordon Gladstone, Charles
Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson,
Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hitter
1. The first item on the agenda was to review and take votes on the remaining Warrant articles.
2. Article 1. Changes to Brickstone. There was a meeting on last Thursday, October 16. That was supposed to be a joint meeting with Selectmen and Finance. Due to technicality, the meeting was not posted in time to meet at that time. This coming Monday will be part 2 which is now duly posted. All interested residents come to the Community Center for some questions that were raised and any other new questions.
3. Don Gilligan gave a report regarding the Thursday, October 16, public hearing for Brickstone. The developer gave a series of presentations, one by the lawyer, one by the traffic engineer, and one by the general contractor. The way they were originally going to build the project from Bay Road wasn’t feasible, whether physical or economical. If they could build from Mountain Street, they could start by blasting the building site and carefully using that material and build road out to Bay Road. Traffic engineer presented information about how his studies of various traffic impact. After they made their presentation, the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Eric Hooper, DPW Superintendent, said they had measured Mountain Street at its narrowest point and it was 16 feet between utility poles, trees, and stonewalls. Make it impossible for two trucks to pass. Difficult for emergency vehicles to pass. The developer’s engineer had fixes called pull outs on the side of the road. Also, the issue of the Middle School and traffic past the Middle School particularly during opening and closing; people subjected to noise.
4. There was considerable discussion regarding the public hearing and what was presented. The developers indicated it would take 18 months to build the road. If Mountain Street not approved and project not feasible economically, something else would be done with the property. 40B was an option prior to this project.
5. Ben Puritz indicated that one of the topics of the October 27 meeting would be the regulation of traffic control. The permitting authority is the Board of Appeals for site plan approval process.
6. Ben Puritz had general information on the articles regarding the sidewalks, the signs and alcohol.
7. Article 2. Alcohol. The purpose of the article is to authorize off premises consumption of alcohol in food or grocery establishments in three districts. Commons, District D; light industrial, Route 1; Shaw’s Plaza, carved out of business district B from Heights.
8. There was much discussion regarding alcohol in addition to beer and wine, Johnson Drive, whether it could be included as part of this article, and regulation of grocery store.
9. Article 9, 310K for sidewalk. Proposed sidewalk use is $75,000 for Lakeview Street.
10. Ben Puritz stated that there is a long list of sidewalks that need repairs, an inventory assessment of sidewalks. Superintendent of Public Works recommends to Selectmen during construction period to start to improve condition of sidewalks. Establish the means that the town can go forward to take initial step to the worst areas.
11. There was some discussion on the need for sidewalk repair.
12. Article 14. Sign By-law. Both in zoning and general. Article would remove sign by-law from zoning by-law. There is the grandfather issue. Requires 2/3 vote, notice process. How the sign by-law is addressed, general by-law Planning Board in District A & C and ZBA in District D. Enforcement either under general or zoning.
13. There was some discussion on this article with Selectmen wanting to keep in General By-law. This was for clarification and under Zoning more difficult to change what now exists.
14. Article 13. Easement. Placement of road on Lakeview Street.
15. Ben Puritz stated that the inventory of existing vehicles was being assembled and should be available soon.
16. The next item on the agenda was to return to deliberations on the Warrant articles.
17. Article 2. Alcohol Rules and Regulations Revisions.
18. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Don Gilligan to reconsider the previous vote of October 14 to recommend at Town Meeting.
19. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
20. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 2.
21. There was some discussion held on this motion.
22. VOTED: 6-3-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Lessard, Nelson. Against: Kiernan, Miller, Philips.
23. Article 3. Funding for Middle School Renovation planning. No figures. No new information.
24. Articles 4 & 5. Adoption of Chapter 40R Overlay District for Sharon Commons, Subzone A & B, and Subzone C. Waiting to hear from Planning Board. Hearing scheduled for October 29, 8:15 p.m., Community Center Hearing Room.
25. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend Articles 4 & 5 at Town Meeting.
26. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
27. Articles 6, 7 & 8. Johnson Drive. Planning Board hearing, October 29.
28. There was some discussion on these articles.
29. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Articles 6, 7 & 8 at Town Meeting.
30. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
31. Article 9. Stabilization Fund from Avalon Bay $310K, recommended approval.
32. Article 10. Stabilization Fund from Avalon Bay $400K, recommended approval.
33. Article 11. Capital Outlay items for Horizons for Youth, recommended approval.
34. Article 12. Appropriation for Charter Commission, $25K. There may be more information this evening.
35. Article 13. Easement for Lakeview Street for sidewalk project. Planning Board hearing, October 29.
36. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 13 at Town Meeting.
37. VOTED: 9-0-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips.
38. Article 14. Sign By-law revision, recommend at Town Meeting.
39. Article 15. Removal of burial fees, recommended approval.
40. Article 16. Increase demand fees, recommended approval.
41. Article 17. Technical Amendment to Article 17 – Regulation of Dogs, recommended approval.
42. Article 18. Expand eligibility requirements for Sharon seniors to be able to take part in deferral of property taxes, recommended approval.
43. There was much discussion on the Introduction to the Warrant and the need to start the process for the introduction earlier for the May Warrant.
44. Andy Nebenzahl and Paul Pietal from the Charter Commission came in for continued discussion of the need for an appropriation of $25,000 for a consultant.
45. Andy Nebenzahl explained that the RFP process would take too long with their limited time schedule, that consultants were attorneys and were exempt from the process.
46. There was much discussion regarding the consultants, their qualifications, scope of service and what the cost might be.
47. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Don Gilligan to recommend approval of Article 12.
48. VOTED: 8-1-0. For: Anderson, Gilligan, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Against: Nelson.
49. The next meeting will be a joint meeting with the Selectmen on Monday, October 27, 2008.
50. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
51. VOTED: 9-0-0.
52. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m.