Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – April 13, 2009
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room – 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Gordon Gladstone, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan,
Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, (Hamilton)
Absent: Brian Fitzgerald, Donald Gilligan, Charles Goodman, Edward
Philips
1. The agenda was to continue deliberations on Warrant articles.
2. Article 18. Public Safety Communication. Previously voted, 7-1-0 to recommend, but the Committee requested follow up information.
3. Chief Dennis Mann explained Article 18. There is a need to increase radio communication between Police and Fire to their base station. 911 had trouble communicating within building. Schools and town buildings would benefit from these amplifiers. Type of construction at Shaw’s Plaza, which is metal and concrete, makes difficulty with communication. Have to go outside to communicate. If firefighters were inside, no way to communicate with them. Need bi-directional amplifiers. Primarily for commercial buildings. At Avalon Bay the lower section basement level may have difficulty communicating at the back of the building. New building code would require buildings to have amplifier. Not obtrusive and hardly noticeable, whether it is a town building, private building, or historical building.
4. There was some discussion on this article as to cost, $75-$80, to be paid for and maintained by owners of building including testing of equipment.
5. David Martin, Chair, Historical Commission, was present to give Historical Commission’s view on any historical building having renovations and needing to install amplified antenna for communication. His commission would be meeting and he would bring up this subject. Local commission has control on changes to historical buildings.
6. Article 22. Feasibility Study for Sharon Middle School. There may be information after Standing Building Committee meeting on April 28.
7. Article 8. Sharon Friends School Fund Records and Appointments. Do not have list of trustees.
8. Article 12. Roadway Layout for Johnson Drive. Waiting for resolution on Johnson Drive.
9. Article 10. Conveyance of 810 South Main Street.
10. Tom Houston, Town Consultant, and Earl Frankel, Property Manager at Shaw’s Plaza were present.
11. Tom Houston described what will be happening regarding Sharon Commons construction and the need to change the parking lot at Shaw’s Plaza due to signalization. Parking spaces would be lost and this piece of land could add additional parking for Shaw’s Plaza and provide a right turn lane into the Plaza from I-95, especially for trucks.
12. There was considerable discussion on this article regarding number of signals, lanes, flow of traffic, and changes to be made. There was a question as to the ownership of this parcel, either the town or Mass. Highway. Town Counsel Richard Gelerman should have information. There were also conservation issues regarding river front.
13. Article 31. Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding—Administrative Expenses.
14. Corey Snow, Chair of Community Preservation Committee, presented budget and indicated an amount of $20,000 for salary and other possible expenses. He brought the Committee up to date on CPC’s activities over the past year and future plans.
15. There was some discussion on this article.
16. A MOTION was made by Jon Hitter and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend $20,000 request for Article 31.
17. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Anderson, Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Lessard, Miller, Nelson.
18. The next meeting will be the Open Warrant meeting on April 27, 8 p.m., at Sharon High School Library. At that meeting the Committee might get information on 810 S. Main Street, Johnson Drive, and Revolving Funds with Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler. Also try to complete articles not voted on.
19. Ira Miller announced there was to be an Insurance Advisory meeting tomorrow which he cannot attend. There will be further discussion of GIC insurance plan.
20. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
21. VOTED: 7-0-0.
22. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.