Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – November 2, 2009
Sharon High School Library – 7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Keith Garte, Gordon Gladstone,
Charles Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Ira Miller, Laura
Nelson, Edward Philips, (Hamilton)
Absent: Donald Gilligan, Joel Lessard
1. The first item on the agenda was to discuss and vote Article 3, Brickstone-MOU-Mountain Street, and Article 4, Brickstone-Finance District.
2. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan to recommend approval of Article 3, Brickstone – MOU – Mountain Street.
3. There was considerable discussion on this motion by the committee, town residents and town consultant, Tom Houston. A consensus of the committee was in the majority to recommend this article.
4. VOTED: 7-3-0. For: Anderson, Garte, Gladstone, Hitter, Kiernan, Miller, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Goodman, Nelson.
5. A MOTION was made by Brian Fitzgerald and SECONDED by Josh Kiernan for indefinite postponement of Article 4, Finance District.
6. There was some discussion on the motion. The committee did not want to put bond rating at risk.
7. VOTED: 6-3-1. For: Fitzgerald, Garte, Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Nelson. Against: Anderson, Hitter, Miller. Abstain: Philips.
8. OPEN WARRANT MEETING
9. ARTICLE 1. Zoning By-law change related to the Sharon Hills development at Rattlesnake Hill. To amend By-laws of Senior Overlay District to allow height. Voted 8-0-1 in favor.
10. There was some discussion on this article with a question on some of the wording. It would be looked into before Town Meeting.
11. ARTICLE 2. Zoning By-law change related to the Sharon Hills development at Rattlesnake Hill. Fire sub-station. Voted 9-0-0 in favor.
12. ARTICLE 3. Authorize Board of Selectmen to amend certain provisions of the Development Agreement dated May 2, 2007, by and between Brickstone Sharon, LLC. Amend Development Agreement to allow for use of Mountain Street. Lots of discussion and debate. Use for 18 month period. Chief of Police allowed hours of operation. Voted 7-3-0 to recommend this article.
13. There was much discussion on this article regarding length of time construction vehicles on Mountain Street, permitted delays that would extend use of Mountain Street, but not to exceed 36 months, and originally Brickstone was not going to use Mountain Street.
14. ARTICLE 4. Authorize Board of Selectmen to petition General Court for Special Home Rule legislation to allow a Special Financing District. Indefinite Postponement. Voted 6-3-1.
15. Even without this article, the town still will receive7,000 sq. ft. fire station and water improvements without doing this district.
16. ARTICLE 5. Authorize funds for Sharon Middle School renovation. Borrow $20M subject to ballot, total $50M+. Reimbursement of $23M by MSBA. Voted 10-0-1 in favor.
17. Bill Fowler reported that based on $442,000 level debt, $262.13 a year in additional taxes. .59 per $1,000 for taxes.
18. ARTICLE 6. Authorize to expend funds for additional architectural and owner’s project manager fees. This was a placeholder. It was no longer to request appropriation. Indefinite Postponement. Voted: 10-0-1.
19. ARTICLE 7. Placeholder in the event of state Circuit Breaker fund cuts for the Sharon schools. Did cut by $6M Circuit Breaker funds. Unless substantial number, not going to ask town for further funds. Indefinite postponement. Voted 5-4-0.
20. ARTICLE 8. Authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court to grant a license for the sale of wine and malt beverages at a food store, not to be drunk on the premises for the Post Office Square and at the Sharon Heights Plaza zoning districts.
21. Five beer and wine off-premises consumption licenses. Heights and P.O. Square, in addition to five licenses previously approved. Ten off-premises licenses. Voted 6-5-0 to not increasing number by five. Bring in and include P.O. Square and Heights. Five licenses reasonable number to cover three existing zones and two new ones.
22. ARTICLE 9. Amend the Zoning By-laws to expand permitted uses in the Light Industrial District. Bring in zoning with what Walpole has. Allow for additional uses. Voted 9-1-0 in favor.
23. Tom Houston stated this would expand the uses. Some uses are manufacturing of apparel, aerospace, wholesale sales, offices and showrooms, distribution of materials, retail, dry cleaners, funeral, nursery school, day care, theatres, repair and maintenance industry. Waste water treatment. Special permits. Site plan approval. This would include the Simpson property.
24. ARTICLE 10. Authorize the Community Preservation Committee to appropriate and expend funds.
25. CPC to fund two projects. First project to fund additional library renovation, $14,650. Expands inner walls of vestibule. Committee wanted to see some specific quotes. Indefinite postponement. Voted 6-4-0.
26. Second project to fund Historical, second phase, $25,000. First phase funded by grant. Indefinite postponement. Voted 6-4-0.
27. ARTICLE 11. Increase tax work-off limits for Sharon seniors. Senior work-off increase from $750 to $1,000 per year. In line with Legislature. Voted 10-0-0 in favor.
28. Ted Philips stated that the Legislature approved the limit. In order to accept that provision, requires vote at Town Meeting.
29. ARTICLE 12. Re-authorize previously approved land swap with Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club. Complete transaction from 1989. Voted 10-0-0 in favor.
30. ARTICLE 13. Authorize Board of Selectmen to purchase quarter acre parcel on Wolomolopoag Street adjacent to Town Water Well #6. Placeholder. Article pulled. Indefinite postponement. Voted 9-1-0.
31. ARTICLE 14. Regulation of Dogs General By-law Amendment to clarify penalty date. Voted 10-0-0 in favor. Clarify date. Simple wording.
32. ARTICLE 15. Eisenhower Drive Extension roadway acceptance. It is completed. Voted 8-0-2 in favor.
33. ARTICLE 16. Horizons for Youth Lease Authorization Extension. Indefinite postponement. Voted 8-0-0.
34. ARTICLE 17. Sign By-law technical changes. Clean up of wording, punctuation. Voted 9-1-0 in favor of changes.
35. The next meeting will be November 9, 2009.
36. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
37. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.