Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – September 26, 2011

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman,

                               Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Jacqueline Modiste (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Brian Fitzgerald, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson

 

1.      The first item on the agenda was Article 15.  Community Preservation Funding Request – Purchase Antique Fire Truck.

 

2.      David Martin, Chair, Historical Commission, spoke about the use of CPC funds to purchase Sharon’s first fire truck.  The project name is Sharon Antique Ladder 1.  Purchase important symbol to represent the town at parades or in a museum.  Total cost $30,000.  Eligible as historic.  Received support of Selectmen and Fire Department.  A public benefit to see rare antique at town projects.  An historic resource.  Antique 1923 fire truck.

 

3.      Susan Rich, Member of Community Preservation Committee said one of the goals is preservation.  CPC in favor of it.

 

4.      There was considerable discussion on Article 15 regarding any documentation needed to prove this was the same truck.  There has been fundraising and $11,000 has been raised.  Volunteers would maintain the engine.  At present it is garaged behind the Police Department and DPW.  Currently J.J. McGrath of the Sharon Police Department owns the truck.  The committee will need to know the CPC vote before October 24, date Warrant recommendations due.

 

5.      The next item on the agenda was to discuss other Fall Town Meeting articles and get information from Ben Puritz and Bill Fowler.

 

6.      Article 2.  Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund-To accept voluntary donations to assist low income, elderly and disabled pay their property taxes.

 

7.      Bill Fowler explained that this article would involve extra work to administer, but he is working on a plan so elderly low income and disabled low income people can be helped.

 

8.      There was much discussion on this article and it was to be determined if the Council on Aging and Commission on Disabilities needs to come in and discuss this.

 

9.      Board of Selectmen to hear proponents for Article 10.  Zoning Amendment Petition – Route 1 – Change of zoning to allow Landscaping/Nursery Business use in Light Industrial District on October 4.  Position to be taken on as many articles as they can and then continue on October 18.

 

10.  Article 16.  To accept deeds in lieu of foreclosing on certain parcels.

 

11.  Bill Fowler stated never deeded to town.  Some were done last May.  Hoping to have six to twelve more to get off books.  Get deeds filed when development done.

 

12.  There was some discussion on this article.

 

13.  Assigned Write-Ups:  Article. 1, Brian Fitzgerald.  Articles 2 and 7.  Laura Nelson.  Articles 3-6 Arnie Cohen.  Article 8.  Ira Miller.  Article 9.  Bill Brack.  Article 10.  Joel Lessard.  Article 11.  Laura Nelson.  Article 12.  Arnie Cohen or Joel Lessard.  Article 13.  Jackie Modiste.  Article 14.  Brian Fitzgerald.  Article 15.  Gordon Gladstone.  Article 16.  Ira Miller.

 

14.  Article 1.  Acquire or take by eminent domain land on South Main Street by Gavins Pond Road for highway purpose.

 

15.  Ben Puritz stated Article 1 was for signals at S. Main Street and Sharon Commons, 400 sq. ft.  Needs to be conveyed.  Acquired by eminent domain, given to Mass. Highway Department for width for signalization for development of Commons.  Discussion with owner of property, Shaw’s Plaza, that property be made available.  Option to acquire by Town Meeting eminent domain.  Small piece of property both project at Commons and safety of Gavins Pond.  Will try for amicable resolution.  Fall back position.  It is fair market value by assessors, $3.01 per square foot.  $1,250.  It would be safe to assume initial acquisition cost would be less than $5,000.  Discuss with Commons and Shaw’s.  If they don’t reach a conclusion, it would be by eminent domain.  The lack of access of small parcel could jeopardize project.  Without this it doesn’t meet state requirement and it could stop the project.  It would be shown as a walkway.  This would be a signalized intersection.  In order to meet the safety requirement, there needs to be a right of way.  It is an old parcel or layout.

 

16.  Article 2.  Rob Maidman was at the Board of Selectmen.

 

17.  Planning Board Articles 3-6.

 

18.  The Board of Selectmen heard the Planning Board Chair, Susan Price, who explained requirements of these articles.

 

19.  There was some discussion regarding these articles.  The Board of Selectmen were concerned regarding measurement of frontline set back.  Comparison with regard to Credit Union Building.

 

20.  Article 7.  Amend scenic road by-law to include a $300 fine for each violation.

 

21.  The Board of Selectmen discussed the size of trees and the walls and that the town of Canton has penalty.

 

22.  Article 8.  Rescind authorizations to borrow on assorted items.

 

23.  Bill Fowler stated we have $6M in conservation and $1.5M in water.  It does negatively impact with Standard & Poors.  Would like to have off the books.  I would be extremely reluctant to sign $7M bond issue that is this old.  It really should be a new vote because times have changed.

 

24.  Article 9.  Citizen’s petition to convert management of a parcel that the Town owns at the end of Oakland Road from Board of Selectmen to Conservation Commission.

 

25.  Paul Vitale, Petitioner, and Conservation Commission are coming on October 3.

 

26.  Article 10.  Zoning Amendment Petition – Route 1- Change of zoning to allow Landscaping/Nursery Business use in Light Industrial District.

 

27.  Ben Puritz stated it is adjacent to the Sharon Motel.  Owner is Martha Raider.  The article is not specific to property to amendment zoning to allow this kind of use.  It is not parcel specific.

 

28.  David Wluka, contact person, will be here on October 3rd.

 

29.  Article 11.  Zoning by-law change – New definition of Assisted Living Facilities.

 

30.  Ben Puritz stated it is same situation.  Proponent coming.  Adjacent to nursing facility.  Assisted living not same as allowed as nursing home.  It is a petition to Selectmen to convey to Planning Board.  Particular to zoning.  They would vote after a hearing.

 

31.  There was some discussion on the procedure for a citizen’s petition zoning article.

 

32.  Article 12.  Zoning by-law change – Lot Shape.

 

33.  Deal with odd shape lots.

 

34.  Article 13.  Authorization to borrow for water department projects.

 

35.  Ben Puritz stataed this article in support of the water department.  Budget approved line item with Massapoag Avenue and then join the Town Meeting.  First time.  Previously funded by capital projects out of surplus funds.  They are an enterprise fund.

 

36.  Bill Fowler stated I put on the list because it involved borrowing, but Eric Hooper would be better prepared to speak on repairs.  The $60,000 in the current budget.  In neighborhood of $700,000 to $800,000 debt.  3.7% rate which is probably high.  This isn’t going to be five year borrowing.  Over twenty years.

 

37.  Article 14.  Accept local motel/hotel rooms tax.

 

38.  Bill Fowler said this was discussed Tuesday night.  No vote taken.  Changed statute two years ago.  Raised the issue meals tax and rooms tax.  Not go forward to meals tax.  Go from 4% to 6%.  Two facilities.  State collects and comes back from state.  Took low end $50,000 a year in addition.

 

39.  Article 15.  Community Preservation Funding Request – Purchase Antique Fire Truck.  Selectmen in favor but hadn’t had before them.

 

40.  Article 16.  To accept deeds in lieu of foreclosing on certain parcels.  Debts discussed earlier.

 

41.  There was a discussion regarding how does something get on draft list of articles?

 

42.  Ben Puritz explained procedure.

 

43.  Ben Puritz stated that as soon as we get petition from Town Clerk, we will be happy to convey it.

 

44.  Ben Puritz explained that the proponent comes to Selectmen.  In scheduling drafting of annual meeting review dates and time lines done in my office with Marlene Chused and Roni Thaler, and we would be happy to have the Finance Committee there.

 

45.  Ben Puritz stated he will provide who is preliminary proponent and contact information so the Finance Committee can get going earlier.

 

46.  There is a meeting scheduled for October 3rd.  Paul Vitale and the Conservation Commission, Article 9; David Wluka, Article 10; and Sherry Clancy, Article 11; will be here.

 

47.  No meeting on the 10th.  Tentative on 13th.

 

48.  There was a suggestion to have somebody from Water Management Advisory Committee along with Eric Hooper.

 

49.  Eric Hooper and Bill Fowler on the 13th.  David Crosby, Chair, Water Management Advisory Committee, come same night.

 

50.  Planning Board Public Hearing moved to October 6th.  Their next meeting after that was October 18.

 

51.  Arnie Cohen will be going to Planning Board public hearing.

 

52.  The 18th the Planning Board would take positions.

 

53.  Report stated it was appropriate for this board to go into Executive Session.

 

54.  Bill Brack announced that the town of Orleans Board of Selectmen is having a public town forum on budget priorities.  Recognize times were tight and number of towns on Cape not prepared for explanation.  Invite discussion.  If we don’t have money, do you want life guards or something else?  Priorities of what to do with funds.  Do more reserve.  See if other towns were doing.  Having public talk, tight situation.

 

55.  The next meeting will be October 3, 2011.

 

56.  It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

57.  VOTED:  7-0-0.

 

58.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.