Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – October 15, 2012
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: William Brack, Arnold Cohen (late), Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Alexander
Korin, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Charles Goodman, Jacqueline Modiste
1. The first item on the agenda was Peter O’Cain, Town Engineer, to explain the Warrant article, Change of Special Permit Granting Authority. John Lee, Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals, was also there to discuss the article.
2. Peter O’Cain explained that this article makes the Planning Board the SPGA, Special Permit Granting Authority, in addition to the site plan in Districts A and C. It gives ZBA control for all other special permits. There are thirteen changes. Three of them say Planning Board going to be SPGA. The other nine or ten simply says Planning Board. The Planning Board is proposing to be the Special Permit Granting Authority. The Planning Board is the site plan reviewing authority, but the ZBA is the SPGA, and they have to do the same thing. There’s a check list of items required. A lot of overlap. Trying to make the application process easier in P.O. Square.
3. John Lee explained that under the current situation right now with the Planning Board doing site plan and ZBA doing review, we have checks and balances. P.O. Square is a critical area of town. The current system seems to be working. Tedeschi’s is an example. The original plan shows three stops and an island. Changed to two. Tedeschi’s made modification and came back. Having the checks and balances. Possibly redundant in some areas. This protects the town.
4. There was considerable discussion on this article with the ZBA against the change in order to have checks and balances and the Planning Board wanting to encourage developers with an easier application process only in District A, center of town.
5. The next item on the agenda was Michael Viano, Walpole, here to discuss three proposed articles: (a) Petition article. Abandon Johnson Drive for the purpose of relocating the road. (b) Rezoning Johnson Drive to permit outdoor advertising. (c) Amending the sign by-law regarding permanent free standing sign dimensions. The first two have to do with Johnson Drive. The third, outdoor advertising. The third article on outdoor advertising was with John Carroll who sells advertising space. Mr. Viano had made a presentation to the Planning Board. The first article seeks to deal with Johnson Drive layout and High Plain Street discontinuance. When Interstate 95 was built and laid out, Route 27 then rerouted to overpass. At that time they built Johnson Drive. This section of High Plain Street and Johnson Drive wasn’t fully laid out and wasn’t abandoned.
6. There was considerable discussion on these articles.
7. John Carroll, President, Carroll Advertising spoke on outdoor advertising and billboards.
8. There was much discussion regarding billboards, placement of them, and revenue of 25%. Possibly $25,000 to $40,000 for the town per location.
9. Peter O’Cain reported that Cattail Lane is almost complete. All abutters were notified.
10. The next item on the agenda regarded the two new articles that have appeared on the Warrant.
11. Ben Puritz reported on a placeholder for the purchase of land at Rattlesnake Hill, a 339 acre parcel under ownership of Brickstone Corp. The property was acquired by Brickstone around 2008 and then was a subject of Town Meeting, Senior Living Overlay District. The town received $750,000 in mitigation payments to fund improvements to town’s main beach and augment staffing to Fire Department in 2010. Property in hiatus. On-site septic testing. Over the summer Selectmen’s office became aware of increased activity in terms of marketing by Brickstone. At the Selectmen’s meeting of October 8, Selectman Heitin indicated that the town would like to be party to any conversation, including the town acquiring a portion or all of the property.
12. There was some discussion on this placeholder and what was being discussed for a development of 100 units including single family homes and cluster development.
13. The next item on the agenda was a second article regarding 40R at Sharon Commons as a placeholder.
14. Ben Puritz reported that there was a presentation by B’nai B’rith to Selectmen in September that included part of the grant application in which they described a residential development at Sharon Commons that provided 70 apartments and 69 condos on the north portion of the property. On the south side, 29 resident units were approved. B’nai B’rith proposed 62 assisted living single units.
15. There was some discussion on this proposed Warrant article regarding a change in zoning and the proposed project. The Planning Board hearing will be on November 7.
16. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
17. The next item on the agenda was to vote on some of the articles.
18. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Gordon Gladstone to recommend Article 16, the acceptance of Cattail Lane.
19. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Korin, Miller, Philips.
20. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to recommend Article 11, First Sergeant James A. Keating Park.
21. VOTED: 7-0-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Korin, Miller, Philips.
22. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Alex Korin to recommend Article 12, Paul Lauenstein – Citizen Petition regarding Citizen’s United States Supreme Court decision.
23. This was a chance for town to express itself on national issue. A reasonable resolution.
24. There was some discussion on this motion.
25. VOTED: In support of this article. 5-2-0. For: Brack, Cohen, Gladstone, Korin, Philips. Against: Fitzgerald, Miller.
26. Technical correction for P.O. Square. Changes in the wording.
27. Dental amalgam. Proponent was going to the Board of Health. Hold off.
28. Write-ups: Ted Philips: Article 11. First Sergeant James A. Keating Park; Article 16. Acceptance of Cattail Lane; Article 12. Paul Lauenstein – Citizen Petition regarding Citizen’s United States Supreme Court decision. Brian Fitzgerald: Article 12. Paul Lauenstein – Citizen Petition OpposingViewpoint.
29. Issue of competing funds on Sacred Heart. Nothing about school track. Cost $165,000.
30. The next meeting will be October 22, 2012.
31. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
32. VOTED: 7-0-0.
33. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.