Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – November 5, 2012

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

Members Present:  Arnold Cohen, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles Goodman, Alexander

                               Korin, Ira Miller, Laura Nelson (Hamilton)

                Absent:   William Brack, Jacqueline Modiste, Edward Philips

1. The first item on the agenda was to review articles and indicate who was writing up the recommendations.

2. Article 1.  Amendment to modify certain provisions relative to affordable housing requirements in the 40R overlay district, to include Assisted Living in the Sharon Commons residential zone – Arnie Cohen.

3. Article 2.  Abandon Johnson Drive for the purpose of relocating the road – Bill Brack.

4. Article 3.  Rezoning to expand Light Industrial District – Bill Brack.

5. Article 4.  Amending the sign by-law regarding permanent free standing sign dimensions – Bill Brack.

6. Article 5.  Funding for the demolition of Sacred Heart – Gordon Gladstone.

7. Article 6.  Funding for High School track – Gordon Gladstone.

8. Article 7.  Change of Special Permit Granting Authority – Alex Korin.

9. Article 8.  Technical correction for P.O. Square – Ted Philips.

10. Article 9.  Change general by-law for improved consistency and comprehension – Gordon Gladstone.

11. Article 10.  First Sergeant James A. Keating Park – Ted Philips.

12. Article 11.  Paul Lauenstein – Citizen Petition regarding Citizens United Supreme Court decision – Ted Philips/Majority Opinion; Brian Fitzgerald/Minority Opinion.

13. Article 12.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam resolution – No one, possibly Arnie Cohen.

14. Article 13.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding new dental amalgam general by-law – No one, possibly Arnie Cohen.

15. Article 14.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam insurance – No one, possibly Arnie Cohen.

16. Article 15.  Acceptance of Cattail Lane – Ted Philips.

17. Gordon Gladstone reported that the cost for the high school track was $165,000.  The track was installed incorrectly.  Capital Outlay voting on Thursday night.

18. Laura Nelson indicated the schedule for the write-ups.

19. There was much discussion regarding the scheduling by the Selectmen and getting information to the Finance Committee.

20. The next item on the agenda was Article 1.  Amendment to modify certain provision relative to affordable housing requirements in the 40R overlay district, to include Assisted Living in the Sharon Commons residential zone with Attorney Bob Shelmerdine, Holly Grace and Chris Chow, B’nai B’rith Housing; Mr. Coughlin from Northbridge; Scott Hickey from Old Post Road Holdings; and Jane Desberg, Sharon Housing Authority, who were here to answer questions raised at the last meeting on housing inventory count, assisted living parking usage, school age impact, and number of bathrooms and water usage.

21. The town would receive $710,000 tax revenue.  The committee requested the amount of expenses.  Bob Shelmerdine will bring information on what is developable, the revenue and expenses to the Thursday meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding to go to the committee.  Also, the issue of the waste water treatment plant and the request to DHCD on 40R.  The Attorney General must approve all zoning.

22. There was considerable discussion on all the issues involved with the 40R and the assisted living facility.

23. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 9:40 p.m.

24. Lisa Whelan reported on updates on the Warrant.  Article 3, rezoning R1 to light industrial, Assessor’s parcel added last week.  Not printed in Warrant.  Abuts light industrial south end, contiguous.  It could be used for signage or billboard with revenue to town.  Article 6 on high school track.  Capital borrowing.  The actual motion will have number.  There was no change on the dental amalgam articles.

25. Recap:  The committee has taken some votes.  Article 15, Acceptance of Cattail Lane.  Article 11, Paul Lauenstein – Citizen Petition regarding Citizens United Supreme Court decision.  Article 10, First Sergeant James A. Keating Park.

26. Article 1.  Amendment to modify certain provisions relative to affordable housing requirements in the 40R overlay district, to include Assisted Living in the Sharon Commons residential zone.  Not ready to take position.  Outstanding questions.

27. Articles 2.  Abandon Johnson Drive for the purpose of relocating the road; Article 3.  Rezoning to expand Light Industrial District; Article 4.  Amending the sign by-law regarding permanent free standing sign dimensions.

28. There was discussion held on these articles.

29. Article 5.  Funding for the demolition of Sacred Heart.  Community Preservation Committee was supposed to meet, but they needed more members.

30. The Sacred Heart Reuse Committee was going to go to the Community Preservation Committee asking for funds to demolish the building and engage an architect for a set of plans to be presented at next Town Meeting for funding.  No information on what to do with it after demolished to implement those plans.

31. Article 6.  Funding for High School track.

32. Gordon Gladstone reported that Capital Outlay should approve.  The firm that did the last upgrade has admitted complicity in its failure.  To install labor at $85,000 if town provides materials.  $165,000 total.

33. There was some discussion on this article.

34. Article 7.  Change of Special Permit Granting Authority.  Heard from Planning Board, and Chairman of Zoning Board of Appeals, John Lee.  Most of the information came from Susan Price.

35. There was some discussion on this article.  Not to take position yet.

36. Article 8.  Technical correction for P.O. Square.

37. A MOTION was made by Alex Korin and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to recommend Article 8.

38. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller.

39. Article 9.  Change general by-law for improved consistency and comprehension.

40. A MOTION was made by Chuck Goodman and SECONDED by Arnie Cohen to recommend Article 9.

41. VOTED:  6-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller.

42. Article 12.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam resolution.

43. Article 13.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding new dental amalgam general by-law.

44. Article 14.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam insurance.

45. There was some discussion on these articles.

46. Article 12.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam resolution.

47. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to not recommend Article 12.

48. VOTED:  5-0-1.  For:  Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman, Korin, Miller.  Abstain:  Fitzgerald.

49. Article 13.  Laura Russell – Citizen Petition regarding new dental amalgam general by-law.

50. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to not recommend Article 13.

51. There was some discussion.  The committee wanted to hear from the Board of Health.

52. VOTED:  3-3-0.  For:  Cohen, Gladstone, Goodman.  Against:  Fitzgerald, Korin, Miller.

53. Article 14:  Laura Russsell – Citizen Petition regarding dental amalgam insurance.

54. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Chuck Goodman to not recommend Article 14.

55. VOTED:  5-1-0.  For:  Cohen, Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Goodman, Miller.  Against:  Korin.

56. The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 8, 2012.

57. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

58. VOTED:  6-0-0.

59. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.