Minutes of Meeting
March 12, 2007
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was called to order on Monday, March 12, 2007, at 6:15 P.M., in the Sharon High School, with the following members in attendance: Anne Bingham, Chair, Suzi Peck, Stan Rosen, and Jay Schwab. Elizabeth Barnett was absent. Also present were Attorney Bob Shelmerdine and a representative of Coler and Colantonio.
The agenda for the meeting was to review proposed bylaw changes/MOU for the Special Town Meeting rezoning article.
Anne Bingham stated that she would be presenting a point of order as an individual, not as BOH chair, regarding the timing of the MOU and the fact that it was not available to all voters along with the warrant. She noted that she has notified Attorney Gelerman of this concern.
The Board discussed whether or not to take a position on the proposed rezoning. Following discussion, it was agreed that there was no consensus....but lots of unanswered questions to relay to the public. Jay Schwab stated that it is important to bring environmental concerns to Town Meeting, but that he did not think a BOH vote would change anyone’s mind. Suzi Peck stated that, in her prepared statement, she placed an environmental lens on the information provided (re the planned project). Stan Rosen asked whether or not the BOH wishes to vote to support this statement. .
The Board reviewed the draft statement prepared by Suzi Peck and agreed with the most general comments. Stan Rosen stated he had difficulty with the remarks about “blight”....he felt that, although BOH authority is quite broad, this would be stretching it. Jay Schwab concurred and made positive remarks about competition. It was agreed that all comments related to “blight” would be removed from the BOH statement. Stan Rosen also questioned the figures provided regarding potential tax relief; Anne Bingham stated this would be stretching BOH jurisdiction. It was agreed to remove these remarks from the BOH statement. Stan Rosen disagreed with the topic of stress caused by traffic being included; both Suzi Peck and Anne Bingham felt that was an important health
concern.
Jay Schwab emphasized that any statement should be kept short and simple, without all the acronyms.
Bob Shelmerdine stated that it was appropriate that the BOH raise legitimate BOH concerns about the project. He further stated that the BOH will have jurisdiction over permits to be granted.
VOTED: (Bingham/Peck) unanimously that Suzi Peck be authorized to present on behalf of the BOH all the concerns noted in the first few pages of the draft statement, except for those references to blight and tax impact. Suzi Peck will make the remaining statements on her own behalf.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
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