December 10, 2002
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair Allen M. Garf, Selectmen Norman Katz and Walter Joe Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
Minutes
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to accept the Minutes of November 26, 2002, as submitted.
Board of Health
The Board interviewed Anne Bingham for a position on the Board of Health.
Board of Appeals
The Board interviewed Janis Edinburgh for an alternate position on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
North/South Main Street Rehabilitation Contract - Amendment No. 5 - Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
The Board reviewed Memorandum by Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated December 4, 2002, recommending that approval of a contract amendment to revise and complete final plan (100% design) requirements for the North/South Main Street project. The cost of this amendment will be submitted to the State for Chapter 90 reimbursement. Tasks included will be designs for wheelchair ramps and a revision of the traffic signal design for the Main Street/Depot Street/billings Street intersection from post mounted to mast arm signals.
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize Contract Amendment No. 5 to Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Watertown, MA in the amount of $55,000.
Transportation Advisory Board
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Nancy Rubinstein as a member of the Transportation Advisory Board, Expiration: September 2005.
Management Professional Employees Association - Approve Contract
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Contract for the Management Professional Employees for the period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005 with a 3% increase for 03 and re-openers for wages and health insurance. It was also agreed that there would be a discontinuance of the merit program after this year.
Police Superior Offices Association - Amendment to Contract
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve Amendment Number One for the Period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005 by adding to Article IV, "Leave" the following new section "B" entitled "National Guard or Military Reserve Activation Duty Leave:
"B. National Guard or Military Reserve Activation Duty Leave :
A bargaining unit employee (Lieutenant) who is a member of the National Guard or a Military Reserve component of the United States Armed forces and who is called-up to active duty during a national emergency shall for the duration of the period that he or she is activated be paid the difference between his /her regular weekly straight time compensation and the total weekly compensation he/she receives for such military service. Such individual; shall also be eligible to continue his/her participation in the Town's group insurance program and the Town shall continue to pay its contribution toward the cost of such coverage, during the period he/she is on active duty.
DPW Supplies & Services - SERSG Contract
The Board reviewed the SERSG bid information as provided by fax dated December 4, 2002 for those DPW Services solicited by the Town for a twelve month period commencing on January 1, 2003.
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to award the contracts to the bidders as solicited by SERSG on behalf of the Town.
Standing Building Committee
The Board accepted the resignation of Michael A. Baskin from the Standing Building Committee with regret and best wishes.
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Rick Rice as a Member of the Standing Building Committee.
VOTED: (Katz/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Bruce Luchner as an Alternate Member of the Standing Building Committee.
Senior Tax Relief
The Board reviewed a package of senate bills previously filed in connection with property tax relief for the elderly as provided by Mel Leventhal. There will be articles introduced at the Town Meeting to maximize allowances and exemptions.
Public Hearing - Mountain Street Landfill Athletic Fields
A public hearing was called to order at 8:05 P.M. Mike Scipione from Weston & Sampson Engineers, and Gene Bolinger, landscape architect, were present to describe the proposed athletic fields to be built on the closed Mountain Street Landfill. Abutters were notified and approximately 12 were present. The Town has been notified of a grant award of $250,000 for Phase I of the project. The Town had previously authorized $750,000 for the closing of the landfill that Town Counsel advised can be applied to the project. Total Projected costs for Phase I and Phase II are 1.7 million.
Phase I includes site preparation, construction of baseball field with irrigation, fencing; access drive with parking; perimeter pathways and landscape enhancements, etc. Phase II includes soccer fields, concession stand, playground, animal park, drinking fountains, etc.
Concerns were expressed re:
the costs associated with the maintenance of the additional recreation area;
the annual town meeting vote that was defeated to fund the athletic fields made some believe the issue was “dead;
the use of funds appropriated for closing the landfill fifteen years ago will now be borrowed for athletic fields;
environmental issues and odors;
noise pollution;
security issues;
Residents were assured that environmental and odor issues will not be a problem and the plan will have DEP approval. Issues of security will be handled with a buffer zone constructed between the park and residents’ property. Chair Garf stated that he believes that the baseball and Soccer Association will volunteer at this site as at the others to provide clean-up and funds for maintenance of the fields.
The Board will vote on the acceptance of the self-help grant at its next meeting.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Garf) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of Collective Bargaining and Pending Litigation, and at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
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