October 28, 2003
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair Norman Katz and Selectmen Walter Joe Roach and David I. Grasfield and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
Minutes
The Executive Session Minutes were put on hold to be corrected in Executive Session this evening.
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) Voted unanimously to approve the regular session minutes of October 21, 2003 as corrected:
Under - Abutters to Sharon Country Club - Re: Spring Cell Tower
Correct spelling: “independent expert, Paul Trane,..”
Under - Budget Review - FICA - Treasurer
Add: “Mr. Uyttebroek also agreed to provide information regarding reduction in non-medicare salaried personnel.”
Under - Borrowing Policy:
Change: “Selectman Grasfield asked for a follow-up discussion as to objective criteria of what we should be borrowing. “
To: “Selectman Grasfield asked for a follow-up discussion based on objective criteria and on our recent borrowing history for exempt and non-exempt debt.”
Minutes Workshop
The Board discussed information as provided by Tracy Cusick from the District Attorney’s Office. Selectman Roach suggested that a workshop on the taking of minutes be held at a Selectmen’s Meeting and that all board/committee secretaries be invited to attend. Selectman Grasfield referenced comments that minor changes could be made to the draft minutes by the Board members via EMail prior to the meeting with the revised minutes voted to be approved in open session. Resident Alice Cheyer suggested that those boards/committees that do not have secretaries be invited to attend the workshop.
Friends of the Council on Aging - Raffle
Mindy Kempner, Vice President, was present with other members of the Friends of the Sharon Council on Aging, Inc., to draw the winning coupons.
Presentation to Firefighter Rudik
Chief Mann presented on behalf of the State Senate, a citation to newest Firefighter Paul S. Rudik for his graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. The Chief also had Firefighter Rudik take the Firefighter’s Oath.
Well Source Exploration - Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works
Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works presented a map (created for the Town in 1997) with colored push pins designated all well sites and potential well sites within the Town and surrounding areas. He discussed potential well sites including one near Canton Street, the Islamic Center Site (town-owned land) the lower-cemetery site, Edge Hill Road, and MBTA property off Maskwonicut Street. Mr. Hooper explained that the best water source is in the center of the Town with stratified drift soil deposits. He further cautioned that subsurface test borings are as reliable as one drilling a small hole in the second floor of one’s home to see what is in the basement but it is the best tool available to us. He discussed potential well sites that “didn’t pan
out.” He explained that the options for well sites are limited. The area near Rattlesnake Hill is all rock. In answer to the question, Mr. Hooper stated that the cost for two test holes is approximately $10,000. In answer to questions re clustering of wells, Mr. Hooper explained that it would be a disadvantage if there was a contamination at the source, but an advantage for back-up capability at a rich well site.
Mr. Hooper stated that the next site to explore is the Canton Street Site near Well #8. He stated that the Islamic Center site is the “better site” as to town-ownership, yield, and road access; and, he stated that it is up to the Town to determine if the “localized” environmental impacts were acceptable. He emphasized that the water permit would be the exact same amount of water which we use at current. In answer to the question, Mr. Hooper stated that he thought the Islamic Center Site would be “permittable” by the State. Mr. Hooper stated that according to the model, that in a worse-case scenario, the drawdown from this well site almost reached the lake. Selectman Roach discussed comments from a meeting with the Department of Environmental
Protection that to get the permit here for 300,000 gallons per day would in effect be very difficult. Mr. Hooper agreed that there would be an “environmental impact” no matter what.
There was a brief discussion of drilling for wells in other Towns and problems with disrupting stream flows.
Water Meters
Selectman Roach discussed a letter in the newspaper re Town of Walpole being able to replace its water meters at a reduced and lower cost than proposed by the Department of Public Works. Mr. Hooper replied that he had looked into the story himself and discovered that the Town of Walpole was not replacing its meters but installing radio transmitters onto the existing meters, whereas the Town of Sharon is planning to replace meters and install a newer type of technology for radio transmitters onto all its meters. These meter readings will be broadcast continually unlike the Town of Walpole’s transmitters, and will be more efficient for the operation of the Water Department.
Budget Review - Fire Department - Dennis Mann
Dennis Mann presented the preliminary FY’05 Budget for the Fire Department, in the amounts of $1,257,338 primary, $1,383,072 plus and $1,194,471 minus. Chief Mann discussed the fact that the Town does not have enough firefighters (less than we had 30 years ago), and is operating on a shoe-string budget. He stated the plus budget would be the best and that the level budget is less than in FY’03. Selectman Grasfield asked Chief Mann to prepare a report showing what it would cost for an appropriate budget for the Fire Department, adding firefighters and showing the offset for overtime and scheduling problems, “to take to the voters or to the Priority Committee.”
Budget Review - Ambulance - Dennis Mann
Dennis Mann presented the preliminary FY’05 Budget for Ambulance in the amounts of $ 476,255 primary, $ 523,881 plus and $452,442 minus.
Budget Review - Recreation Department - David I. Clifton
Dave Clifton presented the preliminary FY’05 Budget for the Recreation Department, in the amounts of $254,765 primary, $280,242 plus and $242,027 minus.
Permitting & Inspection Issues - Richard Gray
Richard Gray, 756 Mountain Street, was present to discuss his problems with permitting and inspection issues in the rebuilding of a post and beam barn, to include:
Mr. Gray alleged that the building inspector has refused to sign permits issued to him;
Mr. Gray alleged that the building inspector told him that he did one of the inspections “from his car.”
Mr. Gray alleged that the electrical inspector refused to inspect the work;
Mr. Gray alleged that he was forced to hire his own engineer;
Mr. Gray alleged that all of the electrical work has been done to code; and,
Mr. Gray stated that he was told to wait 28 days for “concrete curing” on the foundation while others did not have this waiting period.
Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present and responded to the allegations by stating that the permits were issued and approved to be posted on the door. Mr. Hooper explained the inspection process necessary for the type of foundation that Mr. Gray is using to rebuild his barn and the importance of the concrete being “cured properly.” He stated that Mr. Gray understands that Mr. Gray was not using standard construction and that he was “working outside the box.” He stated that the building inspector allowed Mr. Gray to hire an engineer to sign off that work was to be done according to building code, and that Mr. Gray was required by law to have a licensed electrician for work that was done outside of the building.
Mr. Gray stated that the foundation “rubble stone” was included in the 1999 building code when he began this project, he received a permit, but it was not signed. Mr. Hooper will follow up with Mr. Gray re outstanding issues re his barn.
Chair Katz asked Mr. Hooper to see if the Building Inspector can sign the permits issued to Mr. Gray. He further stated that we are not here to harass anyone or to give a hard time.
The Board reviewed a Memo from Joe Kent, Building Inspector, dated October 7 re this matter, and a Memo from Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated October 21, 2003 with the Permit History of Mr. Gray’s property.
Capital Planning - Long Range Planning Committee - George Bailey
George Bailey and Pat Zlotin were present on behalf of the Long Range Planning Committee to discuss capital planning process and suggestions. He suggested that a report of the Capital Outlay Committee be published in the Annual Town Report. He further suggested that there be an outline of projects planned for the first five years, 6-10 years, etc., and its projected impact on the tax rate. Mr. Bailey stated that capital should not just be “required borrowing.” Ms. Zlotin said it was important to present the “total picture” of where we are going. Selectman Grasfield suggested that Mr. Bailey return for a longer appointment before the Board. Mr. Bailey is scheduled on the Capital Outlay Agenda for November 13.
Budget Review - Accounting Department - Ben Puritz
Ben Puritz presented the preliminary FY’05 Budget for the Accounting Department, on behalf of the Town Accountant who is out on unpaid leave, in the amounts of $176,689 primary, $167,855 plus and $194,358 minus.
Budget Review - Selectmen - Ben Puritz
Ben Puritz presented the preliminary FY’05 Budget for the Selectmen in the amounts of $222,706 primary, $238,866 plus and $211,571 minus. Mr. Puritz stated that this budget has previously been “over-cut” with 95% of the budget now going to Personnel and nothing left to cut. Preliminary results of a comparable town survey reveal that the executive office of the Town of Sharon with 2 2/3 positions has fewer staff positions than all the comparable towns. Selectman Grasfield mentioned that the Selectmen’s Office once had an Assistant Town Administrator and that he is an advocate for a Finance Director believing that it would have significant offsets to the Town.
Signing of the Special Town Meeting Warrant
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) Voted unanimously to sign the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
School Department Collective Bargaining Information Release
The Board discussed a request by Selectman Grasfield to see if he could have certain negotiation documents relating to School Department collective bargaining. This request was denied by the Superintendent of Schools and resulted in a legal bill of $544 by the attorney for the School Committee.
Ben Puritz suggested to Selectman Grasfield that he could still follow-up by asking for this information directly to the School Committee Chair. Selectman Grasfield replied that he would not and said, “If the answer’s no, it’s no.” There was a question as to whether Selectman Grasfield pursued this information as a Selectman or on behalf of the Board of Selectmen. Grasfield asked Selectman Roach, who is the Board’s liaison and part of the negotiating team for the teacher’s contract, if he could just see the draft documents under the Executive Session rules that Selectman Roach had seen and had used to update the Board in Executive Session. Selectman’s Grasfield stated that his hope was that in sharing the information with the other Board members, he may be
able to offer something that Selectman Roach could take back, and it would be constructive. Chair Katz agreed with Selectman Roach that the other members of the Board could not see School Department negotiating documents. The teacher’s contract is now in mediation.
Resident Marcia Liebman expressed surprise at this decision, stating that people in Town believe the Selectmen “rule the whole show.” She expressed the opinion that the Selectmen should be able to discuss “it all” in Executive Session.
Comments re Estates at Borderland
It was the consensus of the Board to forward a letter to the Board of Appeals as prepared by Ben Puritz and dated October 27, 2003. Selectman Grasfield stated that some of his comments have been incorporated in the letter since last week’s draft, and that he would be Emailing additional comments from himself to the Board of Appeals.
Sale of Municipal Bonds
The Board reviewed a Memo from R. Uyttebroek, Town Treasurer, dated October 27, 2003, re Sale of Municipal Bonds, recommending that the Board agree to a negotiated sale of bonds with Corby Capital Markets for a $1,790,000 bond issue in mid-November. It was the consensus of the Board to move forward on this. Selectman Grasfield stated that this amount could be reduced with the expectation of grant money for the police project and with a better borrowing rate
How to Improve Town Meetings
Selectman Grasfield recommended that this be scheduled as a future agenda item. Resident Alice Cheyer stated that this could be part of the Government Study Committee’s Agenda. Chair Katz stated that he will contact the Government Study Committee to see if they will schedule a public hearing.
Council on Aging Survey
Selectman Grasfield requested that Director Norma Simons Fitzgerald and members of the Council on Aging Board and/or the Friend of the Council on Aging be scheduled in to discuss the results of its recent survey.
Petition re Standing Building Committee
An appointment has been scheduled re the petition submitted by John Verret for the Meeting of November 28.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of Collective Bargaining and Legal matters and, at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Grasfield, aye; and Katz, aye.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 10:30 P.M.
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