July 6, 2004
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair Walter Joe Roach, Selectmen David I. Grasfield and William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
Minutes
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of June 22, 2004 as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of June 29, 2004 as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session Minutes of June 15, 2004 as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session Minutes of June 29, 2004 as printed.
Interview for Cultural Council
The Board interviewed two candidates for the Cultural Council, Gloria Rose and Douglas McDougall.
Interview for Chairman of the Capital Outlay Committee
The Board interviewed Paul Linehan as Chair of the Capital Outlay Committee. Mr. Linehan stated that he has been a member of Capital Outlay Committee since 1997. He stated he would be interested in further discussions on capital borrowing and had no aversion to year-round committee meetings.
Sequencing of Fall Town Meeting Articles
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the following sequencing of Fall Town Meeting Articles:
School Budget Transfer - Selectmen
Community Center Repairs - Selectmen
Design of Free-Standing - Senior Center - COA
Wilber School Transfer - Selectmen
Regional Dispatch - Selectmen
Recreation Department Sup Article - Selectmen
Rattlesnake Hill Negotiations - ConCom/Selectmen
Historic Building Demolition - Historical Commission
Article re Schedules - Selectmen
Discharge Detection Bylaw - Selectmen
Storm Water - Construction Bylaw - Selectmen
Stormwater Zoning Bylaw Changes - Planning Board
Overlay District - Planning Board
Flood Hazard Zoning - Planning Board
Subsurface Disposal - Fines - Board of Health
Septic Program Correction -Treasurer/Selectmen
Bramble Lane Street Acceptance - Planning Board
Appointments to Cultural Council
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Elizabeth Davis for a two-year appointment on the Cultural Council, to expire September 06.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Mildred Tobolsky for a two-year appointment on the Cultural Council, to expire September 06.
Selectmen’s Goals and Objectives
Selectman Grasfield suggested that the Board not consider the goals listed on the sheet, dated November 5, 2003, as they are goals from a previous Board, but to start clean. Selectman Grasfield stated the following are his personal goals:
provide better and more timely information available to the citizens of the community, including greater use of the website;
instituting long-range planning and budgeting; and,
reduce the tax burden on those least able to afford it.
Selectman Heitin stated he would like an opportunity to go over the previous list and perhaps add new items to it, including those David discussed. He suggested adding three concerns:
discuss Wilber School reuse;
priorities allocations; and,
other sources of revenues/commercialization opportunities.
Chair Roach stated that he would move forward by taking items off the list and by having a more in-depth discussion. This will be continued.
Alternative Paving Methods - Mountain Street
The Board discussed Memo from Peter O’Cain, Assistant Town Engineer, dated June 18, 2004, re investigation of SOILTAC, a biodegradable product, as an alternative to bituminous paving (placing of binder) for the repair of Mountain Street. It was found that the cost advantage likely goes to bituminous paving and the DPW recommends paving Mountain Street with a bituminous concrete base course. Selectmen Grasfield would like to know the longevity of the proposed binder. (Deleted reference to P. O’Cain)
Community Call to Action - US Department of Justice
Selectman Grasfield referenced a Letter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, dated April 16, 2004 encouraging participation in a National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 in an effort in increase awareness for child safety.
Conversion of Sharon Country Club Land
Selectman Grasfield read a letter from Mark J. Mazur, Administrative Assessor, dated July 1, 2005, re letter from the Sharon Country Club notifying us of their intention to convert 2,500 square feet of their land from Chapter 61B classification to a commercial use. The Town now has 120 days during which it can exercise an option to purchase the property at its fair market value or transfer that right to a suitable nonprofit entity.
The Board will hold a hearing on this subject at its next meeting of July 20, and will notify abutters. It is the intent of the Sharon Country Club to lease this portion of its real property for the construction and operation of a wireless communications facility.
Interviews for Cultural Council
The Board interviewed Susan Walsh for membership on the Cultural Council.
Sharon Independence Celebrations
Selectman Heitin expressed his appreciation to the Sharon Independence Day Committee for the field events, bike and doll carriage parade, carnival, and “best fireworks ever.”
Executive Session Minutes
Selectman Grasfield stated that it is time to redact sensitive material and release the prior year’s Executive Session Minutes.
Website
Selectman Grasfield requested that the Treasurer’s 10-year revenue history be posted on the website as well as the FY’05 numbers.
End-of-Year Budget Balances
Selectman Grasfield requested that a report on the end-of-year budget balances and encumbrances be placed in the Selectmen’s packet. Ben Puritz stated that there is an encumbrance folder in the accounting office that he could review.
Survey of Other Town’s Town Planner and Financial Director
Selectman Grasfield asked about the status of the survey for the position of Town Planner and/or Financial Director. Ben Puritz stated that this survey is not yet complete. Selectmen Grasfield recommended that the material to-date be reviewed.
Fall Town Meeting Articles
The Board will schedule discussions on various Fall Town Meeting Articles as future agenda items. Selectman Grasfield asked that three articles for which the Selectman are listed as the proponents, be presented at the next meeting. These include the School Budget Transfer and the Wilber Funding Transfer. He also asked that Gordon Gladstone be invited in to present the article he proposed.
State Ethics Commission
Selectman Grasfield noted concurrence of Attorney Gelerman’s opinion re Selectman Grasfield’s ability to speak on Mountain Street from the State Ethics Commission, dated June 22, 2004.
Town Clerk’s Reserve Fund Transfer Request
Ben Puritz noted Memo from Marlene Chused, dated June 30, 2004 that a Reserve Fund Transfer will not be necessary for the Elections/Registration Reserve Fund Transfer partly due to the participation of those in the senior tax work-off program.
Priority Development Fund
Sam Solomon was present to discuss the Priority Development Fund. Selectman Grasfield stated that the Board received Notice of Funding Availability for funds for Planning Assistance for Housing Production from DHCD and MassHousing. It stated that assistance will be provided to communities seeking to encourage “new production” of housing, especially mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing will make available $3 million in planning assistance. Communities may apply to DHCD for assistance of up to $50,000. Items discussed included:
looking for Selectmen to take lead;
look at Center of Town;
look at Wilber School for mixed use;
look at septic related issues within the proposed overlay district;
consider sewage pipe to high school sewage treatment plant;
consider new shared sewage treatment within P.O. Square;
consider use of land near railroad station;
consider use of lot near Oakland Road;
consider possible landswap with ConCom for Conservation land;
apply for funds for consultant;
need to bring in Board of Health;
need to meet with Peter O’Cain, Assistant Town Engineer;
need to get perspective of P.O. Square Committee;
hold meeting in the fall with all entities;
need to identify ownership of land suitable for sewage treatment plant and do an hydro-engineering analysis; and
the need to do things quickly.
Interviews for Cultural Council
The Board interviewed Kirsten Gallant for membership on the Cultural Council.
FY’05 Local Aid Estimates - Cherry Sheet
Town Administrator Ben Puritz reviewed the FY2005 Local Aid Estimates. He states funds appear to be about $34,913 in excess of projected figures.
Reserve Fund Transfers
Community Center Repairs
Town Administrator Ben Puritz discussed a Reserve Fund Transfer Request to be sent to the Finance Committee in the amount of $57,115 for repairs to the Community Center. He stated that RFP’s would be going out for architectural and engineering services.
Law Budget
Town Administrator Ben Puritz discussed a Reserve fund Transfer Request to be sent to the Finance Committee in the amount of $52,956 for the Law Budget. He stated the overrun was directly related to two cases involving litigation, the Estates at Borderland and Sprint. Selectman Grasfield stated he has looked closely at the law bills and has many questions that he would like to discuss. Ben Puritz cautioned that items involving pending litigation cannot be discussed in public. Selectman Grasfield noted that the breakdown of legal bills (by topic, by month) that he had requested weeks prior had still not been provided. Town Administrator Ben Puritz noted that a year-to-date law bill itemization through April 30, 2004 had previously been provided to the Board; however, due to computer system malfunction at
Town Counsel’s Office, the year-end analysis was not available until July 6, 2004 at which time said material was provided to the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Heitin suggested that the law bills be reviewed within Executive Session at the next meeting of July 20.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to forward the Reserve Fund Transfer Request for the Community Center Repairs for $57,115.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted 2-1 (Grasfield opposed) to forward the Reserve Fund Transfer Request for the FY’04 Law Budget in the amount of $52,956.
Selectman Grasfield added that he disapproved of turning this over to another committee before confirming or disapproving certain charges to the legal bills.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of Collective Bargaining and pending litigation and to adjourn at the conclusion thereof.
Roach, aye; Grasfield, aye; and Katz, aye.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 9:20 P.M.
| 
