December 7, 2004
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 6:00 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair Walter Joe Roach and Selectmen David I. Grasfield, William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 P.M.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of negotiations with union and nonunion personnel and to reconvene in Open Session at 7:30 P.M.
Reconvene
The Board reconvened in Open Session at 7:35 P.M.
Approve Minutes
VOTED: (Heitin/Grasfield) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session Minutes of November 16, 2004.
State Budget Presentation
Senator Brian Joyce introduced newly elected Senator James Timilty. He presented an overview of the State of Our State, a Briefing on the Fiscal Health of the Commonwealth and its impact on Sharon by the two Senators present and Representative Lou Kafka who could not make it this evening. Items covered included:
Factors in 2001 that converged to create a budgetary storm in the Commonwealth
a. sharp decline in tax revenues;
b. voter-approved cut in the income tax rate; and,
c. rapid growth of state obligations, including health care, pensions and debt service.
Chart showing Estimated State Revenues will increase in FY06 after four years of decline.
State’s Response to Budget Crisis:
a. $3 Billion in cuts;
b. Heavy Reliance on Rainy Day fund; and,
c. Fee increases, but no new taxes.
State Fiscal Health:
a. Increase in Revenue Collections; and,
b. Lowest recorded rate of unemployment since November 2001.
State still confronting a large and growing structural deficit.
Health and Education make up more than 43% of this year’s public spending.
Town of Sharon:
a. Local Aid increase of 2.23% over the past five years;
b. Increase in Chapter 70 (Education Funding) in FY05;
c. Transportation Bond Bill - includes funding for Signalization Project at
Norwood/High Plan and Edgehill; and,
d. Supplemental budget includes $128,626 one time municipal aid.
MCAS Results for Sharon - Students doing especially well when compared with statewide results;
Impact of Ed Reform bill and state formula for funding;
Possible Medicaid issue with Federal Government allegations of State overcharge; and,
Optimistic for better news for the coming Fiscal year.
Government Study Committee - Change in Governance
Andy Nebenzahl spoke on behalf of the Government Study Committee. Also, present were members Anne Carney, Chair, George Bailey, Pat Zlotin, Gloria Rose and David Fixler. Items discussed included:
charged with study of both Town Meeting and the way the Town of Sharon government is structured;
suggested improvements to Town Meeting have been implemented;
Committee recommends that the Town move to a Town Council Form of Government;
Open Town Meeting and many of the function of the Boards and Committees would be eliminated;
would require a Charter for the Town;
change would require a vote of the people in Town;
problems and inefficiencies of the present government; and,
the Government Study Committee requests that the Board of Selectmen form a workshop made up of a number of Boards and Committee and take a lead in hiring of a facilitator to address some of the problems with ending Town Meeting.
Chair Roach stated that the Board would invite various boards and committees to discuss this after the first of the year. Mr. Puritz stated that a change would be a protracted process that would most likely take years. It was stated that Town Meeting has the unilateral authority to affect such a change. There was a brief discussion as to the options involved and as to the number of Council representatives, and that it was premature to discuss the specifics at this time.
Mr. Nebenzahl mentioned that a council form of government was universal. He expected there would be either a mayor or a strong town manager and no Board of Selectmen. He expected a council would meet every other week to deal with one thing at a time.
Selectman Grasfield stated he did not agree with a change in governance, but would encourage steps to improve the existing form.
Mr. Nebenzahl suggested the workshop be in a retreat format to take place over a weekend.
Avalon Bay Update
Scott Dale and Liz Smith were present representing Avalon Bay, Paul Gatewood representing the Citizens Advisory Group, and Dan Rosenfeld representing the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Ms. Smith presented updated plans on the proposed friendly 40B development with the Town acting in partnership under the Local Initiative Program to increase affordable housing within the Town. This would be rental property that would count 100% toward affordable housing requirements.
The development would be on a 27-acre site off Norwood and Edgewood Streets. The development would be concentrated within 10 acres with 156 apartments proposed (scaled down from 250). Plans were shown that included square footage for one, two, and three bedroom apartments with various amenities. Items discussed included projections as to the likely population of renters and eligibility guidelines.
Mr. Gatewood stated that the Neighborhood Group had no idea re the plot plan details, etc. It was suggested that meetings be held with the Neighborhood Group and the Avalon Bay representatives and that updates be provided to the Selectmen. Selectman Grasfield stressed the importance of the Board of Selectmen taking an active role with Avalon Bay as the partners in a LIP. Selectman Grasfield mentioned the opportunity to address the need for first responders to have affordable housing as part of the LIP. Ms. Smith mentioned that 25% of the units will be affordable, and that there will be deed restrictions to keep those units as affordable units for a long term. Mr. Puritz suggested that the Neighborhood Committee use him as a facilitator.
Award Bid - Deputy Command Vehicle
The Board reviewed correspondence from Chief Mann, dated December 1, 2004. This bid was issued as part of the FY’05 Capital Outlay request. The low bidder had a deficiency in its bid. Selectman Grasfield noted that he did not support this Capital purchase in the first place. Selectman Heitin noted that the previous Board of Selectmen, the Capital Outlay Committee and Town Meeting all supported the expenditure and thought that the will of the community had been heard.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted 2-1 (Grasfield opposed) to award the bid for the Deputy Chief Command Vehicle to the next lowest bidder, Hurd Pontiac, of Johnson, RI (Bid $29,995).
Approve Date for Fall 05 Town Meeting
The Board discussed the proposed date of November 14, 2005 for the Fall Town Meeting. The Board will circulate this to the various board and committees for its scheduling input.
Change to Selectmen’s Policy #1, re Agenda Delivery to Selectmen
The Board discussed a change in the delivery of the agendas to 48 hours prior to the Board’s meeting. Mr. Puritz requested that the Board hold on this item for one week for further follow-up with Linda Morse.
Budgetary Direction - Follow-up to Priorities Committee
Selectman Grasfield discussed a request for information on free cash estimates and whether it should go into one-time expenditures, annual operation expenses, the stabilization fund, or be spent at all. He also discussed a request for proposed budget estimates from the Selectmen’s sector that include level budget numbers plus contractual obligations for employees, assumed increases in supplies and materials, and projected cost of living increases. The Priorities Committee is looking for what actually is required before making decisions.
Award Contract - Engineering Services re Rattlesnake Hill 40B
The Board reviewed contract information as sent by Richard A. Gelerman, Town Counsel, dated December 2, 2004 for engineering and professional services re assessing the impact of the proposed Rattlesnake Hill residential development on stormwater management, subsurface disposal of wastewater, wetlands and rare species. Selectman Grasfield re-stated Attorney Gelerman’s position that this work could be halted if acquisition efforts were successful.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the contract with Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc; Cambridge, MA, related to Rattlesnake Hill 40B development proposal. Cost will be billed on an hourly basis. (Estimate is 200 hours and approximately $34,000).
Town Offices - Holiday Hours
It was announced that the Sharon Town Offices will close for the week on Thursday at 5:00 P.M. on December 23 and December 30.
Action Items
The Board will invite member so the Planning Board to its next meet to discuss the Overlay District and continued discussion re affordable housing.
Selectman Grasfield would like further consideration of the filling of a Town Finance Director and Town Planner position before the next Priorities Committee meeting. Chairman Roach stressed the need of filling the Town Engineering position based on the increased level of townwide projects underway or contemplated. Selectman Heitin agreed but thought it would be beneficial for the Town to hire a Project Manager with an engineering background since the State requires the Town to hire a project manager for each project greater than $1.5 million. Since the Town has and will have such projects in the place for the near term this approach could save the community money.
The Board will take its own tour of capital outlay requests within the Selectmen Departments next Monday at 8:30 a.m.
The Board discussed its goal of keeping to the agenda schedule.
Quarterly Tax Bills
This will be added to the list of articles for the Annual Town Meeting.
Senior Property Tax Exemptions
Norma Fitzgerald will be invited in to update the Board on this matter.
MPO Funding Program
Copy will be provided to the Sharon Transportation Advisory Board.
Project Manager Job Description
This job description as provided by the Standing Building Committee will be forwarded to the Personnel Board for classification rating.
Community Center Improvements Update
Mr. Puritz updated the Board. The RFP for Architectural and Design Services will be discussed on next week’s agenda. The Committee will be looking for three scenarios: minimum, good, and better. Insurance adjustor Jim Popkin will be negotiating with the insurance company re stabilization.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of pending litigation, collective bargaining, and negotiations with union and nonunion personnel, and at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Grasfield, aye; Heitin, aye; Roach, aye.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 10:20 P.M.
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