December 21, 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 and Selectmen David I. Grasfield, William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:31 P.M.
Approve Minutes
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of November 23, 2004, as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of November 30, including Executive Session, as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of December 7, 2004, as printed.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of December 14, 2004, including Executive Session, as printed.
Selectmen Heitin requested that the approved Executive Session Minutes of December 7, 2005 be reconsidered. This will be discussed within Executive Session.
Community Center Repairs
Town Administrator Ben Puritz updated the Board re this project, including an EMail from Jim Popkin stating that a report from Sprague Roofing will be received within a week. He further stated that the approved RFP has been distributed re the procurement process. The Building Inspector conducted “walkthroughs” for nine firms that have expressed interest. Proposals are due January 5, 2005. The Designer Selection Committee has scheduled two meetings to review.
Date for Fall Town Meeting
The Board received input via EMail from the Planning Board, School Committee and FINCOM.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to set the date of November 14, 2005 for the Fall Town Meeting
Prioritization of Capital Items
Each Board member created his own priority list after review of the Selectmen’s sector capital requests. Items discussed included:
all agreed that Fire Department telephone system replacement is a high priority; however, monies may be available without borrowing;
other Fire Department requests - high priority - but may use alternative funding;
discussed $917,000 in priority requests;
School Department has requests totaling $917,000;
total amount of requests would be approximately 4.9M;
annual borrowing has been between 2.5M - 3 M;
borrowing equals 6% of total operating budget;
School items may not be completed in one phase - may reduce requests to 2M for year;
Civil Defense Request may be mostly paid out of alternative funds;
Selectman Grasfield would like to reduce total borrowing; and, thereby, pressure on the operating budgets;
impact on reserve fund transfer for ambulance;
Police use of encumbered Operating Funds on previously approved capital renovations for Police Station;
Selectman Grasfield requested additional info re DPW Equipment (including age and when expected to be replaced);
Community Center Repairs/Improvements;
alternative funding for other listed items;
Wilber School - hazardous materials and Wilber Reuse Committee (add to Board’s action items);
Free Standing Senior Center;
Police Department Operating Funds - traditionally room for vehicle replacement; and,
will continue discussions re prioritization of capital borrowing.
Martin Luther King Breakfast Program
Judge Chuck Walker was present to request that the Board consider sponsorship of the Martin Luther King Breakfast Program at Sharon High School on Monday, January 17.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to have the Town of Sharon sponsor the Martin Luther King Day Event.
FY’06 Maintenance of Services Exercise
Town Administrator Ben Puritz presented an overview of the FY’06 Maintenance of Services Exercise. Net operating budget allocation has been increased from ‘05 $7,398,171 by $399,455 or by +5.40% to ‘06 $7,797,626. This amount maintains services & staffing levels factoring a 3% salary increase in the absence of contractual obligations. Does not provide for filling authorized vacant positions or Department Head Salary Merit increases or other Collective Bargaining Adjustments. Provides for some realistic adjustments for some materials/supplies/commodities but no general inflationary adjustment applied. Items discussed:
impact of Police/Fire collective bargaining;
outstanding contracts with MP Groups and SMEAS;
Selectman Grasfield requested a spreadsheet showing all Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTES) within the Selectmen’s sector showing the bargaining unit, salary, period of contract - whether open for salary or other terms and an explanation column; and,
information useful to Priorities Committee–consideration of increasing Fire/Police
Action Items
Selectman Heitin would like to add two items:
Communication Problems - high priority
Supplemental Tax Assessment on New Construction - Board of Assessors
Selectman Grasfield would like to add:
Detail of Free Cash (in process with Accounting) that had been requested at last Priorities Meeting
Information re Employees within Maintenance of Effort Budget to match School Department approach/format (possibly borrowing their template to save time)
Executive Session
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of acquisition of real property, collective bargaining, pending litigation, and, at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Grasfield, aye; Heitin, aye; Roach, aye.
The Board entered into Executive Session at 8:50 P.M.
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