June 14, 2005
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair David I. Grasfield and Selectmen William A. Heitin and Walter Joe Roach, and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:33 P.M.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of real property acquisition and to reconvene in regular session at 8:00 P.M.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 7:33 P.M.
The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 8:23 P.M.
Approve Minutes
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of June 7, 2005, as corrected:
Page 2: Delete: Note relating to the intent of the Vote in its entirety
Page 3: Action Items
Change: First Para: “invited” to “invite”
Change: Second Para: “down” to “done”
Page 5: Last Para: Correct Name: “Corey Brent” to “Corey Brine.”
Page 6: Delete: Appendix A in its entirety
The Executive Session Minutes of June 7 were held.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield thanked those who participated in the First Father Bullock Road Race/Walk/Shuffle and to those firefighters who responded to need by participants. He also thanked Paul Bergeron, Veterans Agent for organizing the Flag Day Ceremony at Memorial Beach earlier this evening and the Girl Scouts, Brownies, Boy Scouts and the teachers/students of the Cottage Street School for their participation. He extended the Board’s congratulations to Alison McDougal and Emily Snidman who had been presented with scholarships from the Jewish War Veterans this past Sunday morning, with Selectmen Roach and Grasfield and Sharon’s three state legislators in attendance.
Eagle Scouts Project
Troop 95 Eagle Scout candidate, Jason Zandrow, was present to discuss his project for a 72-foot boardwalk that will connect Beech Tree Park to the boat launch area at Lake Massapoag. Plans include, seating at the boat launch area, planting flowers, hanging birdhouses, and laying down gravel on the footpaths. Approvals have already been given by the Department of Public Works and the Conservation Commission. Mr. Zandrow has done extensive fundraising (has raised approximately $4,500 of the needed less than $5,000) for the actual construction to take place during the weekends of June 18 and 25. He stated that younger scouts will not participate in the building due to safety concerns, but will participate in other ways inside the “safety circle.”
He also cited approvals under the ADA, Conservation Commission, and with the Beech Street Park Committee. It was the consensus of the Board to give its support to Mr. Zandrow’s project. Volunteers are welcome to participate this Saturday between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm, and the three Board members each stated they would be volunteering.
Water Exploration Project
Eric R. Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present as well as Jeff Hershberger from ESS Group. Mr. Hooper updated the Board on previous well exploration efforts and sites identified by WMAC. The study will gather comparable data from each site. Other items discussed included:
not use previous models to scale back analysis but tests to get an “apples to apples” comparison;
depth of borings;
access to Gobbi property;
ability to reprioritize when access to Gobbi property is resolved;
Conservation Commission and wetlands;
Notice of Intent to be issued; and,
time line - best to start when it is dry.
The Board reviewed memo from Mr. Hooper, dated May 25, 2005, re: Contract Recommendation for Engineering Services for Hydrogeologic Testing and Site Evaluation for Production Wells. Sites identified include: Canton Street/NSTAR, Maskwonicut Street/Water Department, Chase Drive/Town property with large and smaller diameter test wells, and small diameter test wells at Blair Circle. The WMAC has requested the testing at the Blair Circle site. ESS Group has submitted a proposal at the request of the Water Department in the amount of $149,500 for an expected project period of approximately 5-6 months from receipt of a Notice to Proceed. ESS will subcontract drilling to D.L. Maher, North Reading, MA.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the contract as recommended by the Water Department for Water Exploration to ESS Group, Wellesley, MA, in the amount of $149,500.00 for well exploration.
Continued Dog Park Hearing
The Board opened a hearing at 9:00 P.M. to discuss a request made by the Officers of the Dog Park to park vehicles on the unpaved area of the Deborah Sampson site during weekends and times when the parking lot is full. Pat Zlotin and Sandy Shmaryahu were present on behalf of the Dog Park. Richard Kramer and Todd Arnold were present on behalf of the neighborhood.
Items discussed included:
site visit;
parking problems for all users;
additional parking in front of the skate park;
remaining concerns about area on left side close to building;
signage for overflow parking;
not designate area for dog parking only;
preference to park on hard surface;
PA Landers to clean up staging area site; and,
endangered flower species (lady-slipper on left side trail).
Selectman Grasfield asked the officers of the Dog Park if they would be willing to consider a compromise proposal, whereby parking in front of the Sacred Heart building would be permitted, and we would wait to see if that increase met the needs of the users. Pat Zlotin and Sandy Shmaryahu indicated that the compromise would be acceptable to the Dog Park.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to allow for additional parking on the front side of the Sacred Heart Building at Deborah Sampson as overflow parking and as needed, and to close the hearing.
Interview for Reappointment - Charles Healy, Sealer
The Board interviewed Charles Healy for reappointment as Sealer of Weights and Measures. Mr. Healy updated the Board on the duties and activities of the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Action Items
Chair Grasfield discussed his recent conversation with the President of Sharon Memorial Park re water exploration at this site re Water Issues. He indicated that it was a very positive initial meeting, and that he would be pursuing it further.
Community Center Update
Mr. Puritz reported that the responses to the Requests for Proposals are due on June 15. The next meeting of the Standing Building Committee is June 21 and interviews will be scheduled for June 28, moving along according to schedule. Selectman Roach announced that 12 firms participated in the walk through.
“Special Employee” status for Library Department Employee
Mr. Puritz stated that if a municipal employee was hired for the position of Secretary to the Wilber Reuse Committee, there could be an exemption under the Conflict of Interest Law, and the Special Employee Status would not be required.
Selectmen Goals
Board members discussed their goals from last year and seemed to be satisfied with progress made. New Items included:
Roach: Meet with regularly other boards and committees, including School Committee.
Heitin: get out of minutia and start to focus on the larger priorities of the Town such as the Wilber School, Community Center, North and South Main Street, Town water, Commercialization for additional tax revenue, Affordable and reasonably priced age qualified housing, Working closely with developer to ensure we can meet the needs of the Town and Working with our State legislators to ensure we are pushing for what is coming to the Town.
Chair Grasfield stated that he hoped that all items would be part of the collective goals of the Board. It was the consensus of the Board to update its list which now reads as follows:
June 14, 2005
BOARD OF SELECTMEN GOALS
2005 - 2006
Selectman Roach:
1. Meet with Zoning Board of Appeals to: manage/monitor legal actions/expenses “law budget.”
2. Monitor active involvement as appropriate:
transportation improvement projects;
Norwood Street to High Plain Street intersection;
Massapoag Avenue;
North/South Main Streets;
Avalon Bay LIP Project
3. Active involvement with Priorities Committee re stabilization fund; and,
4. Meet with other boards and committees, including School Committee.
Selectman Grasfield:
3. provide better and more timely information to the citizens of the community (including greater use of the Town’s website);
4. institute long-range planning and budgeting; and,
5. reduce the tax burden on those least able to afford it and,
6.
Selectman Heitin:
7. discuss Wilber School reuse;
8. Priorities allocations;
9. other sources of revenues/commercialization opportunities; and,
10. get out of minutia and focus on priorities of the Town as a whole.
MHP 40B Technical Assistance
The Board reviewed letter from Clark L. Ziegler of Massachusetts Housing Partnership, dated June 7, 2005, with the announcement of a grant for up to $5,000 under Ch. 40B Technical Assistance. This award is provided to the Zoning Board of Appeals and is to be used to pay for consulting services of Ralph Willmer to assist with the review of the Glendale Village project.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Chair to sign the grant for the
Ch. 40B Technical Assistance grant on behalf of the Board of Selectmen with the Zoning Board of Appeals needing to sign from its Board.
Housing Production Plan
Chair Grasfield discussed an Email from Planning Board member Gina Maniscalco requesting the Board’s endorsement of the Sharon Housing Production Plan, and he volunteered to draft the cover letter.
Paul Lauenstein, newly elected member of the Planning Board expressed concerns that the Housing Plan may be at cross purposes with Conservation Commission. Chair Grasfield stated, after congratulating Mr. Lauenstein on his election, that the Plan has been reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Conservation Commission, including at its most recent meeting specifically to review certain parcels and address concerns as to suitability for development. Additionally, he stated that this is on-going and intends to be flexible and that Ms. Arguimbau, Chair of the Conservation Commission, indicated just this evening that she may have been misinterpreted as she still has concerns and reservations. But he stressed that the ConCom’s efforts and the Planning Board’s efforts should be pursued in
parallel. He discussed further how the Housing Production Plan is required by the state in order to proactively satisfy the affordable housing requirements of Chapter 40B, and he is personally happy to endorse it.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Chair to draft a letter in support of the Planning Board’s Housing Production Plan to be delivered on June 15.
Donation by the Commission on Disability
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from Sid Rosenthal, Chair of the Commission on Disability to Mr. Al Lipkind with notice of an additional $1,200.00 to supplement the previous donation of $1,000 to the Defibrillator Fund.
Snow Removal Survey
Chair Grasfield discussed Snow Removal Survey by SERSG with cover memo from Eric Hooper, dated June 8, 2005, stating, “expenditures incurred by the Town of Sharon were considerably below those incurred by other towns.” Sharon expenditures totaled $265,000 with $70,000 in reimbursement from FEMA.
Wetlands Banking Pilot Project
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from BlueWave Strategies re Wetlands Mitigation Banking Project in the Taunton River Watershed. He stated that Conservation Commission may
have potential sites, and requested that this be forwarded to the ConCom for their review. Mr. Puritz noted that his has been forward to both Conservation Commission and Planning Board.
Federal Grant for Additional Staffing - Chief Mann
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from Chief Mann re federal grant program S.A.F.E.R. (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response). The maximum saving to the Town of Sharon would be $400,000 if the department applied for and received this competitive grant. The SAFER grant requires a 5-year commitment from the Town requiring the awardee to match an increasing proportion of the salary over a four-year period; in the fifth year, the town will absorb the entire cost. The Application is due June 28.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to support and endorse the S.A.F.E.R. grant application as proposed by Fire Chief Mann to be filed on or before June 28.
Revote Fall Town Meeting Schedule
Selectman Heitin discussed confusion with the vote of last week as to the Fall Town Meeting schedule. He stated it was his intent not to change the previously voted closing of the Warrant dates for petition articles of July 6 and for everyone else of July 18. Chair Grasfield argued that the change of these two dates was at the request of the Planning Board and Finance Committee as the town boards most impacted by these dates in order to have a successful Town Meeting.
Selectman Heitin discussed his reasons for holding to these dates, including the July 18 date as a placeholder for all articles in order to get everyone focused earlier on the articles. He also noted that by sticking to the July 18th date it would give Town cunsel, all Boards and Committees and more importantly the Finance Committee 4 additional weeks to work out the final language for the Warrant, hold needed hearings and finalize the Finance Committee recommendations. This will ensure that they are included in the Warrant and not just presented at Town Meeting, thus giving more information for the voters to review.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted 2-1 (Grasfield opposed) to adopt the following schedule for the Fall Town Meeting:
2005 FALL TOWN MEETING
May 31(Tuesday)Announce Opening and Closing of
Fall Town Meeting Warrant
July 6 - Noon (Wednesday ) Closing of Warrant for Petition Articles
July 18 - Noon (Monday) Closing of Warrant for All Articles
August 16 (Tuesday Warrant Articles approval (in substance) by Town Counsel
September 2 (Friday) Warrant Articles final approval by Town Counsel
September 6 (Tuesday) Signing of Warrant
September 12, 19 (Monday) Finance Committee meetings to review articles
September 26 (Monday) Finance Committee meeting to vote recommendations
October 14 (Friday) Finance Committee recommendations to Selectmen photo ready preparation.
October 19 (Wednesday) Warrant with recommendations photo ready to printer.
October 27 (Thursday) Warrants from printer for mailing.
October 31 (Monday) Last Date for posting Warrant
October 31 (Monday) Warrants mailed
November 7 (Monday) Open Warrant Meeting
November 8 (Tuesday) Pre-Town Meeting
November 14 (Monday) Special Town Meeting Business Session
Frank Sullivan Recreation Land
Mr. Puritz noted correspondence from the Sullivan Family thanking David I. Clifton, Recreation Director, for the re-installation of the sign.
Next Agenda
It was the consensus of the Board to meet at 7:00 P.M. next week in Open Session with plan to enter Executive Session earlier in the evening.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss matters of real property acquisition, collective bargaining, insurance settlement and personnel matter and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 10:05 P.M.
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