October 25, 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 Benjamin E. Puritz, Town Administrator.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
Approve Minutes
This item was deferred until the next meeting.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield reminded everyone that this Friday Night is the Rotary and Lions Club Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief at Saphire Manor. Tickets are available by calling 784-8888 Sharon Cable TV Studio, and in the Town Clerk’s Office.
Chair Grasfield thanked all those that attended, and participated in the organization of the Employee Development Day. He expressed appreciation to those employees who were recognized for serving a period of time.
Budget Review - Council on Aging (COA)- Norma Simons Fitzgerald, Director
The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’07 Budget for Council on Aging in the amounts of $208,043.00 (level); $197,641.00 (minus); and $225,873.00 (plus). Ms. Fitzgerald discussed offsets to the budget due to State Formula Grant, and the impact of the loss of the Community Center building with a minimum of 300 hours per year provided by Temple Sinai to run COA programs. Funds provided for various emergencies by the Friends of the COA was also discussed. Arnold Kublin, Chair of the COA Board, expressed his appreciation and commended Ms. Fitzgerald for her incredible work.
Budget Review - Elections and Registration - Marlene Chused, Town Clerk
The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’07 Budget for Elections & Registration, in the amount of $94,829.00 (as needed). Ms. Chused explained that this budget is driven by the costs of elections and town meetings. There are three elections planned for FY’07, including: September Primary, November State Election and the Fall Town Meeting.
Father Bullock Road Race
School Committee Member Sam Liao, Firefighter David Martin, and other organizers of the Father Bullock Road Race, were present to present a check in the amount of $6,000 to be donated to the Facing History and Ourselves program in the School System.
Appointment of Assistant Recreation Director
The Board interviewed Melissa Lothrop, who was unanimously recommended by David I. Clifton, Recreation Director and the Recreation Advisory Committee, to be hired as the Assistant Recreation Director. The Board was impressed by Ms. Lothrop’s education, experience, and energy.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to concur with the recommendation of the Recreation Director and the Recreation Advisory Committee to appoint Melissa Lothrop as the Assistant Recreation Director, effective November 7, 2005.
Budget Review - Recreation Department - David I. Clifton, Recreation Director
The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’07 Budget for Recreation in the amounts of $255,096.00 (level); $244,270.00 (minus); and $266,266.00 (plus). Mr. Clifton discussed a decreasing level-funded budget due to the loss of the Community Center building and staffing changes. He also reported on the income from the Revolving Fund with $66,419 received and used to pay for the summer seasonal staff and related expenses on the waterfront.
Mr. Clifton announced the Halloween Parade with line up at the Wilber School site on Halloween at 3:45 P.M.
Government Study Committee Update
Anne Carney and Andy Nebenzahl were present on behalf of the Government Study Committee. Items discussed included:
pursuit of a Charter Commission to be recommended at the 2006 Annual Town Meeting with ballot vote to form Committee/election of members;
two routes to Charter Commission: (1) petition route - need 2,000 signatures for ballot vote, and (2) Selectmen appoint Committee to come up with charter;
Charter would act as constitution and structure for the Town government;
timeline of setting up Charter Commission /receiving reports/ voting on Charter (possibly would be 2008 before finalized); and,
Prior to the election of Charter Commission, Government Study Committee would recommend its own dissolution.
Action Items
This items was deferred until the next meeting.
Request for Banner - Sisterhood Temple Sinai
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a banner for the Sisterhood of Temple Sinai for the dates of November 28 - December 5 in the Second Banner Position.
Permission to Solicit Donations from Traffic - P.O. Square
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to grant permission to the Sharon Lion’s Club to solicit donations from traffic in the center of Town on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday November 6, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Request for Exemption - Dual Position
The Board reviewed Memo from Chief Mann, dated 10/20/05 requesting exemption for the Fire Secretary Karen Taylor from a provision of the Conflict of Interest Statute that prohibits dual contracts. It was discussed that the Fire Department would be reducing her hours with the Fire Department as fewer hours are necessary for this position; and, she has been hired and will be working for the School Department as a .40 Office Secretary.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to allow for the exemption for Karen Taylor as discussed this evening.
Community Center Update
Mr. Puritz announced that, at a meeting scheduled for this evening, the Standing Building Committee is reviewing estimates from the architects provided at 50% design level. The 95% estimate for the Community Center is expected on November 1, 2005. This will be reviewed by FINCOM at its meeting of November 2. Selectman Heitin mentioned he was impressed with the scrutiny being given to the costs. Chair Grasfield mentioned that it will cost $102,300 for abatement of hazardous material.
Water Source Exploration Interim Report
Jeff Hershberger of ESS Group Inc., Engineering Consultants, and Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, were present to report on water exploration and specific sites for well testing. The Town is searching for a redundant water source. Items discussed included:
four identified sites, one did not pan out - Blair Circle;
Islamic/Chase Drive; MBTA Maskwonicut Street; and NStar, Canton Street – three sites identified as possible sites through 2 ½ inch pump tests, but all have issues;
sites located in the center of Town or along railroad tracks;
issues of wetlands/nitrates/vulnerability due to railroad tracks;
tested for quantity and quality;
geological properties found;
radius needed for well fields based on size of wells;
options through DEP;
proceed to larger pump testing (8 inch);
well exploration - not going down one path - not just replacement for Well #4- Mr. Hooper;
need to confer with DEP before moving forward with more expensive testing;
sites may be too close to Well #4;
review of maps from ESS;
use of historic data at Islamic Well Site;
well tests to continue till Christmas, weather permitting;
preliminary results of all three well sites are similar;
access issues;
permits required from DEP;
need for Environmental Impact Reports;
get pre-approval from ConCom, WMAC and Board of Health for sites;
ConCom approval may be based on results of 48-hr pump tests;
ask for response from WMAC to coordinate discussions with other committees/boards – Selectman Heitin;
need for more data - Paul Lauenstein, WMAC;
impact of conservation efforts - Paul Lauenstein; and,
not looking at the Gobbi site at this point.
Simpson Construction - Development Proposals
Chair Grasfield updated the Board with meeting with Simpson Construction Company, attended by Mr. Hooper, Mr.O’Cain, Mr. Meister, and Mr. Puritz. Discussions will continue with Planning Board.
Avalon Bay
Chair Grasfield updated the Board re meeting with Norwood officials on water hook-up with the Town of Norwood and the MWRA. He stated that it did not look promising referring to the water connection. This will be discussed at the continued public hearing scheduled for next Tuesday at 6:30 P.M.
RR Station Parking Issues
Chair Grasfield noted complainants’ request that Mr. Hooper consider the suggestion to increase parking fines to $50. Chair Grasfield asked Mr. Hooper to consider other measures as a solution to parking problems at the railroad station.
Appreciation Letter
Chair Grasfield noted appreciation letter from Dennen Reilley re Chief Bernstein and DPW employee Bill Petipas.
Selectmen’s Policies/Town Administrator’s Goals & Objectives & Performance Review
Chair Grasfield would like to continue these discussions and review as he has a few more policies to discuss.
It was the consensus of the Board that the Goals & Objectives have been discussed. Chair Grasfield would like the opinion of the representative from the District Attorney’s Office during next week’s appointment before the Board, re the Open Meeting Law, as to whether the Town Administrator’s Performance Review should be done in Open or Executive Session.
Selectman Heitin expressed his opinion that the review of the Selectmen’s Policies have been covered. He requested that the Board focus on the issues facing the Town and that there was nothing substantially accomplished through the review, only controversy. Chair Grasfield stated that he has two left.
There was a brief discussion as to the Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy. Mr. Puritz stated that tests are done independently through a contract with our regional representative and through our Board of Health.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of real property acquisition, collective bargaining, pending litigation and personnel matter and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 10:25 P.M.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye; Grasfield, aye.
Oct. 25 Bill & David
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