November 29, 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, Selectmen William A. Heitin and Walter Joe Roach and Benjamin E. Puritz, Town Administrator.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield expressed his appreciation to the Board of Health for administering up to 2,000 flu vaccines, free of charge, to the residents of Sharon.
He suggested that residents attend and support the Spelling Bee being held this Sunday at the Sharon Middle School.
COA Raffle
Jane Desberg and members of the Friends of the Council on Aging were present to hold the COA Raffle as fundraiser to support the programs of the Council on Aging.
Request for Use of Town Land - Historical Society
A Public Hearing was open on the request by the Sharon Historical Society to convey to the Society a portion of town-owned land abutting the northern boundary of the property on High Street. Shirley Schofield and Robert Young were present from the Historical Society. Approximately five abutters were present. Items discussed included:
plans for carriage shed;
plot plan/GIS map;
removal of trees to be limited;
species list provided by Mr. Waters re wooded area; and,
request for Annual Town Meeting article.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the Board of Selection support an article with the Historical Society for the May Annual Town Meeting to lease an additional parcel in the back of the Historical Society building, term to be consistent (with the terms) of the remaining portion of the lease (for the present Historical Society site).
Selectman Heitin requested that members of the Historical Society, the Building Inspector, Conservation Agent and members of the neighborhood meet to iron out any remaining issues or questions. He suggested that the exact location on the property that the shed is to be located be staked out so that everyone could have a better understanding of the location. He hoped that this process would start now and not wait until the May Town Meeting.
Budget Review - Fire/Ambulance - Chief Mann
Chief Mann gave an update on the Regional Fire Dispatch. Items discussed including making the project financially viable for the Norfolk County Commissioners. Sharon is the only Town that has made a financial commitment at a Town Meeting.
The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’07 Budget for Fire/Ambulance in the amounts of $1,979,711 (level); $2,177,682 (plus); and $1,880,725 (minus). Items discussed included:
decrease in transport represents decrease in mutual aid with paramedics being hired in other communities; new budget format combining Fire and Ambulance; training most important part of firefighter’s job; new radio fire alarm system; and, that the Town did not receive SAFER Grant for additional personnel.
Dog Hearing - 5 Prince Way
A Dog Hearing was open at the request of the Animal Control Officer. Two dogs, Jello & Bear, belonging to Ms. Joanne Rogers were placed under a permanent restraining order at the Hearing of October 18, 2005. These dogs are now in quarantine under the direction of the Animal Control Officer as a result of the dogs being at large.
Selectman Heitin recused himself from the hearing and left the room. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Mr. Puritz requested that Chair Grasfield swear in all those that anticipated speaking on this issue.
Animal Control Officer Malcolmson reported that Ms. Rogers had agreed to surrender her dogs to her, but that she did not submit the surrender form as yet. As not all interested parties were present, it was the consensus of the Board to invite Selectman Heitin back into the room and to proceed with other agenda items.
Action Items
Chair Grasfield requested that a discussion re the Priorities process be added to the next agenda.
December 27 - Meeting Canceled
Chair Grasfield announced that the Board would not be meeting on Tuesday, December 27 due to the holidays.
VOTED: (Grasfield/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session Minutes of November 1, 2005, as printed.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted 2-0 (Grasfield abstained) to approve the Minutes of November 8, 2005, including Executive Session, as printed.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of November 15 as printed.
Chapter 136 of the Acts of 2005
The Board discussed an Email from Laura Russell re an Act Providing Senior Tax Relief and support of an article for the annual town meeting to lower the interest rate on the deferral program. Ms. Russell asked to have a warrant article at the May Town Meeting. She also suggested that the deferral interest rate could be pegged to the Town’s borrowing rate plus an additional amount to cover administrative costs.
MOTION: (Grasfield) not seconded, to put an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Both Selectmen Roach and Heitin requested more information before they would support the initiative and suggested inviting Ms. Russell and Mr. Uyttebroek to the next meeting to discuss the overall benefit to the community including the potential financial impact. The Board will invite Ms. Russell, Norma Simons Fitzgerald, COA Director, and Robert J. Uyttebroek, Town Treasurer to discuss this as an agenda item.
Board of Selectmen’s Representative to the Standing Building Committee
The Board discussed the appointment of Michael Baskin as the Board’s representative to the Standing Building Committee re Wilber School Hazardous Waste Abatement Project.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Michael Baskin as the Board of Selectmen’s Representative to the Standing Building Committee re Wilber School Hazardous Waste Abatement Project.
Request for Banner
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a Welcome Home Banner as requested by Heide E. (Currie) Kent whose husband will be arriving from service in Iraq for the period of December 12 - December 19, 2005 and to waive the banner fee.
Accept Donation for Parade - Sharon Day Celebration
The Board reviewed Memo from David I. Clifton, Recreation Director, requesting that the Board accept a donation of $1,000.00 from an anonymous resident toward a town-wide parade scheduled for Sunday, June 11, 2006.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to accept the donation, draft and sign a letter for the anonymous donor, and authorize the Town Accountant to open an account on behalf of the Sharon Day Celebration.
Continued Dog Hearing - 5 Prince Way
Selectman Heitin left the room at 8:40 P.M. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chair Grasfield swore in all those that anticipated speaking on this issue.
Animal Control Officer, Diane Malcolmson, discussed prior complaints about Ms. Joanne Roger’s dogs being seen running loose and the dogs having been picked up and held for 14 days prior to the Hearing of October 18. At that hearing, Ms. Rogers agreed to erect a fence under the direction of Ms. Malcolmson and to put an electronic fence and collars on her dog. Ms. Malcolmson reported that she inspected the house at 5 Prince Way and there was no fence being installed.
Ms. Malcolmson stated that on Saturday, November 19, the two dogs were again picked up for running loose and taken to the shelter. Ms. Malcolmson stated that there were complaints made on two other occasions, but that she did not see the dogs herself outside on those two occasions. She further discussed plans by Ms. Rogers to surrender the dogs to her, but that she has not yet received the signed Surrender Form from Ms. Rogers. She also stated that the Animal Shelter received several telephone calls from Ms. Rogers seeking the release of the dogs. Telephone messages could not be left for Ms. Rogers as Ms. Rogers message machine was full.
Matt and Dawn Baker, Castle Drive, were present to give testimony re the dogs running around and terrorizing their small children and concern for the safety of the children in the neighborhood.
Ms. Rogers was present and introduced Ginny Brennan as her friend who has agreed to adopt the dogs. Ms. Brennan lives in Pembroke and stated that she has “plenty of land.” Ms. Malcolmson asked the Board to put something in writing that the dogs are not allowed back in Sharon and that they are permanently removed from the Town of Sharon and not be returned.
Ms. Brennan asked if the dogs were properly contained would they be allowed back? It was explained that the dogs would not be allowed back. Chair Grasfield stated it would not apply to other animals unless there was another behavior that created a nuisance. Ms. Malcolmson stated that the dogs could be transferred to Ms. Brennan tonight.
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) (Heitin out of the room) Voted unanimously that two German Shepherd dogs at 5 Prince Way, are to be removed from the Town of Sharon and are not to return.
Ms. Rogers agreed to sign the Letter of Surrender and Ms. Malcolmson will complete the paper work to turn the dogs over to Ginny Brennan of Pembroke.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Grasfield) (Heitin not present) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss matters of collective bargaining, grievance issue, real property, and pending litigation and to adjourn for the evening at the conclusion thereof.
The Board ended the Open Session at 8:50 P.M.
Roach, aye; Grasfield, aye.
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