1. September 13, 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, Walter Joe Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:36 p.m.
Chair David Grasfield began the meeting by thanking the participants of the joint meeting held at the Library by the Wilber Redevelopment School Committee and the Board of Selectmen. In attendance were members from the Board of Health, Water Management Advisory Committee, Planning Board, Housing Authority, Wilber Redevelopment Committee and the Board of Selectmen.
Relief for Hurricane Katrina Survivors - Jill Crawley of Coriander Bistro
Chair Grasfield introduced Jill Crawley of Coriander Bistro. Jill Crawley came before the Board to request permission to use the town parking lot on Sunday, September 25th for a large outdoor Blues BBQ. Jill and Kevin Crawley of Coriander Bistro, together with some of their friends and colleagues in the restaurant business are planning to co-host a fundraiser for Relief for Hurricane Katrina Survivors on Sunday, September 25, 2005 from 12:00p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be live music by local “blues legends.” All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the American Red Cross to benefit the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to support the Boston Chefs Blues BBQ on September 25, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m and access to the Town Parking Lot.
Recreation Advisory Board Interview - Frederick Benjamin, Jr.
The Board interviewed Frederick Benjamin, Jr. for appointment to the Recreation Advisory Board. He has been coaching kids in town and has lived in Sharon for twelve years. Mr. Benjamin has concerns with the ball fields and wants the kids to have a safe place for playing sports. Recreation sports are for fun, he stated.
Historical Commission - Steve Lesperance
The Board interviewed Steve Lesperance for appointment to the Historical Commission. Mr. Lesperance has attended several of the monthly meeting , and has thoroughly enjoyed each meeting. He stated that he is interested in all surviving historical architecture and preserved lands where significant historical events have occurred.
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Commission on Disabilities - Thomas Duffy
The Board interviewed Thomas Duffy for appointment to the Commission on Disabilities. Mr. Duffy has been in contact with Sidney Rosenthal, Chair of the Commission on Disabilities and expressed his interested in being on the Commission on Disabilities. He has been a resident of Sharon for 24 years. Mr. Duffy’s background is working with vehicles for the disabled and working at the VA with disabled people.
Community Preservation Act Committee Interview - Janet Sargeant Tracy
The Board interviewed Janet Sargeant Tracy for appointment to the Community Preservation Act Committee. Ms. Tracy is new to the community and is very much interested in town government. She feels that there is a need for a balanced approach to the many contesting interests in Sharon, a balance I think I can held bring to the CPA Committee.
Board of Health Interview - Stanley L. Rosen
The Board interviewed Stanley L. Rosen for appointment to the Board of Health. Mr. Rosen has served as a member of the Board of Health from 1996-1999; chair from 1998-1999; and chair of the Professional Health Advisory Board of Health to the Board of Selectmen from1998-1999; and is a certified health officer of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Rosen stated that water is a very big issue, and if appointed to the Board of Health would desire to provide a particular focus re this important issue. It is to be noted that his wife Linda Rosen works for the Board of Health as Health Administrator.
Review Selectmen’s Policies and Goals
It was the consensus of the Board that the Selectmen’s Policies and Goals will be held at the next Selectmen’s meeting on September 20, 2005.
Approve Minutes
It was the consensus of the Board to hold the regular minutes of August 30, 2005 and the executive session minutes of August 16 and 30, 2005.
Issuance of Bonds - Rob Uyttebroek
Selectman William A. Heitin has been communicating with Treasurer Rob Uyttebroek in re issuance of bonds and his concern with the borrowing the entire amount as authorized at Town Meeting. The above has resulted a reduced number from $7.1 million to $5,375,000. As of September 13, 2005 the Town sold $5,375,000 in general obligation bonds. The Net Interest Cost is 3.92% and the True Interest Cost is 3.87%. 3.
Community Center Update
Town Administrator, Benjamin E. Puritz reported that the architects were proceeding with analysis of calculation with regard to the maintenance and operating costs.
WMAC - High Efficiency Toilet regulation
Members of the Walter Management Advisory Committee were in attendance to discuss the “High Efficiency Toilet Regulation”. The following was discussed:
“High Efficiency Toilet Regulation” would be in effect for new construction;
Sharon should have efficient appliances;
Fixtures do pay for themselves (approximately 8-year payback);
1.6 to 1.3 gallon per flush
Lauenstein - Estimates installation of these fixtures would save about 1,600 gallons of water per year;
Would stretch life of septic systems, and save money for the Town;
A win for the Town of Sharon and homeowner;
Washing machines a better payback and would be more efficient;
Clothes dryer would use less energy;
Additional cost in new construction;
Would not be a burden on the builder;
Rebates would be given to existing homeowners if they purchased an efficiency toilet and/or washer;
Heitin - Not prepared to vote re regulation this evening - I am not against implementation of the regulation change - Would like to discuss with my colleagues;
Grasfield - Adopting regulation as soon as possible;
Roach - As long as this doesn’t tie our hands in re entering negotiations with a multiple of developers;
Sulik - pointed out that this is not a by-law, it is a regulation;
Board is not ready to vote at this time re regulation - Will be placed on next Selectmen’s Agenda of September 15, 2005.
WMAC - Water Main Break
Members of the Water Management Advisory Committee (WMAC) were present to discuss the following concerns on July 25, 2004 re Johnson Road water main break:
Towner - Received an email from the Board saying that the Morse Street pipe will cost $250,000. Went to that board and the Finance Committee and the budgeted price for the Morse Street pipe was $75 a ft. and came in at $68 a ft bringing a total of $136,000. The question is did the Morse Street pipe do any good or not? If the people choose to believe
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that the same amount of water goes through a 6-inch pipe is as good as a 12–inch pipe, I suppose they are right to believe that. The Hampton Tank is going below constantly due to watering – obvious losing water - Well #4 reported data of 112,000 gallons was reported in the monthly pumping summary that was forwarded to the WMAC; but found out later that a clerical error was made and the number should had been 1,112,000 gallons
pumped. We can only draw conclusions supplied to us. I don’t see an issue here.
Hooper - The preconstruction cost estimate for the replacement of the Morse Street main was $250,000. This project was combined with the Edge Hill Road/Tiot Street main replacement project, the Morse Street main replacement project cost the Town approximately $184,700, which is broken down among major cost items.
The typographical error reported on the DPW monthly pumping record and from a water main break on Johnson Road on July 26, 2005 led the WMAC to notify the Board of Selectmen that the town’s water supply had been at serious risk, and recommended the adoption of a new water regulation that would offer an incentive to water users who install high efficiency toilets that would use less water.
Mr. Hooper disputed the allegations by the WMAC that the town was “at risk” due to low water tank elevations. Mr. Hooper provided pumping figures for the different wells and elevation levels of the several town water tanks during the period of time just prior to and following the July 26, 2005 water main break.
Hooper - “On July 26, 2005 at about 1:00 a.m., the nearly 40-year old 8" diameter asbestos-cement water main under Johnson Road ruptured in the vicinity of 6 Johnson Road causing an immediate drop in water elevation in the Hampton Road tank. The Water Department became aware of the failure through low-level alarms at the Hampton Road tank at approximately 2:00 a.m. The water main under Johnson Road was isolated and shut off by approximately 4:00 a.m., allowing the now empty Hampton Road tank to begin to refill. By 6:00 a.m., the Hampton Road tank was approximately 1/4 full. Because the Hampton Road tank was effectively empty, the Water Department made the decision to keep Well #4 operating beyond the permitted limit. This decision put into motion a DEP notification procedure (DEP has on record notification that
withdrawal from Well #4 exceeded the permitted limit because of a critical fire flow deficiency).
Towner - I went to the DPW to discuss the monthly pumping summary in particular the 112,000 gallons of water from well #4 and Mr. Hooper and Mr. Masciarelli were both on vacation at the time.
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Grasfield - Maybe we can learn something from the water break and see how the system responds to the projects and if they are a benefit or not. Let’s look at the data and all get on the same page and see what the data means;
Hooper - I take full responsibility for the mis-reported data that was sent out without my ever checking it. This was very unfortunate that the incorrect data got out and was incorrectly used by the WMAC. They never consulted with the Water Department regarding the matter.
Cable TV Oversight Committee
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Charles Levine (appointment to expire September 2008) to the Cable TV Oversight Committee.
Conservation Commission
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Margaret Arguimbau, Janet M. Dunlap, Katherine Roth and Stephan Glicken (appointments to expire September 2008) to the Conservation Commission.
Constables
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Daniel P. Sirkin, Robert McGrath, Leonard Segal, Neil McGrath and Joseph Bernstein (appointments to expire September 2008) as Constables.
Council on Aging
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Lillian Savage, Elliot Feldman and Faye Berzon (appointsments to expire September 2008) to Council on Aging.
Board of Health
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Anne Bingham and appoint Stanley Rosen (appointments to expire September 2008) to the Board of Health.
Historical Commission
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Robert S. Young, David A. Martin as regular members and to appoint Stephen S. Lesperance as an alternate (appointments to expire September 2008) to the Historical Commission.
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Sharon Cultural Council
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Kenneth Brody, Robert Levin and Georgette Kafka (appointments to expire September 2007) to the Sharon Cultural Council.
Zoning Board of Appeals
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Lee Wernick as a regular member and Kevin McCarville as an alternate member (appointment to expire September 2008) and Larry Okstein as alternate member (appointment to expire September 2007) to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Yearly Appointments
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reappoint Michael Polimer as Civil Defense Director; Diane Malcolmson as Animal Control Officer; Edward Welch as Fence Viewer; Joseph Petrosky as Measurer of Lumber; Robert Morse as Measurer of Wood & Bark; Charles Healy as Sealer of Weights & Measures; and, Paul Bergeron as Veterans Agent, Graves Officer & Burial Agent. (Above appointments expire September 2006).
FEMA Request for Aid
The Board discussed the memo dated September 12, 2005 from Chief Dennis Mann in re FEMA request for aid. Chief Mann has received a request from FEMA asking members of the fire service for assistance with dealing with Hurricane Katrina. The firefighters will be assisting victims in applying for Federal disaster assistance and minimal first aid if required. FEMA is looking for two person teams that can operate for approximately 30 days at a time. FEMA will reimburse the Town for the salary for these teams while they are deployed as FEMA employees. The Town would be responsible for any overtime cost to back-fill their position for all contractual or statutory benefits if they authorize the deployment of these firefighters to assist. The backfill cost for two men, for a 30-day period, would be approximately $5000.00. Chief
Mann would like the Board of Selectmen to authorize him to submit an application to FEMA for a two-man team to represent the Town of Sharon Fire Department.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize Chief Dennis Mann to submit an application to FEMA for a two-man team to represent the Town of Sharon Fire Department and to authorize the Chair of the Board of Selectmen to sign as Sharon Board of Selectmen representative.
Sharon High School Junior Class Donation Collection
The Board reviewed an email from Bill Fish, Junior Class advisor of Sharon High School. Mr. Fish is requesting permission, for the Junior Class, in collecting donations for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts that will be donated to a Tulane University relief fund in New Orleans, LA. in the
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center of Town, Saturday, September 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to grant permission to the Junior Class of Sharon High School to collect donations in the center of Town, Saturday, September 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the above purpose.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matter of pending litigation, collective bargaining, personnel issue and real property acquisition, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 9:19 p.m.
Minutesapproved91305.wpd
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