January 3, 2006
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 7:35 P.M.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield wished everyone a Happy New Year. He noted correspondence from the Town Clerk with the following information:
THE FINAL DATE TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE JANUARY 31, 2006 SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006. THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006 FOR VOTER REGISTRATION FOR THE SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION. MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SHARON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND AT THE SHARON POST OFFICE. ALL MAIL-IN VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 20, 2006. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE AT 781-784-1505.
Minutes
The Executive Session Minutes of November 29, 2005, and the Minutes of December 6, 2005 and December 13, 2005, including Executive Session Minutes, were held for approval at the request of Selectman Heitin.
Minutes of September 13, 2005
The Board was requested to reconsider the Minutes of September 13, 2005, as approved, because a list of votes taken, in regard to appointments and reappointments to Boards and Committees that evening, were inadvertently missing from the printed Minutes.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reconsider the Minutes of September 13, 2005.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the revised Minutes of September 13, 2005, as written.
Street Lighting
This item was deferred as Mr. Hooper was unable to be present this evening. The Board asked that Mr. Hooper be put on the next agenda.
Consolidated Facilities Maintenance
Mr. Puritz updated the Board re RFP re consolidated Facilities Maintenance as coordinated by Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works and members of the School Department. Items discussed included:
draft for RFP for consolidation of maintenance of facilities between the Department of Public Works and the School Department;
feasibility study approved at May 2005 Annual Town Meeting;
expectation to have report in hand in June;
any reorganization issues to be part of next Fall Town Meeting;
the timetable in the documents needs to be updated - Selectman Heitin;
Mr. Hooper has made the rest of the corrections identified in the past few months;
School Department is in alignment; and,
suggestion to widen the Scope of Services/allow for outsourcing/regional approach - Chair Grasfield.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator and Superintendent of Public Works, Eric Hooper, to finalize and send out the RFP for the Consolidation Maintenance Department Study on or before January 15, 2006, as amended by Chair Grasfield re Scope of Services.
Water Meter RFP
Mr. Puritz updated the Board re Water Meter RFP. Items discussed included:
RFP for radio frequency based water meters;
subject of considerable review by Superintendent of Public Works and members of the Water Management Advisory Committee;
full, final and approved technical review by Inspector General’s Office;
the holding in abeyance for some time;
final version of RFP given to WMAC;
the need to establish smaller technical evaluation advisory committee;
approval next week of advisory committee;
Town Administrator acts as the Procurement Officer;
amendments could be issued to the RFP; and,
vote revised RFP at next weeks meeting.
Main Street Project
Selectman Roach gave a brief update on the North/South Main Street project. He suggested that priority be given to completing the surface on North Main to the center of Town. He stated that there are still poles to be moved on South Main and calls need to be made to the utility company.
Wilber School Redevelopment
Jim Goldsmith, Chair of the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee was present to give an overview of the activities of his Committee. Items discussed included:
Michael Baskin to represent the Committee for the abatement project before the Standing Building Committee;
Mr. Goldsmith is seeking the Board’s encouragement to get other Boards/Committees involved with the project;
working on final draft for RFP from consultant - should be out six - eight weeks;
project dependent on outcome of septic system study (Horsely & Witten);
study looking for creative solution to septic issues to keep abutters happy, protect the well and the property, and to develop with as much density as possible;
possibility of moving entire septic system off-site;
green house or vegetation based system from the septic field;
site options could be very limited if relegated to small amount of septic waste;
consultant should have results of study within three - four weeks;
process of applying for grants - limit costs to the taxpayers;
David Gordon and Paul Lauenstein are working on grant programs;
work by Horsely & Witten qualifies toward $45,000 grant application;
presentation to be made to the Board of Health;
request to move forward with scheduling meeting with other boards/committees; and,
Chair Grasfield to facilitate inviting others to attend Wilber School Redevelopment Meeting;
discussed need of joint meeting at a Board of Selectmen meeting;
discussed placeholder for article for Annual Town Meeting re long-term ground lease; and,
study to determine use scenarios for the site.
Capital Outlay Requests
The Board reviewed the five-year Capital Requests that are before the Capital Outlay Committee. Items discussed that are specific to the Board for FY07 are as follows:
Library
Technology Upgrade $ 10,000
Library Drainage $ 30,000
New Library $6,000,000
Selectman Roach stated that the DPW has agreed to help maintain the pipes in the Library
drainage system.
Selectmen
Wilber School Abatement - highest priority $750,000
Civil Defense
cots & storage container $ 10,000
Emergency AM Radio Station $ 20,000
Fire Department
Protective equipment $ 37,500
Class 1 pumper $ 520,000
Police Department
Vehicle Replacement $ 93,000
Public Works
Wilber Building Remediation (Pulled) $ 375,000
Sacred Heart Demolition $ 250,000
Departmental Equipment $ 150,000
Curb/Sidewalk Construction $ 150,000
Street Improvement $ 600,000
Selectman Heitin discussed meetings that he and Mr. Puritz have attended re the Sacred Heart building site and proposals for public/private use, including indoor soccer or tennis courts and ice skating rink.
The Board discussed the goal of Capital Outlay Committee of reducing the actual bond offering for capital from $4 million to $3.1 million by FY’08. The level of funding would still be at the $4 million. The Board will prioritize its requests next week.
Request for Banner and Waiver of Fees - Veterans’ Agent
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a two banners and to waive the fees as follows:
Memorial Day: May 22 - May 31 - lst position
Flag Day: June 9 - June 15 - lst position
Vote to Sign Drug & Alcohol Testing Contract - SERSG
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to sign the Contract for Drug and Alcohol Testing with Health Resources, Woburn, MA for the period from January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2008.
Four-Way Stop - Aspen and Magnolia Road
The Board reviewed Memo from Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated November 23, 2005, with results of a traffic study by the Department of Public Works Engineering Division and the Sharon Police Department. The Board discussed its discretion for the placing of a four-way Stop at Aspen and Magnolia Road that deems to be appropriate even though “it does not meet the warrants for placement of a four-way stop as outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.” Mr. Hooper cautioned that there could be a small risk of liability to the Town.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Four-Way Stop at Aspen and Magnolia Road based on Mr. Hooper’s opinion pending Town Counsel’s review.
Annual Triathlon - Time Out Productions
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the Annual Triathlon Agreement with Time-Out Productions for August 20, 2006.
Action Items
The Board reviewed its list of Action Items and Selectman Heitin made the following suggestions:
to schedule all the Department Heads, including Mr. Puritz, in to discuss their goals and objectives for the past year;
to call the Board of Health and the Planning Board in to discuss the Mixed-Used Overlay District;
to call the Planning Board Chair in to discuss the hiring of a Town Planner, the Intoccia development on RT 27 and the approved housing production plan; and,
to ask Mr. Hooper to provide an update on wells.
Chair Grasfield added that there should be an update on the last WMAC meeting.
The Board discussed the Avalon Bay LIP application, and noted that it is long overdue. Selectman Heitin stated that he had left message with Scott Dale of Avalon and is waiting for a return call.
Selectman Heitin wanted the Board to start re-reviewing the Department budgets as it relates the Priorities Committee process given the most recent revenue forecast. He would like the Board priorities their budgets needs.
Selectman Heitin added that the Employee Health Insurance Status should be scheduled as an agenda item and what adjustments should we contemplate based on the most recent legal opinion received.
Town Administrator Performance Review
Selectman Heitin stated that we have been discussing Mr. Puritz performance review for more than 6 months now. Chair Grasfield agreed that it needed to be completed. Chair Grasfield stated that this discussion is pending due to a couple of things.
Horizons for Youth Property
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from Andrew D. Nebenzahl, Chair of the School Committee, dated December 27, 2005 expressing the School’s Committee interest in acquiring 35 acres of the Horizons for Youth Property to add to its 17 acres on East Foxboro Street for the purpose of a future school site. The letter states that a new school will be needed due to the number of 40b high-density developments being proposed. The Board is being asked to take whatever steps are necessary to acquire the property either by purchase or under its authority to initiate eminent domain proceedings. The Board would like to invite the School Committee in to discuss this at its next meeting.
Chair Grasfield noted Letter from the Department of Housing and Community Development, dated December 21, 2005 announcing its approval of Sharon’s Affordable Housing Production Plan. The effective date of the Plan is December 8, 2005. He noted that compliance of the plan occurs when the Town has produced housing units affordable to low- and moderate-income households during one calendar year that total at least 3/4 of one percent of the year round housing units.
Simpson Construction - Route 1 Conceptual Development
Chair Grasfield announced that this low-impact conceptual development, that will have low impact to the schools, has been approved by the State.
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 employment agreement, and, at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye; Grasfield, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 8:40 P.M.
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