January 10, 2006
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Acting Chair William A. Heitin and Selectman Walter Joe Roach and Benjamin E. Puritz, Town Administrator.
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M.
Notes from the Acting Chair
Selectman Heitin announced that Chair Grasfield will be arriving late.
Minutes
The Minutes of November 29, 2005, and the Minutes of December 6, 2005 and December 13, 2005, including Executive Session Minutes, and the Open Session minutes of January 3 were originally held waiting for Chair Grasfield’s return to Sharon. The Board then reconvened after Executive Session at 10:36 P.M. and voted as follows:
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session Minutes of November 29, 2005, as written.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of December 6, 2005 and December 13, 2005, including both Executive Sessions, as written.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Open Session minutes of January 3, 2006, as written.
Main Street Project
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present to update the Board re the Main Street Project. Items discussed included:
Mass Highway stated today that the project will be completed on schedule during 2006;
Mr. Hooper is skeptical that all aspects of the project will be done by then;
plans are to start in March in the center and move in both directions, north and south;
tremendous amount of work to be done in center by contractor PA Landers and subcontractors;
Peter O’Cain doing a good job making sure schedule is adhered to;
Selectman Roach would prefer work be completed on N. Main before return to S. Main;
Selectmen Roach expressed concerns with miles of road being torn up at the same time;
Mr. Hooper discussed problems with stopping work by subcontractors/mobilizing and demobilizing;
changes in schedule could make us responsible for added costs; and,
suggestion to set up meeting with Mass Highway/field engineers.
Street Lighting
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present. Items discussed included:
two types of street lighting - cobra-head lights and lollipop lights;
town own all street lights;
contract with Public Electric to service problems;
problems with both types of lights;
conduits/wires in dirt susceptible to breaks (older lollipop lights);
problems with different voltages/outdated ballasts;
school electrician works on certain problems during weekends;
Republic Electric comes out when there are 5 - 10 things to be done, including change of bulbs, ballasts, sensors;
difference in yellow and white lights - yellow most efficient/prevents night blindness;
night custodian drives through Town and reports lights out;
resident reports of light’s out to DPW;
record-keeping and timeline for fixing;
problems that DPW can correct itself;
bird-street trouble spots;
policy to begin with cheapest solution first;
safety issue creates priority; and,
coordination with NSTAR re wiring problems.
Well Exploration
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present to update the Board. Items discussed included:
Chase Drive, Maskwonicut Street and Canton Street - three viable sites;
issues with all sites/no one site by itself so much better;
nitrate problems;
data to DEP for recommendation;
moving forward/no decision yet;
Gobbi site under litigation;
cemetery site - CONCOM and one member of the Selectman involved;
no site is off the table;
Well #6 - more studies needed/poor quality of water/discuss with DEP;
treatment for Well #6 and permitting limits; and,
treatments for iron and magnesium.
Water Meter RFP
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present to discuss RFP for water meters and for radio frequency based water meters. Items discussed included:
make-up of review committee;
Inspector General’s Office’s comfortable with RFP;
costs changes from two years ago;
no system is being excluded;
pilot programs by vendors;
role of Superintendent of Public Works; and,
change to document re timetable.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator, as Chief Procurement Officer, and Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works to finalize and issue the RFP (for Water Meters and Radio Frequency Meter Reading System) within the next 15 days.
Approval of Stop Signs - North/South Main Street Reconstruction Project
Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, discussed new criteria for approved stop signs by the State under the provisions of Chapter 89, §9 of the Mass General Laws. The Board reviewed letter from Massachusetts highway Department, dated December 5, 2005, The list of Stop Signs represent existing Stop Signs that were approved under the older criteria with locations listed as:
Laurel Road at South Main Street
Sunset Drive at South Main Street
Oakland Road at South Main Street
Ashcroft Road at North Main Street
Lantern Lane at North Main Street
Rhodes Avenue at North Main Street
Winslow Road at North Main Street
Nasir Ahmad Road at North Main Street
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize and approve Stop Signs on Secondary locations (as listed) and to have the Board of Selectmen sign designations forms for the Town.
Chapter 40B - Sharon Housing Authority
Ed Little and Jane Desberg of the Sharon Housing Authority was present to express their interest in participating in the Chapter 40B process. Items discussed included:
recent approval of the Housing Production Plan;
real affordable housing needs;
assistance to be provided by the Sharon Housing Authority and Housing Partnership;
suggestion for language re donation to the housing authority for every market-rate unit - to be used to increase housing opportunities for low income families;
asking to be designated as Lottery Agent for the affordable units;
could ask for more than the 25% affordable housing within development;
look at town-owned land;
need for affordable housing for teachers/police/firefighters;
eligibility requirements for 55+ - assets’ test - Town needs waiver of $150,000;
Ms. Desberg to attend two-day training seminar;
Arnold Kublin reporting on regional efforts by HESSCO; and,
insuring that affordable units stay affordable.
This discussion will continue next week with members of the Planning Board re the Sharon Housing Production Plan.
Prioritization of Capital Requests
This item has been deferred until next week. The Capital Outlay Committee will tour all community facilities beginning at the High School this Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
Town Administrator Performance Review
Selectman Heitin stated this item is pending as Chair Grasfield has not met with Mr. Puritz to discuss his performance. He stated that Mr. Puritz has asked for specific dates via Email communication.
Action Items
Selectman Heitin has noted that the Board has started to moved on most of the Action Items.
Request for Markers and Buoys - Massapoag Yacht Club
The Board reviewed the annual request from the Massapoag Yacht Club for permission to place markers and/or buoys on the Lake.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Massapoag Yacht Club to place markers and buoys on the lake, based on the State Uniform Markers System, as they have done in the past.
Proposed Petition Article - King Philip Estates
The Board reviewed a Petition Article submitted by Kurt Buermann for the Annual Town Meeting for the acquisition of land known as King Philip Estates for Conservation purposes. This will be discussed later in the evening with Conservation Officer Greg Meister.
Simpson Housing - Chapter 40B Development
Selectmen Heitin noted correspondence from Mass Housing, dated December 30, 2005 that an application has been received under Chapter 40B for development of 190 units located on Route 1, South of Old Post Road.
Request for Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article - Refuse Containers
Mr. Puritz referenced letter from Alan F. Kaul seeking the Board’s sponsorship of an article for a bylaw change to allow for an increase in the size of refuse container from 32 gallons in size to 45 gallons in size. The Board requested that Mr. Kaul be scheduled to discuss this as soon as possible.
Mr. Puritz stated that this would not affect the current trash contract and that the Town will be preparing an RFP for June 2007 and the proposal could provide for a different means of collection.
Proposed Petition Article - King Philip Estates
The Board decided to defer this discussion and will schedule this on its agenda in two weeks.
Horizon for Youth Land - School Committee
Selectman Heitin referenced letter from Andy Nebenzahl, Chair of the School Committee, dated December 27, 2005 requesting that the Board take whatever steps are necessary to acquire the Horizons for Youth property.
Andy Nebenzahl, and Claire Jackson, Superintendent of Schools, and Barbara Dunham, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, and members of the School Committee Sam Liao, Jane Furr, and, Mitch Blaustein, were present to discuss this issue. Items discussed included:
Horizon for Youth (HFY) camp property is going to become available;
consideration of impact of 40B developments on the schools;
whether or not to proceed with renovation of the Middle School;
need to relocate one of more schools;
no room for additional kids at the high school;
modular wing at middle school - has only 4 more years;
school has 17.24 acres of land on E. Foxboro Street;
State regulations require minimum of 28 acres for high school;
interest in acquiring the entire HFY parcel;
significant amount could be preserved as conservation land;
at some later doubt, may be able to sell some parcels for development/recoup investment;
monies could be diverted from plan to renovate Middle School;
less expensive to build new school than to renovate;
present high school could be converted to Middle School;
proposal for maximum flexibility for long-term;
non-school interests in preserving land near lake front and in watershed;
Selectman Heitin conversations/ meetings with President of Goodwill and Attorney General’s Office re this property - willingness to work with the Town - pending merger of HFY & Goodwill Industries - hope to put some restrictions on merger/limit development - refused the Town the first right of refusal- continue to work with the Attorney General’s Office;
consider the costs of not doing anything - A. Nebenzahl;
amount of buildable land within the 35 acres;
rethinking school-wide facilities plan of five-six years ago;
need for wetlands evaluation at the site;
raise the issue of eminent domain taking with Attorney General/Goodwill Industries;
middle school would be suitable for elementary school and administrative offices;
would sell School Street building;
new high school estimated costs of up to $45 million; and,
consider school building reimbursement from the state.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Collective Bargaining, Real Property Acquisition, Pending Litigation, and Employment Agreement, and, to reconvene in Open Session later this evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 8:45 P.M.
The Board reconvened in Open Session at 10:35 P.M.
Chair Grasfield did not appear, but sent a message that he was unable to join the Board this evening.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of November 29, 2005, and the Minutes of December 6, 2005 and December 13, 2005, including Executive Session Minutes, and the Open Session minutes of January 3 were voted and approved (votes listed at the beginning of Minutes on Page 1).
Release of Executive Session Minutes
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to release the Executive Session Minutes as redacted within Executive Session for the dates of October 25, October 28 and November 1, 2005.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Collective Bargaining, Real Property, Pending Litigation, Employment Agreement, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 10:40 P.M.
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