January 24, 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 7:38 P.M.
Notes from the Chair
Selectman Grasfield reminded everyone to vote in the Special Town Election to be held on Tuesday, January 31 for the reconstruction of the Community Center.
He also noted a generous check from Saphire Manor to the Bernard F. Coffey Defibrillator fund in the amount of $500 and mentioned Saphire Manor’s support of the Cottage Street School Art Auction.
Ambulance Rate Hearing
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the Ambulance Rate Hearing.
Chief Dennis Mann was present to recommend increases in ambulance rates. Items discussed included:
two years since the last increases;
there has been a 10% decrease in runs over the past two years;
decrease resulted from less demand for aid to other Towns due to availability of other Towns’ paramedic service and that we are perhaps a healthier town;
process of setting rates/blend of national and New England;
looking for an 11 ½% rate increase;
Medicare Reimbursement of $99 per trip pays fraction of the costs;
increases in personnel costs, fuel and supplies;
reimbursements from insurance;
collection issues with out-of-state people; and,
emergency services provided to “closest hospital.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of Chief Mann for the increase in ambulance rates as drafted in his Memo of December 29, 2005, and effective January 1, 2006.
Update of Fire Station Projects
Chief Mann updated the Board with the following:
new ambulance due to arrive this week;
capital improvements with the help of Southeastern Regional Vocational School and the Sharon school electrician;
new telephone system;
new Jaws of Life; and,
change in capital outlay requests for the current year/defray purchase of new pumper, ask for brush truck.
Petition Article - King Philip - Kurt Buermann
Mr. Kurt Buermann and Dr. Frederick W. Martin were present to discuss this Annual Town Meeting petition article for acquisition of a parcel of land located at 155 Mansfield Street, known as King Philip Estates. Items discussed included:
there will be a motion to amend this article re interest in preserving this land by whatever means either by conservation easement or combination of purchase or easement;
land is of high historical significance;
topographical qualities;
plans to develop;
archaeological site - studied by Dr. Martin for 25 years;
site used by ancient people - perhaps 6,000 years ago;
importance of King Philip’s cave;
equivalent to Stonehenge in England;
used for astronomy;
spiritually important site to Native Americans (Tribes);
time is of the essence;
owner of land is open to offers and conservation easements;
members of the Tribes came before the Planning Board re King Philip Estates;
assistance available from the Tribes;
seeking an appraisal; and,
significant land/National Register/national treasure - Dr. Martin.
Mr. Richard Gray of 756 Mountain Street appeared before the Board to discuss issues with his property, town maps of the property and permits. Items discussed included:
Assessors map do not show neighbor’s house;
problem with designation of his property’s frontage;
land taken for Mountain Street shown as paper street/never used for road;
problems with permits;
maps from the library of congress show homes;
different dimensions of land shown on different maps;
Freedom on Information Request made to the Zoning Board of Appeals;
feels frequent visits to and tax reevaluations of property may be retaliatory;
issues unresolved;
request for certified copies of maps;
looking for due process of law; and,
would like to address issues within a public forum.
Selectman Roach offered to set up a meeting with Mr. Gray to get this matter resolved.
In answer to a question by Mr. Puritz. Mr. Gray said his intent is to restore the property to what it was.
Selection Committee for Recreation Director
Mr. Puritz stated that Mr. David I. Clifton has announced plans for his retirement. A Selection Committee will be set up to find a new Recreation Director and Mr. Puritz suggested that the Board appoint Mr. Clifton as a senior, special advisor, ex-officio member to the Selection Committee, as well as himself and a member of the Recreation Advisory Board.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Puritz, a member of the Recreation Advisory Board and David I. Clifton as a senior, special advisor, ex-officio member to the Selection Committee.
Approve Banners
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a banner for the Friends of Art and Music Education for the dates of May 1 - 7, 2006.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a banner for Temple Sinai for the dates of April 24 - April 30, 2006.
Action Items
Selectman Grasfield reminded the Board that he had asked for the review of the Executive Session Minutes for the year 1997 and also for a number of years prior to 1997 for the redaction and public release. This will be added to the list of Action Items. He also asked that the responses from the Departments due to the State re Simpson Housing be included. Selectman Heitin mentioned that the Sharon Housing Authority also wants to play a large role within the Simpson Housing proposed LIP rental development.
Town Administrator Performance Review
Chair Grasfield stated that he and Mr. Puritz have a meeting re his Performance Review planned for after the next Priorities Committee Meeting on January 30.
Prioritize Capital Requests
Selectman Grasfield discussed his priorities re FY 07 Capital Requests. He discussed moving certain items to the operating funds of the Departments, approved of the Fire Department Brush Truck for this year, suggested deleting the capital request for $375,000 remediation for the Wilber Municipal Building due to the larger abatement request for this building, making a separate article for the Sacred Heart Building, and lowering of certain requested amounts including street improvements requests. He stated that this was his input to the other Board members who are voting members of the Capital Outlay Committee. Selectman Heitin suggested that the Board work through Mr. Puritz in drafting up the Board’s priority list before the next Capital Outlay Committee Meeting.
Post Office Square Parking Area - to be closed
Chair Grasfield noted Public Notice as prepared by the Board of Health announcing that a majority of the public parking area located in Post Office Square behind Starbucks and Coriander restaurant will be temporarily closed beginning February 1, 2006 due to the replacement of the shared septic system. The lot is scheduled to remain closed for most of the month of February.
Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical School - Election of David Grasfield - January 10
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical School, dated January 13, 2006, announcing that he, Mr. David Grasfield, Chairperson of the Sharon Board of Selectmen, was elected on January 10, 2006, to represent the executive officers and boards of selectmen of the school district during the bargaining process. He noted that was where he was that evening.
Virtual Town Hall - On-Line Tax Services
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from our Web Services, VirtualTownHall, with an update of E-Commerce services available for on-line tax payments. He stated he would like to hear from Don Hillegass, Systems Administrator, and Robert J. Uyttebroek, Town Treasurer re this item.
Taunton River Watershed - Grants Available
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from the Taunton River Watershed Campaign with announcement of new funding program for grassroots environmental projects. He stated that grants of up to $3,000 were available to groups of residents or small non-profits and that anyone interested in watershed projects should apply.
Resignation of Library Trustee - Marcia Liebman
Chair Grasfield read the resignation letter from Library Trustee Marcia Liebman, dated January 19, 2006. The Board discussed the process for filling this vacancy till the next election on May 16. The Board of Trustees has one month to notify the Board of such vacancy and the Board will have one week after such notice to make an appointment jointly with the Library Board of Trustees .
Request to Read Letter from FINCOM - Vote on January 31
Chair Grasfield recognized a late request from Joel Alpert of FINCOM to read an Open Letter to the Taxpayers re the upcoming vote on the Community Center building. Mr. Alpert stated that this was unable to be read at the FINCOM meeting due to auditory problems. Chair Grasfield stated that, in the interest of saving time, that this be posted to the Town’s website.
Selectman Heitin stated he had issues to the Letter and stated items were, “factually not correct,” and that this was being brought forth at the 11th hour before the upcoming vote on January 31. He noted that this reconstruction project was overwhelmingly approved at the Fall Special Town Meeting. Mr. Alpert argued that information related to the debt exclusion vote was not provided. Chair Grasfield replied that there was a lot of information provided at Town Meeting.
Selectman Heitin noted that the letter appears to be only negative and misses two points: (1) town has reduced capital borrowing for two years, and (2) Town has received notice that the State has approved the acceleration of $13 million school construction reimbursements. He further stated that not including these factors in the letter is misleading and that he is not in favor of posting this on the Town’s website. Chair Grasfield stated that FINCOM has its own website and can post it there. In answer to the question, Mr. Alpert stated that FINCOM has taken no position on this ballot question.
Avalon Bay LIP Application
Mr. Puritz stated that the office will be receiving this draft application for a 156 unit LIP development off of Route 27 by the end of the week, and it will be distributed with the next Agenda and shared with the Avalon Bay Citizens Advisory Committee.
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, Employment contact, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye; Grasfield, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 8:55 P.M.
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