March 14, 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 7:32 P.M.
Approve Minutes
Action on the Minutes of March 7 were deferred until the next meeting.
Release/Redaction of Executive Session Minutes
The Board will be reviewing the redaction of the Executive Session Minutes for the period of 1990 - 1995 within Executive Session.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield acknowledged the award from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners to our Conservation Officer, Greg Meister as Conservation Administrator of the Year. He announced the Cottage Street Funfair to take play next Sunday, March 19, and that FINCOM is seeking new members to be voted in at the Annual Town Meeting - interested residents should contact Alice Cheyer or Corey Snow.
Goals & Objectives - Joan Leighton, Town Accountant
Ms. Leighton was present to review her Goals & Objectives with the Board. Items discussed included:
responsibilities of the Town Accountant’s Office;
cash reconciliation with the Treasurer’s Office;
liaison with the auditor;
MUNIS skills development;
activities as President of the Plymouth/Norfolk/Bristol Auditors & Accountants Assn.;
staff responsibilities re training/meetings;
maintain certification as Government Financial Manager; and,
meet reporting requirements.
Goals & Objectives - Joe Bernstein, Police Chief
Chief Bernstein was present to review her Goals & Objectives with the Board. Items discussed included:
identified 24 major goals;
policies and procedures;
strategies for expanding the Police Force;
member and activities of Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council;
radio communications;
add to Special Police Force; and,
training programs.
Action Items
Selectman Heitin updated the Board re State School Building reimbursement program. The Town will be able to redeem its outstanding bonds issued for the reconstruction of the Cottage and East Elementary Schools. Selectman Heitin stated that the average homeowner will see a tax reduction of $150 - $200 on the tax bill, and that this will be one of the few tax reductions in the Town’s history. Mr. Puritz stated that the Town will file for this reimbursement by the end of the month, subject to completion of audit reports.
Hunter’s Ridge Earth Removal Permit
The Board reviewed the Earth Removal Permit under Article 12A to allow earth removal from the area of 155-157 North Main Street as prepared by Town Counsel and the Escrow Agreement in the amount of $42,500.00 Special Terms and Conditions to the Decision include the following items:
Fee ($9,600.00);
Maximum Earth Material (64,000 yards);
No Topsoil removed;
Hours of operations;
Police detail;
Monitor;
Dust Control;
Blasting (not allowed);
Escrow Funds;
Special Permit Controls;
Roadway Maintenance and Cleaning; and,
Compliance with Law.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted 2-0 (Grasfield abstained) to approve the Earth Removal Permit, dated March 14, 2006 and adjacent Escrow Agreement.
Chair Grasfield noted for the record that, akin to the Zoning Board of Appeals, it has been determined that if one has not been present for the hearings, they cannot vote on the decision.
Joel Tran, former member of the Planning Board, argued that this type of earth removal represents a different type of operation and that 2100 truck loads of soil becomes a business of its own. Selectman Heitin responded that the amount of earth removal is necessary to meet grade requirements of the Special Permit by the Planning Board. It is estimated that it will take 10 weeks to remove all the gravel.
Wilber School Abatement Report
Members of the Standing Building Committee, Wilber School Redevelopment Committee and the Historical Commission were present to discuss the report prepared by STV Incorporated, Boston, MA.
Gordon Gladstone, Chair, Standing Building Committee, lead the discussion re the Report entitled, Final Inspection and Remediation Design Report. Items discussed included:
guidelines from Town Meeting/appropriation of $750,000 to remove hazardous materials;
prior work by STV;
three scenarios for the building:
1. Remove hazardous materials and stabilize building ($1,171,000);
2. Remove hazardous materials and demolish building ($1,260,000);
3. Remove hazardous materials and demolish building except east facade ($1,609,000);
Other option to abate building and do minor structural work in order to protect the people who would do the remediation ($820,000); and,
estimates do not include any soft costs - approximately 20% additional.
Michael Baskin, member of the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee and representative to the Standing Building Committee on this project, discussed last night’s meeting of the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee. Items discussed included:
looked at the various options;
recommendation to the Board that the building should be abated and then demolished;
difficult decision/looked at return to the community;
love to preserve the building;
too much time has passed/process of deterioration has accelerated;
will require vote from Historical Commission; and,
risks/liability to the Town.
Continued discussions with Board members included:
possibility of structural collapse of the building;
STV’s recommendation that the building have hazardous materials removed and be demolished;
hours of public meetings by the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee ;
everyone on Wilber School Redevelopment Committee willing to continue re Wilber Site redevelopment;
need for additional funding;
demolishment as a sound business decision;
whether all efforts have been exhausted;
Town Meeting stated the Wilber School should be preserved;
Historical Committee working to support preservation;
funding opportunities/grants for preservation;
need for Town Planner;
look at mix of use for site/financial benefits to the Town;
outside funding for preservation is modest in scale;
costs to put in holding pattern;
cannot stop deterioration/wait another year;
clock is ticking;
historical designation given to building;
only Federal tax credits available to developer for redevelopment of a historic building;
post Abatement Report on website/forward pdf file;
seek advice from Massachusetts Historical Commission;
keep facade/most expensive option; and,
bring costs to Capital Outlay Committee.
Recess
It was the consensus of the Board to take a brief recess.
The Board recessed at 9:08 P.M.
The Board reconvened at 9:15 P.M.
Affordable Housing
Mr. Eli Hauser confirmed that the State counts a unit toward affordable housing when it is permitted.
Economic Development and Commercialization Committee
Selectman Heitin discussed the Mission of this new Committee to be appointed as follows:
Mission: to provide the Board of Selectmen assistance toward encouraging startup, retention and expansion of economic development in Sharon. The Committee should look to encourage the diversification of economic activity and to strengthen the Town commercial tax base.
The Committee should develop analysis and provide factual economic data to the Board of Selectmen regarding economic activities, trends, projections and opportunities in keeping with the quality and values of Sharon. The Committee should hold public meetings ensuring appropriate outreach. The Committee will also act as liaison to such committees/boards as the Planning Board, Finance Committee, and Board of Assessors.
He further stated that its goals should be: (1) reduce residential component of Town taxes by 5%; (2) identify new revenue sources; (3) deliver report on: recommendations for increasing revenue sources, zoning changes, Town assistance, short and long term revenue cost projections and “implementation plan.”
Selectman Heitin also referred to the 28-page document as presented by Eli Hauser of the Planning Board. Selectman discussed the list of names as appointees to the new Economic Development and Commercialization Committee as follows:
Jeff Seul
Ben Pinkowitz
David Spiegel
Keevin Gellor
Mike Bossim
Alan Lurie
Seth Ruskin
Robe Maidman
Kevin McCarville
Eli Hauser
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint the list of names as presented.
Changes to the Traffic Rules & Orders - No Parking Signs - Highland Street
The Board reviewed Memo from Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated March 10, 2006. Mr. Hooper recommends that the Board vote to change the Traffic Rules and Orders re “No Parking” signs as recently installed on the entire first block off North Main Street on Highland Street in response to resident complaints. However, other residents have objected to this as unnecessary. Mr. Hooper recommends that the Board vote to leave only those “No Parking” signs between North Main Street and 5 and 6 Highland Street, i.e. the second structures in from North Main Street.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the recommendation by Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works in his Memo of March 10, 2006.
Health Care Consultant
Selectman Heitin read letter from John R. Sharry, President of Group Benefits Strategies, dated March 8, 2006, one of the Health Care Consultants approached by the Town. Mr. Sharry explained his decision to pass on submitting a proposal for consulting services, noting that, “I have respect for Cook & Co, as we have been competitors for over 20 years. The Town of Sharon is in good hands with Peter Kenney....”
Selectman Heitin further stated that the selection of a Healthcare Consultant will be on the next agenda.
Gadget Day
Ms. Alice Cheyer came before the Board to request its support for a second Gadget Day in connection with the Household Hazardous Waste Day. There would be no charge for residents for bringing TVs, monitors, microwaves, telephones and small electronic appliances to drop off on that day. It is anticipated that this will take place on June 7, 2006, and a postcard will go out to all residents. Ms. Cheyer stated that 99% of the materials will be recycled, that it is a great public service, and that disabled people and seniors who need assistance can call the Council on Aging for pick-up of gadgets. It was also stated that the Police Chief would be involved in traffic control.
It was the sense of the Board to support a Gadget Day as part of the Household Hazardous Waste Day.
FY’07 Budgets
Mr. Puritz discussed the Selectmen’s Maintenance of Service Budgets that require a 5.46% increase and the 2.7% projected increase in available funds. Items discussed included:
elimination of crossing guards/reduce to one;
elimination of custodian within the library; and,
shifting of costs within the DPW Operating budget to Water will restore funding for crossing guards and library custodian.
Mr. Puritz was seeking the Board’s consensus with making the changes to the budget.
Avalon Bay LIP
Chair Grasfield noted correspondence from Ian Cooke of the Neponset River Watershed Association, dated March 3, 2006, re Avalon Bay proposed development and information re the Interbasin Transfer Act that would require a permit or a determination re MWRA sewer system connection through the Town of Norwood.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Pending Litigation, Collective Bargaining, Real Property Acquisition, and review of Executive Session Minutes, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye; Grasfield, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9:45 P.M.
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