April 11, 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 7:40 P.M.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Grasfield acknowledged Firefighter John McLean’s involvement in training programs for autistic children state-wide.
Acceptance of Conservation Restriction - 216 N. Main Street
Keevin Geller was present to discuss a grant to the Town of approximately 290,740 square feet of land for conservation purposes, located at 216 N. Main Street. The Board reviewed Memo from Gregory Meister, dated April 7, 2006, stating: This Restriction is required as a condition of special permit and will permanently protect the banks and part of the buffer of Saw Mill Pond/former Sharon Box Company.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Conservation Restriction on 290,740 square feet of land 216 N. Main Street pursuant to M.G.L. C.40, §8C.
Goals & Objectives - Dennis Mann, Fire Chief
Fire Chief Dennis Mann was present to discuss his goals and objectives. Items discussed included:
radio interoperability project/grant funding;
new ticketing program for fire safety violations;
training for first responders as required by Homeland Security;
lead meetings of the Local Planning Emergency Committee and conduct exercises/drills and institute reverse 911 calling program;
outfit new ambulance for wireless transfer of patient information;
department-wide professional development training;
continue efforts re Central Dispatch Center;
continue efforts re defibrillator for each school and train staff;
new Thermal Imaging Camera;
complete 2005 unfinished goals, including: (a) promotional exam for Captain’s position; (b) public service announcements; and, (c) elimination of old fire alarm system; and,
new law re carbon monoxide detection.
Fire Alarm Boxes
Chief Mann was present to discuss his Memo, dated April 11, 2006 re: Fire Alarm Boxes. He is seeking the Board’s permission to dispose of the old fire alarm boxes that have little or no value to the Town.
MOTION: (Heitin) To accept the recommendation of the Fire Chief for disposal of the fire alarm boxes with the first 20 boxes to go to the Town of Sterling.
Chief Mann stated that the Department is in the process of taking down the fire alarm boxes.
NOT SECONDED. Selectman Roach suggested separate votes for the donation to the Town of Sterling Fire Department and declaring the remaining fire alarm boxes as surplus.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to donate 20 fire alarm boxes to the Town of Sterling Fire Department.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to accept the rest of the recommendations of the Fire Chief as contained within his Memo of April 11, 2006 for disposal of the rest of the fire alarm boxes.
Health Insurance Consultant
Ken Lombardi of EBS Foran Insurance Company was present to discuss his proposal for acting as a Health Insurance Consultant. Items discussed included:
EBS core business is to provide health insurance to communities;
focus would be on employee education;
program tools available to minimize increases;
flexible spending accounts;
concern that Sharon’s robust benefits may increase enrollments/and encourage change of current outside plans to Town of Sharon;
consumer driven healthcare;
wellness plans;
plan for series of education meetings for employees;
proposed increase in co-pays/deductibles;
monies/savings could be shifted to salaries;
changes in coverage for prescriptions;
programs for disease management;
changes in rate structure/flexibility for families without children;
$1,000 hospital deductible using employee credit card/later reimbursed by the Town;
12-month program costs is $24,000;
goal to reduce HMO Blue enrollees cost and Town’s health care budget;
present findings to management boards;
$176,000 estimate across-the-board savings;
analyze claim data/do research; and,
able to begin in June.
Approve Minutes
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Open Session Minutes of April 4, 2006.
Redaction of Executive Session Minutes 1990 - 1995
This will be on the next meeting agenda.
Action Items
Discussed open item re Open Forum on Rattlesnake Hill. Chair Grasfield updated the public re: the new owner indicating a week after the last discussion of a joint press release that the developer was ready to present their initial conceptual development plan. For the past several weeks, the attorneys for both sides have been unable to find a date acceptable to all for that initial meeting. Selectmen Heitin was concerned about the delay.
Selectmen Positions on Special and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles
The Board discussed adopting positive/negative positions on the Special and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles as follows:
Special within the Annual -
1. Collective Bargaining Agreements
The Board took a positive position on this article.
2. Wilber School Abatement and Demolition
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Annual Town Meeting
Finance Committee Members
The Board took no position on this article at this time.
Act Upon Reports
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Government Study Committee Dissolution
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Personnel Bylaw
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers
The Board discussed the various three budget options as presented by FINCOM as well as waiting for legal opinion from Town Counsel re Option B and updated revenue forecast. Mr. Puritz stated that present numbers from the State show a 4% increase for Chapter 70 for Sharon, much lower than our peer communities.
The Board took no position on this article at this time.
Funds
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Norfolk County Retirement
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Annual Audit
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Unemployment
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Capital Outlay Articles
Public Works - Streets & Sidewalks
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Public Works - Sacred Heart Demolition
The Board took a positive position on this article (2-1, Grasfield in the negative)
Public Works - Vehicles & Equipment
The Board took a positive position on this article.
School Committee
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Fire
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Police
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Civil Defense
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Library
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Horizons for Youth Land Acquisition
The Board took no position on this article (Grasfield recused himself).
Petition Article - King Philip - K. Buermann
The Board took a negative position on this article (2-1, Grasfield in the positive)
Community Center Reconstruction
The Board took no position on this article at this time.
Middle School Roof
The Board took no position on this article at this time.
Middle School HVAC
The Board took no position on this article at this time.
Housing Trust Fund
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Veteran's Exemption
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Tax Deferral Program - Senior Relief
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Community Preservation Act Funding
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Community Preservation Exemptions
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Extend Five Leases P.O. Square and Billings St. Parking Lot
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Extend Library Walkway Lease
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Change to Sign Bylaw - Planning Board
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Data Reinspection Contract - Assessors
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Dog Licensing Rates
The Board took a negative position on this article.
Mandatory Leash Law - Fees
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Stormwater Bylaw Amendment
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Bylaw Change - Waste Containers
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Carriage House - Historical Commission
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Revolving Funds
The Board took a positive position on this article.
38. Non-Criminal Disposition - Fines - Board of Health
The Board took a positive position on this article.
Award Contract - Engineering Services for SCADA Maintenance Evaluation
The Board reviewed Memo from Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated April 3, 2006, recommending that a contract for engineering services for lead service installation be awarded to the engineering firm of Woodard & Curran.
SCADA system is used by the Water Department to monitor and control pumping at each of the production wells and monitor water levels at each of the storage tanks.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the contract for lead service installation to the engineering firm of Woodard & Curran, Dedham, MA, in the amount of $7,447.
Approve Banner
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a banner for the Girl Scouts for June 12 - June 19, 2006 in the Second Position.
Regional Emergency Planning Committee - Name Designated Municipal Representative
The Board reviewed a letter addressed to the County Commissioners, prepared at the request of Sheila Miller of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, to name Peter Bickoff as the Town’s designated municipal representative to a Regional Emergency Planning Committee.
It was the consensus of the Board to hold this item until the next meeting until more information is made available.
Roadway Line Painting Contract
The Board reviewed Memo from Marie E. Cuneo, Business Manager, recommending that the contract for Roadway Line Painting be extended for an additional 12-month period, as allowed in the contract.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the contract with Chlorinated Rubber Line Painting, Taunton, MA, be extended for the additional 12-month period, April 18, 2006 through April 17, 2007.
Recreation Director Ad
The Board reviewed the ad for the Recreation Director. Mr. Puritz assured Chair Grasfield that the salary range is within the proposed budget, and that the Personnel Board was consulted as well as having a Member of the Personnel Board serving on the Recreation Director Screening Committee.
Mr. Puritz read the ad with a salary range of $55,000 - $65,000.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to support and authorize the placing of the ad for Recreation Director in various newspapers and publications.
Appointment to Conservation Commission
Chair Grasfield noted Letter of Interest from Christine Turnball, dated April 4, 2006, and Email from Peg Arguimbau, Chair of the Conservation Commission urging the Board to fill this vacancy. He suggested that since the Board already knows Ms. Turnball of the Moose Hill Audubon Sanctuary, since she is clearly well-qualified, and since no one else had yet expressed interest in the position, that the Board consider making this appointment this evening. Selectman Heitin noted that Ms. Arguimbau notes that there is another candidate interested in this position. An interview is scheduled for Ms. Turnball on April 25.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Real Property Acquisition, Collective Bargaining,, and Pending Litigation, and, at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Heitin, aye; Grasfield, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9:30 P.M.
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