July 11, 2006
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair William A. Heitin and Selectmen Walter Joe Roach and Richard A. Powell and Benjamin E. Puritz, Town Administrator.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
Notes from the Chair
Chair Heitin expressed his sorrow for the death of Jim Goldsmith, former Chair of the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee and thanked the public safety officers involved for their response. A moment of silence was observed.
Sharon High School Boys Tennis Team - Division 1 State Championship
Coach Holt, Captains Akshay Sanan and Scott Rosen were present along with members of the Tennis Team and parents to receive congratulations and a proclamation to commend the High School Boys Tennis Team as the 2006 Division 1 State Champions. This is the second year in a row that they have won this honor.
Public Hearing - Brickstone Developers re Rattlesnake Hill
Chair Heitin stated that tonight would just be a public forum and that questions should be saved until the next scheduled public hearing that has been rescheduled from July 18 to August 15 at Sharon High School Library at 7:30 P.M. He stated this is just the beginning of the process and further public hearings will be scheduled.
John Twohig, Attorney for Brickstone Developers was present as well as John Kusmiersky, Marty Spagat, Jeff Spagat and Margaret Murphy. Attorney Twohig cautioned that the presentation and slide show this evening should be considered only a draft and a vision of what they would like to see on Rattlesnake Hill. Items discussed included:
history of the land with ownership by the Striar family and 40B development proposal;
reasons for choosing Sharon for its proposed development of high-end senior housing complex;
financial benefits and high demand for this type of development;
10 - 12 year build out;
offers tremendous amenities not available in this area;
will need 2/3 vote of Town Meeting to allow for zoning change re density;
access to be on Bay Road;
background and history of Brickstone projects, including Atlanta, Philadelphia and Boston suburbs;
plan for nine-hole golf course;
development will be unseen and unheard;
no impact on schools/minimum traffic impact;
fine dining and underground parking facilities;
plan to develop three separate areas on 10 acres each with six,100-unit residential buildings;
40 acres to be developed with 250 acres to be undisturbed, 297 acres to remain green;
walking trails to be available to the public;
anticipate 2 ½ million tax benefit per year after Area 1 developed/8 million when fully developed;
sustainable design approach/use of recyclables and local products;
information from presentation to be available on website;
new 6 million-water system to benefit residents of Mountain Street;
hiring of financial consultant and planner to review proposal;
buildings to vary from 7 - 12 floors; and,
additional public hearing to be scheduled in August, September and October.
Recess
The Board recessed at 8:25 P.M.
The Board reconvened at 8:45 P.M.
Accessory Housing - Council on Aging
Arnold Kublin, Chair of the Council on Aging Advisory Board was present to discuss proposed changes to the Zoning Bylaws to allow for Accessory Units. Items discussed included:
need for accessory housing in single resident homes;
in-law apartments for elderly relatives;
in-law apartments for help for elderly relatives;
quality of life issues;
warrant article for November Special Town Meeting;
mission statement to support bylaw changes;
accessory housing units to be available to low and moderate-income households;
changes to make it easier to create accessory housing;
aging population;
looking for support from Board of Selectmen;
need for brochure as to how to get permit;
work with Building Inspector, Town Counsel, Planning Board and Board of Health;
concern that it would bring more children into the community/creating two-family units;
deed restrictions on permit;
changes to common entrance language;
question if accessory housing would be counted toward affordable housing goal; and,
questions of unintended consequences.
The Board took this under advisement.
Recreation Director Appointment
Mr. Puritz announced that the Board would not be making the Recreation Director Appointment at this time. One candidate Barry DeBlasio has withdrawn his application as he will be staying in his current position. Mr. Puritz recommended that the Recreation Director Screening Committee reopen its search to fill this position. It was announced that Mr. Clifton has agreed to delay his retirement until this position is filled.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to reopen the search for Recreation Director and so advise the Search Committee.
Additional Members to the Energy Advisory Committee
The Board requested that interviews be set up for Ernest Kahn and George Aronson. It was requested that Arnie Wallenstein also be contacted as to his interest in serving.
Interviews will be scheduled for the meeting of August 1.
Revisit Summer Schedule
The Board reviewed the list of scheduled summer meetings as follows: July 18 (HS Library); August 1, August 15, August 29 and September 12.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to cancel the Meeting of July 18. The meeting of August 15 will be held in the High School Library.
MassHousing - Planning Assistance Award
The Board reviewed correspondence from Laurie Rizzelli of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, dated June 30, 2006, requesting that the contract be executed by the Chief Elected Official. This application was made through the initiative of Jane Desberg, of the Sharon Housing Partnership Committee.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign the contract with MassHousing for technical assistance planning in the amount of $25,000 for the affordable housing site on Winslow Road, adjacent to Hixson Farm.
Fall Town Meeting Warrant Article - Community Preservation Committee
The Board reviewed a request for a Warrant Article from the Community Preservation Committee re expenditure of funds from the CP fund.
Lakeside Concerts
Chair Heitin announced that the Lakeside Concert series begins this Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Shortage of Sharon Advocates
Selectman Roach discussed receiving telephone calls about the lack of Sharon Advocates available in the stores last week and on two other occasions. Dick Murphy, the Reporter for the Advocate, stated he would pass the information on to the editor.
Update on Street Projects
Selectman Roach gave an update on the progress of the North/South Main Street Project. He stated he would request making certain sections one-way and reroute the other traffic in order to increase the traffic flow. The Board is waiting for petition for pole replacements.
Selectman Roach updated the Board re Route 27 and Edge Hill Road Signalization project with a glitch that was settled today regarding underground conduit location.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Real Property Acquisition, Collective Bargaining, and Police Matter, and, at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Powell, aye; Heitin, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9:32 P.M.
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