December 5, 2006
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 6:30 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 6:40 P.M.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purposes of a personnel matter, real property acquisition, and pending litigation, to reconvene in Regular Session at the conclusion thereof; and, then to reconvene at the Sharon High School Library at 7:30 P.M.
The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7: 20 P.M.
Minutes
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of November 21, 2006, including Executive Session.
Schedule for Annual Town Meeting
The Board reviewed the Draft Schedule for the 2007 Annual Town Meeting and suggested changes to move dates up by FINCOM.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to keep the Annual Town schedule as printed:
DRAFT - 2007 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE
November 21 (Tuesday) Announce Opening of Annual Town
Meeting Warrant
January 16 (Tuesday Noon) Closing of Warrant for Petition Articles
January 22 (Monday Noon) Closing of Warrant for Everyone Else
January 23 (Tuesday) Draft List of Warrant Articles to FINCOM
February 12 (Monday) Deadline for Ballot Questions
February 20 (Tuesday) Signing of Warrant
February 23 (Friday) Warrant posted.
March 2 (Friday) Town Report photo ready to printer
March 20 (Tuesday) Finance Committee recommendations
to Selectmen photo ready preparation.
March 26 (Monday) Warrant with recommendations photoready
to printer.
April 4 (Wednesday) Town Report from printer for delivery.
April 16 (Monday) Warrants from printer for mailing.
April 19 (Thursday ) Warrants mailed.
April 21 (Saturday) Town report delivered.
April 30 (Monday) Open warrant meeting.
May 1 (Tuesday) Pre-Town Meeting
May 7,8,9,10 (Mon-Thurs) Town meeting business session
May 15 (Tuesday) Town Election
Requests for Banners
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner for Temple Israel for the dates December 29 - January 8, 2007.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner for Chabad of Sharon for the dates December 11 - December 17, 2006.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner for Temple Sinai for the dates January 8, - January 15 2007.
2007 Fall Special Town Meeting
The Board reviewed Memo from Town Clerk, Marlene Chused, dated December 4, 2006 with attached Fall Special Town Meeting options for dates. The Board requested that Ms. Chused check with the Moderator re his availability for October 30 date for Pre Town Meeting.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to set the date for the Fall Town Meeting as November 5, 2007.
Special Town Election Warrant
The Board reviewed the January 23, 2007 election warrant.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign the Special Town Election Warrant.
Waiver to Linda Callan re multiple positions with the Town under MGL 268A §20(b).
This item was deferred as information was missing.
Water Connection Agreement between Town of Walpole and Herb Chambers of Chicopee, Inc.
The Board reviewed correspondence from Joel Fishman re Herb Chambers Lexus and the Water Connection Agreement with the Town of Walpole.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve and execute the Water Connection Agreement with the Town of Walpole and Herb Chambers of Chicopee, Inc.
Recess
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into a recess and to reconvene at the Sharon High School Library to continue the Regular Session appointments.
The Board recessed at 7:35 P.M.
The Board reconvened at the Sharon High School Library at 7:50 P.M.
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) George Bailey
Mr. Bailey was present to respond to comments made last week by Ms. Lois Miller of the Massapoag Brook Neighborhood Association MBNA re Mr. Bailey’s conduct as Chair of the CPC Committee and concerning the application of purchase of land to the rear of Glenview Road and Glendale Road. Items discussed included:
Opinion Letter received per Conflict of Interest from Richard A. Gelerman, Town Counsel, dated November 28, 2006 and stating that, “....your residence does not abut the subject parcel and is in fact located some distance down street from said parcel. For reasons set forth below, I am of the continued opinion that you may participate as a Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”) member in this matter;
Mr. Bailey’s statement that, “I don’t have a financial interest in the matter”;
Mr. Bailey’s statement that, “I have always been a pro-development person;”
CPC Application from MBNA re preserving land in the neighborhood;
application from Selectmen to CPC re Horizon for Youth land;
developer request for comprehensive permit;
land-locked land/access to land requires purchase of two lots/expensive to develop;
Mr. Bailey’s tenure on the Planning Board;
Massapoag Trail/dead-end hiking trail;
Ms. Cheyer and neighbor purchased land that could have been used as access road;
option of taking by eminent domain;
cost of purchasing MBNA land;
consider availability of funds for future needs; and,
MBNA find a solution/not compromise CPC funds.
Continued Brickstone Hearing
John Twohig, John Kusmiersky, John Connors, John Toomey and Pete Moriarity were present on behalf of Brickstone. Tonight’s presentation will focus on fiscal issues and what people are going to see at the site. Items discussed included:
project to generate six million worth of fees, including building permit fees;
meetings with various department heads re net fiscal impact study;
need for rezoning at the site;
adjust average age of resident estimate to 75;
fiscal impact analysis initial findings related to this project;
meeting with Assessors re taxes;
valuation of property at 630 million;
three areas of development @210 million each;
yearly tax revenues estimated at $9,500,000;
excises taxes of $75,000 at each of 3 areas;
total revenue stream of $9,750,000;
impact on Fire Department/Police Department/Health Department/Recreation/DPW & Library;
estimate of operating costs 1.4 Million vs. Total Revenue of 9.7 Million;
contributions to start-up public safety costs/construction management costs;
water improvements of 6 Million;
pledge of 200,000 for ambulance;
positive impact on existing business and employment opportunities; and,
revenues would be the equivalent of large shopping center.
The hearing was opened to comments and questions from the approximately 60 people in the audience which included abutters and interested residents from the Towns of Easton and Stoughton. Items discussed included:
questions as to whether Brickstone considered other communities’ ambulance and fire requirements;
new fire substation not planned but not ruled out;
abutters request for more facts not “vision;”
town to issue RFP for peer review consultant;
65,000 people within Brickstone’s 20 mile- market focus that are deemed qualified today to fill the requirements of Phase 1;
Brickstone’s expectation of waiting lists/will not build faster than demand; and,
10-12 story buildings and the impact to character of the Town.
John Toomey and Pete Moriarity presented a 3-D computer model of different perspectives of what an abutter from 1 Cooks Lane would see on the site. Items discussed included:
Brickstone’s claim that re buildings, “less visible the higher they are”;
abutters’s disappointment that promised information has not been made available;
request for copies of communication between the developer and the town;
questions re landscaping/tree replacement;
continue dialogue with surrounding towns;
meetings to be held with Planning Board;
Brickstone monies for consultants/offers more than the $45,000;
resident from Coach claim proclaimed that his property is much closer than property used in presentation and is within 100 yards;
concern that development will be viewed from Borderland State Park;
sight view impact from residents of Stoughton;
impact on traffic to Stoughton residents of Bay Road;
traffic analysis and other open questions from last hearing still on the table;
need for new ladder truck to serve 12-story building;
complaints re impact on existing traffic tie-ups and accidents on Bay Road;
financial impact to Towns of Stoughton and Canton;
concerns re water and aquifer issues;
quality of life issues;
entire site will be disrupted not just 30 acres; and,
Freedom of Information Request for documents from Citizens for Responsible Land Use.
Adjourn
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
Roach, aye; Powell, aye; Heitin, aye.
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