August 15, 2006
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 P.M. in the Sharon High School Library, Pond Street, 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.
Minutes
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Minutes of August 1, 2006 as printed. The Executive Session Minutes of August 1 were held.
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Plan - George Bailey
George Bailey, Chair Community Preservation Committee, was present to discuss the CPC draft plan. He stated that monies could be appropriated for various proposals at the upcoming Fall Town Meeting. CPC has approximately $600,000 accumulated and expects that the State will match that amount. Items discussed included:
requests by the Housing Authority, including new roof for Hixson Farm Road building;
updating of the Open Space Plan;
request by neighboring group for purchase of land off Glenview Road in the amount of $1,300,000 (may need borrowing);
CPC Committee looking to guidance from Board of Selectmen re Glenview Road;
distribution of CPC funds, including housing, conservation, historic preservation and recreation;
options as how to appropriate funds;
state allows borrowing of funds;
need for housing plan;
intent of Town Meeting/ballot vote for CPC funds; and,
the Board took the matter under advisement.
Sharon Housing Partnership - Winslow Road Affordable Housing Proposal
Robert Young, Member of the Sharon Housing Partnership, was present to update the Board on the Winslow Road Affordable Housing Proposal using town-owned land. Items discussed included:
currently working on RFP for Stoneybrook Road (off Winslow);
report on meeting with Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD);
DHCD recommendation to sell the land/not lease;
looking for input from Selectmen;
feasibility study;
form a neighborhood committee; and,
Board requested a copy of the RFP to review.
Public Hearing - Brickstone Developers re Rattlesnake Hill
John Twohig, Attorney for Brickstone Developers was present as well as John Kusmiersky, Marty Spagat, Robert Daylor and Bob Vaness. Items discussed included:
Chair Heitin announced questions may be asked after presentation by Representatives of Brickstone;
further questions may be submitted to the Selectmen and Hearing will reconvene at 7:30 P.M. on September 19 at the Sharon High School Library;
vision for this development;
will need 2/3 vote of Town Meeting and support of the Planning Board;
discussion of site objectives, including preservation of land;
impact on traffic;
fiscal benefit to the Town;
project to be high-end senior living complex with great deal of amenities;
$45,000 will be presented to Selectmen for independent studies;
background of Brickstone and history of development projects in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Boston;
baby boomers coming of age/need for this type of housing;
minimum negative impact on Sharon;
will be invisible
leave open 250 acres and no impact on Schools;
size of property;
design of buildings/not institutional;
on-site services, including restaurants and medical care;
site history with Striar ownership;
Brickstone owns all of the land (337 acres);
Striar 40B development proposal appeal of ZBA decision on hold;
egress to focus on Bay Road/not Mountain Street;
50 acres set aside for Sharon Residents;
layout of site - Area One - 10 acres/ six buildings, same for future areas Two and Three;
environmental considerations/emphasis on green design; wetlands, endangered species, walking trails;
two crossings of wetlands/outside of vernal pools;
water pressure problems in the community/project not a big water user;
high pressure water system to be constructed;
storm water system;
groundwater discharge to meet drinking water standards;
water treatment facility;
86% of property to remain undisturbed;
natural architecture for golf course/huge buffers;
minor impact on traffic/ traffic mitigation measures for staff/improvements to Cobb Corner and Bay Road; and,
fiscal analysis - revenues up to 10 million each year to the Town.
Committee/Board members and residents (approximately 60-70 people present) followed up with questions and concerns:
impact on 40B affordable housing requirements as no affordable housing is proposed in 1800 unit development;
Brickstone’s promise to address affordable housing through a fund - to neutralize impact of project or to go beyond.
impact of 10-years of construction vehicles;
meeting affordable income levels for project;
anticipate 64,000 people in 20 mile area (120 from Sharon) will meet age and financial qualifications;
impact to School System when 120 residents move to site and homes are resold;
impact on groundwater;
environmentally sensitive areas;
worst case scenarios on daily traffic to service area - narrow roads/small town;
rezoning issues;
dispute of remark that people in their 70's do not drive;
need for Fire Substation;
public safety issues/ambulance system;
getting agreements in writing;
other development proposals/options;
Brickstone owns the property/not willing to discuss alternatives;
ownership of the 200 acres of restricted open space not given to the Town;
requests to see footprint/planned excavating;
impact on private wells;
questions as to whether there is sufficient water available; and,
additional information to be ready for September 19 public hearing.
Recess
The Board recessed at 9:50 P.M.
The Board reconvened at 9:50 P.M.
Pole Location Hearing - North/South Main Street
There was a public hearing to act on the petitions of Verizon and Boston Edison for joint pole, locations and relocations of multiple poles along North Main Street and South Main Street as part of the reconstruction project. The Board reviewed the various plans filed and marked as Verizon No. 7AA1T2, dated July 3, 2006. Paul Schneider from Verizon was present. Questions were asked by abutters who had been notified of the hearing. One pole (near Huntington and Lantern Lane) seems destined to be placed in front of private driveway. Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, stated that this will be looked at. It was stated that poles placed on private property would need to have an easement.
Questions were asked of the road project itself and the notification requirements. Selectman Roach gave a brief update on the construction project and believes it will be completed before the winter sets in.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to close the hearing.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the “Petition for Joint Pole Relocations” as submitted by Verizon New England, Inc., dated July 31, 2006, subject to verification of Pole 28 (private or public property) and to authorize the Clerk of the Selectmen to sign the order for Joint Pole Locations.
Disability Snowplowing Program
The Board discussed a cooperative program initiated by the Commission on Disability and the Council on Aging to have the Department of Public Works remove the residue (bern) left by snowplows at the end of the driveway after the streets have been plowed for physically disabled residents. Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, was present to answer questions re this experimental program and the limited capacity of DPW to provide this extra service.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the experimental Disability Snowplowing Program for up to 12 residents.
Aspen Road Stop Sign
The Board reviewed information from Eric Hooper, Superintendent of Public Works, dated August 8, 2006 re: Response to Aspen Road Incident Report. It states that the Police Department, given the incident report of 6/29/06, has recommended that a four-way stop be installed at this intersection. Mr. Hooper reported that this intersection does not meet the warrants for placement of a four-way stop, but that the Selectmen do have some discretion to place stop signs even if the warrants are not met. He discussed some attendant liability for improperly placed signs, stating, that it would be relatively small. Other items discussed included: public notification requirement - change to Traffic Rules & Orders; and Mass Highway Rules re placement of traffic signs.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to adopt a change to the Traffic Rules & Regulations to place a 4-way Stop Sign at the intersection of Aspen Road and Magnolia Road and to proceed with all necessary notices.
Wilber School Redevelopment Committee
The Board discussed the adding of four individuals to the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Ed Hershfield, Phil Kopel, David Deitz and Greg Waugh to the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously that the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee act on behalf of the Town as the Evaluation Committee for Wilber School Development proposals.
Appointment to Economic Development Committee
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Arnold Wallenstein as a member of the Economic Development Committee.
Appointment to Energy Advisory Committee
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Arnold Wallenstein as a member of the Energy Advisory Committee.
Official Geese Chasers
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to authorize two border collies belonging to Anne Bingham, Roy and Laddie as Official Geese Chasers for the lake and beaches.
Request for Banner - Temple Sinai Sisterhood
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve a banner for Temple Sinai Sisterhood for the dates of October 23 - October 29, 2006.
Request for Hearing re County Dispatch System on Moose Hill Fire Tower
The Board reviewed a request from the Town of Canton Fire Department on behalf of the Norfolk County Regional Dispatch Steering Committee, dated August 2, 2006, for permission to use the town’s radio building at the base of Moose Hill Fire Tower for the installation of radio and antenna equipment.
Request is made under MGL Chapter 88, §110, Acts of 1997, and a Public Hearing is required as well as a 30-day Public Notice to the citizens of the Town of Sharon.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to schedule a hearing.
The Board will have an ad placed in the Patriot Ledger as notification of hearing.
Unified Budget Format
Selectman Powell discussed a request by FinCom for all departments to use a unified budget format.
Priorities Committee
Chair Heitin would like a Priorities Committee meeting scheduled.
Interview for Recreation Advisory Committee
Applicant Gail Bouton will be scheduled for an interview for the Recreation Advisory Committee.
Executive Session
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing items of Personnel Matter, Pending Litigation, Collective Bargaining, Real Property Acquisition, and at the conclusion thereof, to adjourn for the evening.
Roach, aye; Powell, aye; Heitin, aye.
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 10:55 P.M.
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