MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

 

 

The Regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 pm in the Sharon Town Offices with Chairman Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard a. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin, and Town Administrator Ben Puritz

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:13 p.m.

 

BUDGET REVIEW:  DAVID MARTIN, HISTORICAL COMMISSION

 

Mr. Martin explained that the Historical Commission budget is $650.00.  The money is primarily used to buy or replace signs on historical homes.  He said that due to the historical inventory taking place there is a possibility that more signs would need to be purchased this year.

 

BUDGET REVIEW: BEN PURITZ, LAW BUDGET

 

Town Administrator Puritz explained that the law budget pays for the costs of Town Counsel, Labor Counsel, and Special Consultants. The FY’09 budget is $101,571.00.  He further explained that the budget is very much driven by activities as the FY2005 budget was $232,000 while the FY 2006 budget was approximately $96,000.  Richard Gelerman serves as Town Counsel, and Michael Lehane serves as the Town’s Labor Counsel.

 

Chairman Roach stated that if there were any large cases he would like Attorney Gelerman to attend a Selectmen’s meeting and discuss.  Town Administrator Puritz further explained that though other Boards and Committees have law budget line items that for the most part once an issue moves to the litigation phase then the Selectmen’s law budget line item is used.  

 

MARTIN LUTHER KING (MLK) UPDATE: GRANT KEITH

 

Mr. Keith explained that the MLK Day activities will include a concert on January 20th at the Sharon Middle School and a program on Monday January 21st.  The specifics of the program and the location are still to be finalized.  However, the program on the 21st will include a Keynote Speaker and a breakfast.  He asked that the Selectmen take a formal vote declaring the MLK Program a Town sponsored event.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to recognize the Martin Luther King events of January 20, 2008 and January 21, 2008 as Town sponsored events

 

BUDGET REVIEW: BEN PURITZ, TOWN REPORT BUDGET

 

Town Administrator Puritz explained that the in FY’09 Town Report budget is for the 2008 Calendar Year.  He further explained that the town by-law mandates the printing and distribution of the Town Report to each household.  The proposed budget is $11,527.00 which is $1,000.00 less than last year’s budget.  The distribution cost of $1,200.00 has not changed and the distribution is traditionally been carried out by the Boy Scouts which has been a great service to the Town. 

 

 

 

BUDGET REVIEW: BEN PURITZ, SELECTMEN’S BUDGET

 

Town Administrator said that the budget is actually smaller than it was last year. He also mentioned that the Selectmen’s annual salaries, $500 for the Chair and $400 for the two members have not been increased since 1957.  

 

The level funded budget doesn’t reflect any salary increases while the reduced budget of 5% would decrease the part-time staff person from 25 hours to 15 hours.  Mr. Puritz mentioned that with a staff of 2.67 people the Selectmen staff is the smallest of all comparable communities.  He said that this year he has not included any commentary about as Assistant Town Administrator because of the reorganization of the Finance Department which has resulted in the hiring of a Finance Director. 

 

There was also a discussion about the ballot referendum to establish a Charter Commission scheduled to take place at the May 2008 Annual Town Election.  The members of the 9 person Commission would be elected during the same election meaning if the Charter Commission doesn’t pass then the election would virtually be nullified.  If the Charter Commission is passed the Commission would have 16 – 18 months to develop a proposal that would be voted on in 2010.  In the long-term as the government structure might change this could have an impact on the Selectmen’s budget. 

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE: FINANCE DIRECTOR BILL FOWLER

 

Mr. Fowler reviewed the packet of information with the Selectmen regarding the establishment of an Audit Committee. He included in the packet ordinances from Easton, Kingston and Longmeadow.  He also included the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) recommendations regarding an Audit Committee.

 

In terms of the members Mr. Fowler supports Selectmen Heitin’s recommendation regarding the make up of the five-member committee: 1 member of the Board of Selectmen, 1 member of the School Committee, 1 member of the Finance Committee and 2 at-large members of the community appointed by the Selectmen.  However, Mr. Fowler recommends that the Town utilize Easton’s wording regarding the two community members: The at-large members shall not be a member of another board or committee, or an officer, official or paid employee of the Town.  Mr. Fowler said that this would ensure that there would be no potential conflicts of interest.  He also recommends that the terms be staggered to insure continuity of membership with the two at-large members having a longer term that the other three members.

 

Selectman Heitin said that if the Board feels comfortable establishing the audit committee using Easton’s language he is ready to move forward.  Both Chairman Roach and Selectmen Powell were in agreement.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to establish a formal Audit Committee with the guidelines provided by Finance Director William Fowler as worded in the Easton document.

 

Selectman Heitin asked that the School Committee and Finance Committee be contacted regarding the formation of the Audit Committee and that they designate an appointee.  In addition, he asked that an advertisement be placed on cable and the Town’s website for community at-large members.

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Selectman Heitin as the Selectmen’s representative to the Audit Committee

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Chairman Roach asked the location of the Executive Session minutes of November 13, 2007 be changed from Room 604 in Sharon High School to the Sharon Town Offices.

 

 VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Executive Session minutes of November 13, 2007 with the correction of the location from Room 604 in Sharon High School to the Sharon Town Offices.

 

APPOINTMENT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER

 

Town Administrator Puritz reviewed with the Board the hiring process for the Town Engineer position.  A screening committee was set up by the Board of Selectmen including: Herb Gould, Susan Price, Len Zakon, Eric Hooper and Ben Puritz. .  The committee conducted interviews with the two applicants.  The committee is recommending that Peter O’Cain be hired as the Town Engineer at a salary of $82,400.00 per year.  Chairman Roach thanked the screening committee for their efforts.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Peter O’Cain as the Town Engineer.

 

SIGNING OF THE NET SCHOOL SPENDING AGREEMENT

 

Town Administrator Puritz explained that this document is a reporting mechanism for the Department of Education.  The document reports those Town expenses that are related to the school.  This year the Town is using the standard per pupil expenditure recommended by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Education. 

 

 VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Roach to sign the Net School Spending Agreement on behalf of the Board.

 

PLACEMENT OF SELECTMEN POLICIES ON THE TOWN WEBSITE

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to place the Selectmen’s Polices on the Town website

 

SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA

 

CONSIDER SIGNING DOCUMENTS PERTAININT TO WILBER SCHOOL PROPERTY

 

Selectman Heitin explained that the Board is in the process of finalizing the agreement to sell the Wilber School property.  He reviewed the project which will include 79 rental units.  In addition he said there would be a lump sum payment and an annuity that the Town will receive some years out.  He said it is a 75 year ground lease which will result in the Town receiving the building and land in 75 years. 

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to authorize the Town Administrator to sign on behalf of the Board the deregistration documents associated with the Wilber School property.

 

It was further discussed that the façade of the building will remain the same as requested in the RFP.  There will be a public park on the site and an acre parcel will be available to the Town for future municipal use.

 

AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT(DHCD)  IN SUPPORT OF THE WILBER SCHOOL APARTMENT CHAPTER 40B COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT

 

It was explained that this letter to the DHCD provides the State with input regarding the Town’s support of the project and the fact that the Town partnered in the project.  Town Administrator Puritz said that this is in an environmentally sensitive area because the Town well is downstream near the train station. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Roach  to sign on behalf of the Board the Charles R. Wilber comprehensive permit letter.

 

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining, real property acquisition and pending litigation at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 8:15 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye