MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Board of Selectmen meeting was held at 7:30 p.m. in the Sharon High School Library with Chair William A. Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard A. Powell and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.
Chairman Heitin explained that following their meeting the Board of Selectmen will briefly recess and reconvene for a public forum with many of the other Town Boards about Sharon Hills at Rattlesnake Hill.
Interview Jerry Saphire
Candidate for Horizons for Youth Property Reuse Committee
Mr. Saphire said he has lived in Sharon for 30 years and has been operating the Saphire Manor and Inn on Lake Massapoag. Prior to purchasing the Saphire Manor he was a practicing attorney. As he is no long running Saphire Manor he has more time and would like to make a contribution to the Town. He cares about the Town and wants to use his experience to make a contribution. In the short-term he would like to keep the property as is, and generate revenue to at least offset any maintenance expenses. In the long-term he believes the Town needs to look at what it sees as the ultimate use for the property.
Interview Victor Smetana
Candidate for Horizons for Youth Property Reuse Committee
Mr. Smetana has been a resident of Sharon for 18 months and lives on North Main Street. He holds both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Real Estate and studied planning as well. He currently works in Real Estate Development and Investment. Though he is fairly new to Sharon he believes he would be an asset to the Committee because of his education and experience. He is very open-minded about the short-term use. Mr. Smetana said if he is not appointed to this Committee he would be willing to serve on another Committee.
School Committee Member Andrew Nebenzahl Request that Selectmen place
Proposition 2 ½ Override on May 15, 2007 Town Election Ballot
Mr. Nebezahl reported that the School Committee had voted to request a three year
override. He explained that the School Committee not only are requesting that the
Selectmen place the override question on the ballot, but they also asked if the Selectmen need additional funds if they would like to include their override request as well. The results being a General Override for both the Schools and the Town. He added that the School Committee had decided to ask for a three year override vs. a one year override as they were sensitive to constantly asking people to override Proposition 2½. In addition he said that a three-year financial plan had been created which would allow the Schools and Town to look at their financial needs through FY’10. Chairman Heitin said that the Selectmen are meeting the next day and at that meeting they would take a position on this issue. Mr. Nebenzahl added that the school
need $1.9 million in
Year 1/FY ‘08 of the override, 0 in Year 2/FY ‘09, and is not sure of their needs for Year 3/FY’10 but are willing to cap the amount at $650,000.
Approve minutes of the February 13, 2007 Joint Board of Selectmen and
Economic Development Committee Meeting
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the Joint Selectmen/Economic Development Committee of February 13, 2007.
Appoint members to the Horizons for Youth Property Use Committee
The Selectmen would like to hold on this item until their next meeting.
Accept resignation of Janet Sargent-Tracy from the
Community Preservation Committee
Chairman Heitin said that the Board will be soliciting candidates to replace Ms. Sargent-Tracy from the Community Preservation Committee.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Janet Sargent-Tracy from the Community Preservation Committee.
2007 Annual Town Meeting sequencing of Articles
Request to place petitions articles on 2007 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
There has been a request to place two Citizen Petition Articles on the Annual Town
Meeting Warrant. Chairman Heitin said the Board will accept the Articles. Ann
Bingham, a proponent of one of the Articles said she will have the necessary signatures
certified by the Town Clerk in the morning.
There was general consensus to hold on the sequencing of the Articles until the next
night’s meeting as they just received the two new Articles.
Award bid for the printing of the 2007 Annual Town Warrant
There were five bids for the printing of the Annual Town Warrant ranging from $2660.68
for 40 pages to $5,594.40 for forty pages.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to award the bid for the Annual Town Warrant to Commonwealth Printing of Newburyport, Massachusetts for $2,660.68 for 40 pages.
FY ’08 Budget Scenarios Impact Summary/Update
Town Administrator Puritz reviewed with the Board the amended revenue forecast. Due to a smaller than expected increase in healthcare costs from a 10% increase to an 8% increase the Selectmen sector has an additional $43,000. Mr. Puritz recommended allocation of the funds in the following manner: $21,000 to the Fire Department which would increase funding for necessary fill-in coverage and the remainder for the Police Department for Crossing Guard salaries. He added that this recommendation is based on the current sector percent allocation of the Priorities Committee.
The Board of Selectmen recessed at 7:55 p.m.until 8:00 pm for the Joint Meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Economic Development Committee.
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