MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

 

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, Selectman Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard A. Powell and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

Chairman Heitin announced that the Rotary Club will be honoring Barry and Pat Zlotin with the Service Above Self Award at Saphire Manor on March 5, 2007 at 6:30pm.

 

Southeastern Regional School District – Return of Transportation Monies

 

Louis Lopes, Southeastern Vocational Tech Superintendent and Mindy Kempner, Sharon Representative to the Southeastern Vocation Tech School Committee came before the Board of Selectmen to return $1615.00 to the Town from the Southeastern Vocation Tech Transportation Assessment Account.

 

Energy Advisory Committee Mission Statement

 

The Energy Advisory Committee was established by the Board to provide the Town with strategies that would lower costs and be environmentally sound.  Thomas D’Avanzo and George Aronson, members of the Committee, stated that the Committee will proceed with a baseline assessment that will provide the Committee with data on the best way to proceed.  The Committee will initially focus on the Town and School and then will review homes.  They stated that they are looking for guidance from the Selectmen on how to best work with other committees in town.  

 

They have crafted a mission statement that is broad enough to meet the needs of the community and will hope to incorporate alternative energy solutions.  They mentioned that many other towns have Energy Commissions and that the City of Newton has lowered energy costs by approximately 7% utilizing suggestions made by their town’s Energy Commission.  Mr. D’Avanzo and Mr. Aronson noted that their meetings are posted on the Town’s website.

 

Approve Minutes

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of February 6, 2007 and February 8, 2007 and the Executive Session Minutes of February 6, 2007.

 

Consider appointment of Warren Kirshenbaum – Sharon Housing Partnership

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Warren Kirshenbaum to the Sharon Housing Partnership Committee

 

Consider appointments to Sharon Housing Affordable Trust

 

In order to confirm the schedule of committee appointments as it pertains to the length of term for the four applicants. The Board of Selectmen would like to hold on this issue.

 

Consider appointment of Alternate to Historical Commission

 

Before making any appointments the Board would like to confirm the number of applicants and the number of vacancies on the Historical Commission.

 

Consider engagement of Trust for Public Land re: Glendale property

 

Selectman Richard Powell recused himself from this discussion.

 

As it had discussed at the meeting of February 6, 2007 the Board wanted to clarify the Town’s obligations.  Chairman Heitin spoke with Nellie Aikenhead of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) who explained that there was no formal contract, but that a letter from the Town was necessary to begin the process. 

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to request that Town Counsel Richard Gelerman and Town Administrator Ben Puritz craft a letter for their review and their subsequent signatures.

 

Interview – Horizons for Youth Use Committee – Walter Newman

 

Selectman Richard Powell recused himself as Mr. Newman is a relative.

 

Mr. Newman is a long-time Sharon resident, and has been very active on several committees.  He stated that he believes that the Lakeview property is a pivotal piece of real estate and that there is potential for town use, including recreation.  He mentioned that this particular property offers the possibility of town use which can be supported by potentially selling off some of the land as Form A lots.  He also stated that as an interim use he would support several revenue generating opportunities including but not limited to - camps or renting out of ball fields to private groups.

 

Interview – Horizons for Youth Use Committee – Lauren Hyman

 

Ms. Hyman will be interviewed at another time.

 

Interview – Horizons for Youth Use Committee – Josh Kiernan

 

Mr. Kiernan is a long-time Sharon resident who currently resides on East Foxboro Street and is very familiar with the Horizons property.  He works for the Building Association of Greater Boston and believes that this knowledge would be helpful as the Committee reviews the various options for the property.  He believes that “everything would be on the table” as the evaluation process commences, and that the Committee should provide strategies in order to ensure that there is revenue to offset the maintenance and upkeep of the parcel.

Interview – Horizons for Youth Use Committee – Gary Bluestein

 

Mr. Bluestein will not be interviewed by the Board as he will be representing the Recreation Advisory Committee on the Horizons for Youth Use Committee.

 

Fiscal Year 2008 Updated Budget Summary and Recommendations

 

Town Administrator Puritz reported that he had attended the Priorities Committee on Monday, February 13th, where it was decided that the $500,000 available because of the  reallocation of prior year’s capital projects be utilized for the FY 2008 Budget.  Based on the percentages of allocation of the Town budget (approximately 21%) there is an additional $102,935 available in the Selectmen budget.  This brings the total for the FY Selectmen’s budget to $9,491,892 which results in a $25,000 gap with the Priorities Committee number.

 

 The additional funds will enable restoration of:

·        Police – Restoration of 2/5 Crossing Guards -               $16,800.00

·        Police – “Overtime (July 3rd $5.4K,                                          $17,900.00

Bike/Board $1.5K, General $11K)

·        Fire – Drills and Training                                                           $15,442.00

·        Fire – Academy training fill-in                                        $21,100.00

·        DPW – Community Center additional custodian                        $21,000.00

(39 weeks @ $18/hr x 30 hpw)

·        DPW – Snow/Ice materials cost increase offset             $10,693.00

 

TOTAL:                      $102,935.00    

 

The Budget will be presented to the Finance Committee on February 26, 2007. Town Administrator Puritz stated that he had been in contact with Sharon’s legislative delegation regarding clarity on local aid numbers for FY 2008.  Based on these discussions the budget incorporates a 3% increase in local aid. 

 

The FY 2009 budget will not include one time sources of revenue contained in the FY 2008 budget.  These include: non-recurring funds in Police Department DARE account ($38,000.00), as well as the salaries of the Finance Director and the custodian at the Community Center being calculated as nine month employees as opposed to a full year.   The Selectmen reiterated their opposition to any cuts in funding for crossing guards.

 

It was announced that there will be a Priorities Committee Meeting on February 27, 2007 and all department heads in the Selectmen Sector are invited to attend.

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting and reconvene at Sharon High School at 7:30pm to take part in a joint meeting with the Sharon Economic Development Committee.

 

 

Sharon Economic Development Committee –notes by the Planning Board Secretary Rachelle Levitts will be available for approval after review by the Planning Board Chair

 

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously at 10:00pm to reconvene the Selectmen’s Meeting after the completion of the joint meeting with the Economic Development Meeting.

 

General Business

 

Town Administrator’s Employment Agreement extension

 

The Board will discuss at the meeting of February 27, 2007.

 

Signing of the warrant for the March 12, 2007 Special Town Meeting

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign the warrant for the March 12, 2007 Special Town Meeting.

 

Memorandum of Agreement between The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Town of Sharon

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously that Town Administrator Ben Puritz be authorized to sign the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of the Board.  This agreement will permit telecommunications firms to provide space to MEMA at its Moose Hill facility for MEMA’s radio operation equipment for a period of five (5) years and shall be effective upon the date of final signatures and will remain in effect unless modified by mutual written agreement or terminated, with 30 days written notice and prior written approval by the Director of MEMA and Town of Sharon’s Administrator.   

 

Authorize the town treasurer to transfer funds from the Community Preservation Fund and borrow funds for purchase of Horizons for Youth property.

 

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

 

Miscellaneous Correspondence

 

Richard Gray of 756 Mountain Street has asked to meet with the Board of Selectmen.  The Selectmen requested that Mr. Gray be contacted and scheduled for an appointment during the meeting of February 27, 2007.

 

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition, matters of pending litigation, collective bargaining, personnel grievance update, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening.  The Board of Selectmen adjourned to Executive Session at 10:20pm.