MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

 

 

The Regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30p.m.in the Sharon Town Offices with Chair Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard A. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m.

 

Chairman Roach reviewed the schedule for the Memorial Day Celebration on Sunday, May 27, 2007. 

 

Riverways Grant Briefing DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper, Brian Joyce and Paul Kirshen of Tufts University

 

Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper explained that Sharon had received a matching grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in collaboration with Tufts University and the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI-US).  The SEI-US is affiliated with Tufts University and operates as a research unit within Tufts.  The program that is created will be tailored to Sharon but the concept is that it should be able to be applied statewide.  Superintendent Hooper introduced Brian Joyce of Tufts who is associated with the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) and Paul Kirshon, Professor of Civil Engineering at Tufts University.  Professor Kirshon explained that the scope of services will focus on the Town of Sharon as a pilot utilizing a Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system developed by the Stockholm Environmental Institute.  The WEAP was designed to provide a framework and a methodology for a holistic and comprehensive analysis of water resources management scenarios.  The goal is to create a planning tool to be used for watershed management in order to best protect rivers, wetlands and quality of life.  The goals include:  creation of a tool to help communities take a holistic approach to water management as well as to quantify and identify resources, uses and benefits and to apply the Water Evaluation Planning Model.   Another goal is the use of the model to assess cost benefits to various alternatives.  The Selectmen recommended that Superintendent, Professor Kirshon and Mr. Joyce schedule a meeting with the Water Management Advisory committee as soon as possible. 

 

Superintendent Hooper stated that this project was extremely timely because it would help to better evaluate effects of the large developments  (Avalon Bay, Sharon Commons and Brickstone) on the water resources of the Town and possibly identify cost effective remediation strategies.

 

It was further explained that this is a matching grant with a $50,000 contribution from the State and a $50,000 contribution from the Town.  The Town match funds will be expended from the Water Department Budget.   Superintendent Hooper added that the final project will provide both long term and short term priorities and will be a planning tool whose strength is that it is a model that looks at the situation holistically. 

 

School Committee Members Donald Gilligan and Alison Rutley ask Selectmen to sign Massachusetts School Building Authority Statement of Interest

 

School Committee Chair Donald Gilligam and Committee Member Alison Rutley asked that the Board of Selectmen sign off on a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority regarding renovation of the Sharon Middle School.   Chairman Gilligan stated that the Selectmen’s sign-off simply places Sharon on the list for reimbursement - though not committing the Town in any way.  The deadline is June 30, 2007 and it is not known when the Statement of Interest will be opened up again. The Selectmen asked again if this obligated the Town – and Chairman Gilligan said it did not but it was a process that the State uses to better anticipate how many school districts might be asking for funding for building projects. 

 

 VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Having convened in an open meeting on May 22, 2007, the Board of Selectmen of Sharon, in accordance with its charter, by-laws and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated April 25, 2007 for the Sharon Middle School located at 75 Mountain Street, Sharon, Massachusetts 02067 which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority categories for which Sharon may be invited to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future: Priority 2 – elimination of existing severe overcrowding – from students currently in modular classrooms; Priority 4 – Prevention of severe overcrowding – expected to result from increased enrollments due to new residential developments; Priority 5 – Replacement, renovation or modernization of the heating system in a schoolhouse to increase energy conservation and decrease energy related costs in the school house – including energy efficient windows an other architectural energy savings enhancements; Priority 7 – Replacement or addition to obsolete buildings in order to provide for a full range of programs consistent with state and approved local requirements – in that the original building was constructed in the latter 1960s and has not had since then, a comprehensive renovation and upgrading for up-to-date modern educational requirements; and hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in now way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of an application, the awarding of a grant or any other funding commitments from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, or commits the Town School District to filing an application for funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

      

George Bailey – MBTA and Regional Planning Issues

 

Mr. Bailey who serves as Sharon’s representative to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council reviewed with the Board of Selectmen upcoming issues. 

  1. Mini High Platforms (50 feet long canopied platform at train floor height) that have been promised for some time can be said to be definitely coming to the two platforms at Sharon Station before the end of summer. Waltham and Littleton were ahead of us - we may be brought in ahead of Littleton. They will be located at the southernmost end of the platforms for track 1 & 2.
  2. Bike Racks are available from MAPC - see the website -for use with a variety of municipal sites, not just the RR station. They are fully reimbursable.
  3. There is a pedestrian program aimed at serving developed areas - also reimbursable - which the region's towns are eligible for full reimbursement.
  4. The Safe Routes to School program has money for areas serving schools K-8 to encourage both walking and bike riding to and from schools. Funds are available and reimbursement is at an 80% level.
  5. Learned at last Wednesday's TRIC (Three Rivers Interlocal Council) meeting: The MPO (CAPS) study of the I-95 corridor from Dedham to the RI line has been combined with a Route 1 study in the same area. It is slated to start in August and will be watched carefully. Of special import to Sharon is the proposal by development advocates in Walpole and to the South of Sharon for creating a "double diamond" intersection on Coney St/ Norwood St., where a pair of slip ramps allow access to the North and from the North onto local streets.
  6. We should be aware and watchful of the substantial commercial growth slated for the area - from the development underway at Patriot's stadium in Foxboro and the Westwood Station project at Rte 128 station, both roughly three times the floor area of the Sharon Commons project at build out.
  7.  The MetroFuture regional; [planning study conducted by MAPC was brought to planning conclusion to a breakfast held at a Boston Hotel (Hilton) on May 1 with about 500 people in attendance.. The implementation phase is now beginning - merely developing proposals for the regions towns and cities to adopt if the goals are to be achieved. He said it is a very challenging process as 101 communities must agree.
  8. MAPC has been advocating adoption of the Expedited Permitting statute C. 43D which if accepted by a Town can be applied to a district or a specified zone and in return for adopting a 6 month permitting period gives the city or town planning assistance through MAPC, This has applicability to the Sharon Commons area, the Town Center, and possibly the Brickstone project.

Town Administrator Puritz added that the Economic Development Committee is meeting on June 7, 2007 and the Ch. 43D option  topic will be included in their discussion as should it be adopted would be promising for Sharon.   George Bailey said he would try to get the planners from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to attend this meeting.

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize George Bailey as the Selectmen’s Designee to the MBTA Advisory Board and to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in regards to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Annual Election

 

Approve Regular Session Minutes of April 24, 2007 and Regular Session Minutes

of May 2, 2007 and Executive Session Minutes of May 16, 2007

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of April 24,

2007 and May 2, 2007 and the Executive Session Minutes of May 16, 2007

 

Banner Request – First Congregational Church November 23, 2007 – December 3, 2007 (1st

position)

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to allow the First Congregational Church to hang a

banner from November 23, 2007 – December 3, 2007

 

 

Flag Day Proclamation

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the designation of June 14, 2007 as Flag

Day

 

Selectmen Heitin noted that the Town’s Flag Day Celebration will take place on Thursday, June 14,

at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Beach.

 

Discuss Summer Schedule

 

The Summer Schedule will begin after Memorial Day.  Board of Selectmen Meetings will take place: June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, August 7, and August 21 with the Regular Schedule commencing after Labor Day on September 4, 2007.  The Selectmen stated that additional meetings will be scheduled should the need arise.

 

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

 

·        It was noted that the Town will be receiving $449,850 in Chapter 90 Transportation Funds from the State for Fiscal Year 2008.  This is a 25% increase over last year.  The Town will accept these funds at the Fall 2007 Town Meeting.

 

·        Selectmen Powell asked that the Board of Health receive a copy of the April 2007 Discharge Monitoring Report for the Shaw’s Plaza site.

 

·        Town Administrator Puritz noted that two individuals have expressed interest in joining the Energy Advisory Committee.  Interviews are to be set up with both these individuals as well as with the Board who is in interested in joining the Economic Development Committee.

 

 

Finance Department Director

Treasurer vacancy/continuity of operations and Appointment of Interim Treasurer

 

Town Administrator Puritz reviewed with the Board the establishment of a Screening Committee

for either the Finance Director/Treasurer position or the Finance Director/Accountant position.  He

explained that according to the Personnel By-Law a screening committee must be established and the Personnel Board must rate the position based on various criteria.  The proposed screening committee shall include 1 member or representative of the:  Board of Assessors, Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Personnel Board and the Affirmative Action officer who is Town Administrator Puritz.  He added that time is of the essence as current Treasurer Rob Uyttebroek’s last day is Friday, May 25, 2007.  The Board asked that an advertisement the Screening Committee be placed in the Sharon Advocate and on Cable TV.  Chairman Roach stated that since the Selectmen have a tight time frame he believes they should waive the traditional three week advertising time and instead move the closing date for applications to May 29, 2007.  Selectmen Powell and Heitin were in agreement. 

 

Town Administrator Puritz then spoke about engaging Financial Advisory Associates to assist in the transition as well as in the Search.  Financial Advisory Associates has been engaged by over 100 municipalities. Ben asked that the Board approve Todd Hassett as Interim Treasurer as of May 29, 2007.  Mr. Hassett would work at Town Hall two days per week. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to engage Financial Advisory Associates as stated in

the proposal for a maximum of $30,000 for 120 days

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Todd K. Hassett as Interim

Treasurer/Collector effective May 29, 2007

 

 

Expression of interest in membership on the Economic Development Committee

 

Nancy Fyler sent a letter to the Board expressing interest in becoming a member of the Economic Development Committee.  The Board asked that she be contacted regarding an interview.

 

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

 

The Board of Selectmen adjourned at 8:20pm.