MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, October 30, 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 7:09 p.m.

JANE DESBERG: CANDIDATE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SHARON HOUSING PARTNERSHIP

Ms. Desberg reviewed with the Board some of the accomplishments of the Sharon Housing Partnership:

 - Established local preferences to be used when it is time to utilize a lottery for affordable housing units

 - Assisted in the passage at Town Meeting of the Sharon Affordable Housing Trust

 - Working with Representative Kafka to obtain passage of a Home Rule Petition that would increase asset level from $150K to $400K

 - Support of  the Inclusionary Housing Article at November 5, 2007 Special Town Meeting

Ms. Desberg said that the priority of the Partnership is to increase the number of affordable housing units in Sharon.  Thus far the only affordable property that they have created is a home on Gunhouse Street in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. 

FINALIZE POSITIONS ON NOVEMBER 5, 2007 FALL TOWN MEETING ARTICLES

The Board had taken positions at last week’s meeting on all but the following Articles:

 - Article 5 – Technical Correction - Support unanimously

 - Article 12 – Lot SHAPE Article – Selectmen Roach and Heitin support and Selectman Powell would like to look at Article more closely and  asked that the Selectman vote at their meeting prior to Town Meeting

 - Article 13 – Inclusionary Housing – Support unanimously

 - Article 18 – Release easement Eisenhower Drive – Support unanimously

CREATION OF AUDIT COMMITTEE

Selectman Heitin said the purpose of the Audit Committee is to work with the Town’s external auditors.  Duties might include helping to create the bid, meet with auditors during the audit and then meet with the auditors to discuss the audit results. He said many Towns have created Audit Committees.  He believes that the Audit Committee should include 5 people in total:

 - 1 Member of the board of Selectmen

 - 1 Member of the School Committee

 - 1 Member of the Finance Committee

 - 2 Members of the community (Selectmen appointed)  who have financial backgrounds

Selectman Powell said he is comfortable with the make-up of the Audit Committee but it would also make sense to him to obtain Mission Statements and other information from towns that currently have Audit Committees.  It was agreed to obtain that information before moving forward.

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition, collective bargaining, pending litigation and at the end to reconvene in Regular Session.

The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:45 p.m.

BOB LEVIN: CANDIDATE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SHARON CULTURAL COUNCIL

Mr. Levin said he believes that the Cultural Council has been very successful in spite of limited funding.  All of the Council’s funding is from the Commonwealth and has dropped 60% - 70% over the last several years.  Each year the Council receives 30 – 35 applications and funds approximately 20 of the applications.  The Council makes sure that the funded programs have a community tie-in.  He explained that money can be carried over from one year to the next.  The Council meets one time per year in mid-November to disburse the funds and then if there is extra money because a group was unable to find matching funds the Council will meet again.  Groups that the Council has funded include: Schools (PTO), Library, Summer Concert Series (Recreation Department), Brockton Symphony Orchestra, Sharon Community Chorus, Sharon Community Band, and an occasional art program.

OTHER

Several of the candidates for reappointment didn’t show up and the Board asked that they be rescheduled.

Selectman Heitin announced that the Annual Halloween Parade will take place at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Chairman Roach asked that Ed Little of 346 North Main Street be placed on the Agenda for November 13^th as he has asked to meet with the Board.

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to adjourn for the evening.

The Board adjourned at 7:50 p.m.