MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, December 4, 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 7:10 p.m.

 

PRESENTATION OF GIFT BY THE FRIENDS OF THE COUNCIL ON AGING

 

Jane Desberg presented the $20,000 check on behalf of the Friends of Sharon Council On Aging.  The check is to be used towards the kitchen in the Sharon Adult Center.  She recognized Arnold Kublin, Chair of the Council on Aging (COA), Gordon Gladstone, Treasurer of the COA, Millie Berman member of the COA and the late Charlie Marks the former Treasurer who passed away several weeks ago. 

 

UPDATE: WILBER SCHOOL GROUND LEASE

 

It was explained that the Selectmen are being asked to sign on as the co-applicant on the Waste Water Treatment Facilities application for the Wilber School project.  Attorney Gelerman recommended that the Town protect itself again liability and cost exposure through indemnification and security protections in the lease agreement.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen assents to become a co-applicant with BC Wilber School LLC on an application to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Projection for a Major Groundwater Discharge Permit for the Wilber School Apartments as shown on an application prepared by CAQ Engineering Associates, Inc.  Provided, however, the Board reserves the right that, in the event satisfactory indemnification and security provisions protecting the Town again liability and costs that may occur form such undertaking, to withdraw its participation and agreement in such application.

 

It was explained that a deregistration application had been filed to remove the land from land court jurisdiction.  In addition, Selectman Heitin and Town Administrator Puritz met with representatives of the Historical Society regarding transferring the state tax credits and historic tax credits relative to financing of this project.  The representatives of the Historical Society said that they will meet with their full committee to discuss participation relative to financing of this project.

 

In regard to the Wilber School negotiations - they are still ongoing and the Selectmen hope that the agreement will be ready to be signed at the meeting of December 11, 2007.

 

Selectmen Heitin reviewed several of the components of the agreements:

·        75 apartment units

·        25% of units under affordable structure

·        1 acre set aside for municipal use

·        state of the art wastewater treatment facility

·        at the end of 75 years the land and building become Town property

·        ground lease alone should provide between $100K - $110K equivalent value annually to Town

·        $1.3 million lump sum payment at the beginning of the lease and an annuity payment beginning in year 26.

·        Property tax revenue of $200K per year once the project is fully built

·        After year 52 the Historical Society would receive the annuity payment from historic tax credits.  It would be expected that the money would be used to maintain the building and preserve the structure.

 

UPDATE ON AVALON BAY PROJECT

 

Town Counsel Gelerman reviewed the Avalon Bay project with the Board.  He provided execution

copies of the agreement to be signed by the Board.  The agreement was previously approved by the

Board.    He said that the project would contain 156 rental units and is located at the intersection of Norwood and Edgehill Roads.  Thirty-nine units will be set aside for low and moderate income residents – 16 of these are one bedroom units and 23 are town bedroom units.  The monthly rent of the affordable units will be $1089 for the one bedroom units and $1296 for the two bedroom units. 

 

BUDGET REVIEW: DENNIS MANN, FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

Prior to his budget presentation Chief Mann provided the Board an update of the recent accomplishments of the members of the Sharon Fire Department. The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’09 Budget for the Fire Department: Level Funded, $2,067,335, +5% $2,170,702 and -5% - $1,963,968. Chief Mann provided three scenarios for the budget. He said that the level funded budget would leave him $120,000 short as it wouldn’t provide for line items included but not limited to funds for jury duty, injured on duty leave, bereavement leave, and equipment supplies.  He added that the -5% budget would result in the elimination of two paramedics.  There was discussion about the impact of the Brickstone funds on the Fire Department, the reliance on Mutual Aid with other Towns, as well as the potential impact of a shared dispatcher with the Police Department.

 

BUDGET REVIEW: JOE BERNSTEIN, POLICE CHIEF

 

The Board reviewed the preliminary FY’09 Budget for the Police Department: Level funded  $2,709,401, +5% $2,844.871 and -5% 2,573,931.  Chief Bernstein explained that 97% of his budget is personnel.  He said that the level funded budget would result in the loss of one officer while the -5% budget would result in the loss of an additional two officers.  He said that under all budget scenarios four crossing guards are funded. 

 

DRAFT COMMUNTY CENTER RENTAL GUIDE, MARSHALL BRADSTEET

 

Recreation Director Bradstreet reviewed the Draft Community Center Rental Guide with the Selectmen.  He said the rental policies were put together to insure that the facility was used safely and productively.  He said that determining a rate structure was most challenging and that a market survey was conducted in order to determine rental fees.  He explained that the custodial fees are going to be funded by the rental fees.  Michael Ginsberg, Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee, who helped draft the guide was in attendance said that he said that the Town needs to look at hiring a “function manager” if the Community Center rental use is extensive.  There was also discussion about how far in advance to allow the public to book events. 

 

The Board of Selectmen discussed making the following amendments to the policy:

·        add a line stating that reservations be limited to one year in advance

·        approval of reservation of the Sharon Community Center is not final until one receives written notification from an authorized representative

 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Sharon Community Center Rental Policy

as amended above.

 

WATER BILL ABATEMENT REQUEST, YAKOV KOGANER

 

Mr. Koganer of 63 Billings Street came before the Board to discuss his water bill dated August 6, 2007 which was $1,990.  He had never received a bill higher than $200.00.  Superintendent Hooper said that he had already reviewed the bill and was willing to lower the bill to $768.00 as the water passed through the meter.  Town Administrator explained that there are two meters, an outside meter and an inside meter.  The lower meter reading was used for the benefit of the calculations.  Mr. Koganer reviewed the occupancy status of the house during the period of the bill in question.

 

The Selectmen asked that the meter be sent to a lab to see if it is working properly and to reconvene the meeting as it relates to this topic when the report is received.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session minutes of November 27, 2007.

 

BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Banner Request from January 7th – January 14th (1st position) for Temple Israel party planning program

 

REQUEST TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES

 

Mr. Bill Traut of BS Design has asked for permission of the Board to occupy and use the property at 470 North Main Street for storage, display, and sale of Christmas trees and related items.  Mr. Traut had received an opinion from Building Inspector Joe Kent that this is an allowable use provided he obtains the endorsement of the Sharon and Canton Board of Selectmen.

   

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to give permission to Bill Traut of BS Design to use the property at 470 North Main Street for storage, display, and sale of Christmas trees and related items.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Board asked that the request by Town Clerk Marlene Chused to set the date for the Fall 2008 Town Meeting be placed on the Agenda under General Business. .

 

The Board asked that Rita Fontes and Irene McCarthy, who have expressed interest in being appointed to the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee, be scheduled for the Selectmen Meeting of December 11, 2008.

 

Chairman Roach said he had met with Paul Vitale regarding the railroad system safety warning system.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and real property acquisition.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 9:20 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye