MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

 

 

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 7:05 p.m.

 

Chairman Roach announced that the Board was going to enter into Executive Session.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition and collective bargaining and to return to Regular Session at the end thereof.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:05 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye

 

The Board returned to Regular Session at 7:30 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Selectman Heitin noted that in the December 18, 2007 minutes Michael Sherman should not have been included on the list of appointees. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of December 4, 2007 and Regular Session Minutes and Executive Session Minutes of December 18, 2007 as noted above.

 

FALL 2008 TOWN MEETING DATE

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to schedule the Special Fall Town Meeting for November 17, 2008

 

BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the "One Book, One Town: Sharon Reads Together" committee from April 14-21, 2008 (1st position)

      

REQUEST BY MASSAPOAG YACHT CLUB

 

The Massapoag Yacht Club sent a letter requesting buoy placement in accordance with provisions of the State Uniform Markers System to be used as racing markers and to warn boaters of shallow waters during races.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the Massapoag Yacht Club to place buoys in Lake Massapoag for safety of the boating public

 

 

 

 

CANDIDATE FOR BOARD OF HEALTH: ED WELCH

 

Mr. Welch said that he has had a long career as a registered civil engineer and a land surveyor.  He added that he is very familiar with Title 5 and would be able to bring his technical skills as an Engineer to the Board which would be an asset when developing conditions.  He said he has attended several Board of Health meetings.  Mr. Welch has been a life-long resident of the Town and has served on several Boards including the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.

 

Anne Bingham, Chairman of the Board of Health was in attendance and said that she is not concerned about Mr. Welch’s qualifications but concerned that she was not notified about the interviews of any of the Board of Health candidates including those who are up for reappointment, nor was her opinion sought.  She said that current Board of Health members Suzi Peck and Dr. Elizabeth Barnett were interviewed in October and she doesn’t understand why they weren’t reappointed when all the other appointments were made in December.

 

Chairman Roach said that Ms. Bingham was notified of the interviews as she receives a copy of the Agenda each Friday prior to the meeting via email.  However, he said she should have received a letter. 

 

Ms. Bingham said that she encourages the Board to reappoint Suzi Peck and Dr. Barnett.

 

APPOINTMENT OF PERMANENT POLICE OFFICER

 

Chief Bernstein recommended that the Board appoint Daniel Allman a permanent police officer in Sharon.  The Chief said that Mr. Allman is a long-time Sharon resident, has served as a Special Police Officer and as a Permanent Intermittent Police Officer.  In addition, Mr. Allman put himself through the Police Academy.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Daniel Allman as a permanent police officer in the Town of Sharon.

 

CANDIDATE FOR SACRED HEART REUSE COMMITTEE: ED KEENAN

 

Ed Keenan of Gunhouse Street said that he is a 30 year Sharon resident and is interested in serving on the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee.  He said he is in favor of a public-private partnership for the property.  He believes that if all or part of the property is used as a field that it should be used as a multi-purpose field. 

ENERGY CHALLENEGE LETTER

 

Tom D’Avanzo a member of the Energy Advisory Committee who works for the Environmental Protection Agency encouraged the Selectmen on behalf of the Town to sign the Energy Challenge letter.  He said that communities throughout New England are signing the letter which states that the Town is committed to an energy savings goal of 10%.  There was discussion about an appropriate time frame for the Town to implement the savings.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to sign the Energy Challenge Letter and move forward on its goals.

 

CANDIDATE FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH: LARRY GAFFIN

 

Mr. Gaffin has lived in Sharon for 25 years.  He is a chemical engineer and has worked in the construction field as it relates to industrial and commercial facilities and waste recovery.  He said he has been evaluating various technologies in the waste treatment area. 

 

Board of Health Chair Anne Bingham said that though she sees room for an engineer on the Board of Health she again encourages of the Board of Selectmen to reappoint Suzi Peck and Dr. Elizabeth Barnett.  Citizen Alice Cheyer was in the audience and she read a letter in support of the reappointment of Suzi Peck.

 

WILBER LEASE UPDATE

 

There was a presentation by Joe Timilty of Frontier Development and Jason Korb of Beacon Communities.  David Depree Chair of the Wilber School Redevelopment Committee was also in attendance. 

 

The site is 3.9 acres with one acre on Station Street being retained for Town use.  The existing building will be renovated and an addition will be constructed on the back.  The final structure will contain 79 apartment units – 36 in the existing school and 43 in the addition.  There will be 136 parking spaces.  The developer has filed a groundwater discharge permit.  The wastewater treatment plant will be incorporated into the existing building.  The main entrance will be located off of Chestnut Street for drop-off and a pedestrian access will be located on South Main Street. 

 

Kerry Richard of GeoHydro Cycle, Inc. spoke about the water level in the area.  He said the worst case scenario is that the ground water will be ten foot below the basements of the homes in the area. 

 

Joe Timilty said that until there is a signed lease the developer will not be able to obtain historic tax credits.  Jason Korb of Beacon Communities said that 20% of the units will be affordable.  He further explained that rents for market rate units will be $1,000 - $2,200 and the rent for affordable units will be $700 - $1,000.  The 47 two-bedroom units will contain between 1,000- 1,500 square feet and the 32 one-bedroom units will contain between 750 – 900 square feet. The building will also include a fitness center and a small business center. The developer has been working with the Sharon Housing Partnership and announced that 70% of the 15 affordable units will be Sharon resident preference. Joe Timilty said that they hope to break ground in June. 

 

Charles Aspinwall an abutter said that he is concerned about the water level in the area and believes that the level at the Pleasant Street School is 6.5 feet.  He is requesting that he be allowed to hook into the project’s wastewater treatment facility. 

 

Town Counsel Gelerman said the remaining issue is the real estate taxes.  The developer is concerned that if a third party appeals the project that the developer’s ability to receive income will be delayed resulting in tax expenses with no income.  Therefore, the agreement states that if a third party appeal results in the property not being occupied the property tax expense will be deducted from the lease payment.

 

Chairman Roach revisited the issue raised by Mr. Aspinwall.  It was stated that in addition to the facility that either eight private homes or the Town Hall, Fire Station and Pleasant Street School plus one home can tie in.  Per terms of the proposed lease the Selectmen must decide by March who will tie in.

 

Attorney Gelerman then reviewed the terms of the lease which include:

·         75 year ground lease

·         Easements on Town land for temporary construction and a slope easement

·         After developer  receives his discharge permit and comprehensive permit and financing the Town will receive a one-time payment of $1,375,000

·         Beginning in 2030 the town will receive $60,000 annually for the remainder of the lease

·         Developer is prohibited from assigning lease to a third party without the Selectmen’s approval

 

 

Attorney Gelerman said that the lease will be in its final form either Wednesday or Thursday for the

Selectmen to sign.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve and execute the Ground Lease and Easement Agreement as described to us this evening by Town Counsel and by and between the Town as Landlord and BC Wilber School LLC as Tenant for those premises of approximately 3.92 acres at 75-896 South Main Street.  Said Agreement to contain such further modifications and corrections as to be presented to us by Town Counsel. 

 

MASS RECYCLES PAPER! CAMPAIGN RESOLUTION

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to sign the MASS! Recycles Paper Resolution.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Chairman Roach noted that the Board had sent a letter to AMTRAK regarding the platform warning system and also asked that the trains cease blowing their horn.

 

Selectman Heitin asked that the Board consider waiving the room rental fee for the Democratic Town Committee’s Annual Caucus on February 3rd at 12 noon to be held at the Community Center.  The Town Committee will pay the cost of the custodian.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to waive the room rental fee at the community Center for the Democratic Town Committee on February 3rd at noon.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL

 

APPOINT REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH COAST RAIL STUDY

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint George Bailey as the Sharon representative to the South Coast Rail Study

 

2008 DPW SERVICE CONTRACT AWARDS – SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL SERVICES GROUP

 

Superintendent of Public Works Eric Hooper explained that besides the lower prices offered by the consortium they also put together the bid which is a time saver for the DPW. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the 2008 DPW service contract awards as recommended by the Southeastern Regional Services Group.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 10:15 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye