MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, January 15, 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 William A. Heitin, and Town Administrator Ben Puritz

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m.

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WATER BILL ABATEMENT REQUEST: YAKOV KOGANER

 

Superintendent of Public Works Eric Hooper explained that this was a hearing regarding a water bill that had been continued.  The Selectmen had asked Mr. Hooper to pull the meter and have it tested to ensure that it was working correctly.  Mr. Hooper reported that the testing revealed that the meter was working properly.  Superintendent Hooper said he believes there was no intent to deceive the Town on the part of Mr. Koganer and he is recommending that the homeowner be charged at the lowest possible rate which would total $768.00.

 

Mr. Koganer, who was in attendance, said that he would pay the amount in six equal installments beginning next week.  The Board was in agreement.  Superintendent Hooper said he will make sure that Mr. Koganer is not assessed any penalties. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to charge Mr. Koganer $768.00 for his water bill to be paid in six equal payments of $128.00.

 

Chairman Roach said that as Superintendent Hooper was in attendance that the Board would move to several items on the Supplemental Agenda.

 

AWARD CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR NORWOOD STREET WATER MAIN

INSTALLATION

 

Superintendent Hooper said that the Water Department requested that Amory Engineers submit a proposal to

provide required engineering services with regard to installation of a new 12” water main under Norwood Street

from High Plain Street to Bullard Street. The project will include: preparation of a bid document, bid

administration and engineering oversight.  This project is being funded as part of the Avalon Bay

negotiations. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to award the contract for services for the Norwood Street Water

Main Installation to Amory Engineers for $46,800 to provide services required for the installation of

a new 12” ductile iron water main under Norwood Street. 

 

CONSIDER SERVICE CONTRACT FOR WATER DEPARTMENT SCADA SUPPORT

 

Superintendent Hooper explained that SCADA is the computer control system used to operate the water system.  This particular contract is a service contract.  The result of not having a service contract in prior years resulted in a $170,000 one-time cost mainly associated with lightning damage for various software and hardware updates.  Mr. Hooper explained that if the Town doesn’t use the allotted hours in the contract  then the hours are rolled over.  The funds can be used for both time and materials.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into a contract for support services for the SCADA

system maintenance with Woodard & Curran of Dedham, Massachusetts for an amount not to exceed $8,700

and to authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

 

CONSIDER SIGNING DEEDS FOR 154A BILLINGS STREET AND 9 GLENVIEW AVENUE

 

It was explained that these parcels are associated with the Glendale Road purchase that was approved at the

May 2007 Town Meeting.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously that the Board sign the quitclaim deed for the property at 154A

Billings Street in the amount of $770,000.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously that the Board sign the quitclaim deed for the property at 9

Glenview Avenue in the amount of $250,000.

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin)  Voted to approve the Banner Request of the Temple Israel Brotherhood 2008 Online Auction from February 11th – February 19th (1st position).  If the position is not needed by another group the banner can continue to be hung.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Selectman Powell asked for a storm update.  Superintendent Hooper said he wanted to thank DPW Employee Cindy Rhodes who was the only human voice that people heard during the storm – if you called Verizon or NStar you only could speak with a machine.  Cindy worked non-stop from 8am – 5pm without a break.  Chairman Roach asked that the Board send Ms. Rhodes a letter of appreciation. 

 

Superintendent Hooper said that as far as he knows all the power is back.  He said that from a plowing perspective this was not a bad storm.  There were discussions about emergency power supply issues at the Town Hall and the new Community Center during a storm when there is a power outage

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for a personnel matter and collective bargaining and at the end thereof return to Regular Session.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:35 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye

 

The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 8:39 p.m.

 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH

 

The Board agreed that they had several excellent candidates to choose from.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Suzi Peck and Ed Welch to the Board of Health.

 

Chairman Roach said he felt strongly that it was important to have an engineer as a member of the Board of Health because of the many wastewater treatment issues and Title V issues that were going to come before the Board.  Selectman Heitin said he agreed with Chairman Roach and added that the Board should contemplate the formation of a public health education program utilizing physicians and other healthcare personnel in Town.

 

 

 

 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE SACRED HEART REUSE COMMITTEE

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Allen Wachman, Rita Fontes, Irene McCarthy, Stephen Carter. Larry Gaffin and John Davis to the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

 

SIMPSON HOUSING

 

Patrick McMahon of Simpson Housing made a presentation to the Board regarding the status of the project.    He explained that the Zoning Board of Appeals has hired a peer review engineer who has provided feedback to Simpson.  He provided some history on the project explaining that in December 2005 Simpson had come before the Board as a friendly 40B located off of Route 1.  The Comprehensive Permit was submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals in November 2006.  In October 2006 Simpson attempted to obtain permission from Walpole to connect to their sewer system.  They were turned down so it became apparent that they would have to construct a waste water treatment facility.  He said recently Simpson has made some changes to the site plan which resulted in increased wetland setbacks.  They also eliminated all three bedroom units, decreased the number of two bedroom units and increased the number of one bedroom units.  Simpson is going to be coming before the Planning Board tomorrow, January 16, 2008 and with the Zoning Board of Appeals on January 23, 2008.  Based on prior recommendations they have added sidewalks and walking paths. He said that the Sharon Housing Authority is going to run the lottery for the affordable units with all 204 units counting against the 10% Affordable Housing Production Plan requirements.  The expected annual tax revenue o the Town is $350K - $400K.

 

Spencer Welton of Simpson Housing also was in attendance. He explained that Simpson Housing is a fifty year old national company that primarily develops multi-family complexes.  There was some discussion about the sequencing of construction in order to best coordinate with the Town’s Affordable Housing Production Plan.  Mr. Welton said that Simpson would be willing as long as it worked out with the permitting process.   

 

 

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 9:14 p.m.

 

Roach: Aye

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye