MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:30 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 7:37 p.m.
REQUEST FOR A ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE FROM MARC BLUESTEIN
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve a One-Day Liquor License to Marc Bluestein on April 12, 2008 at the Community Center Ballroom, subject to compliance with conditions of the rules and regulations of the Selectmen and the Recreation Director.
CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL-ALCOHOL MANAGER APPLICANT WICKED...A BOSTON BISTRO
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve Change of Manager and Liquor License to Christopher Mitchell.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Selectman Powell asked that the February 12, 2008 Executive Session Minutes be held until the meeting of March 4, 2008
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of February 12, 2008.
FY'09 SELECTMEN'S CONSOLIDATED DRAFT BUDGETS
Town Administrator, Benjamin E. Puritz, was pleased to announce that there is an encouraging trend regarding the Health Insurance budget and that proposed increase has been reduced from 7% to 5%. Overall, the FY'09 budget will provide for continuity of services to the Town. There are 32 working budgets. He would like to present the FY'09 budget to the Finance Committee for their perusal at their upcoming meeting.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Board of Selectmen's Proposed budget FY'09 be forwarded to the Finance Committee.
WATER MAIN BREAK ON ROUTE 1
The Board discussed the memo from Peter M. O'Cain, P.E., Town Engineer, dated February 20, 2008 re "Water Main Break on Route 1". It is the belief of the Sharon Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works that the approval of the work performed by MassHighway, without discussion of the project with the Town of Sharon, has caused the Town to perform emergency repairs with a cost of a total of $29,629.44. The Engineering of the Department of Public Works respectfully requests that the Sharon Board of Selectmen pursue obtaining reimbursement compensation from MassHighway and/or Lynch Construction for cost to repair damages to the water main on Route 1.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to have the Board of Selectmen send a letter to Mr. Bernard E, McCourt, District Highway Director, MassHighway Department seeking compensation from MassHighway and/or Lynch Construction for the work needed to address and repair damages to the water main on Route 1.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF HORIZONS FOR YOUTH PROPERTY LEASES
Town Administrator reported that the Town is waiting for further comment from Bond Counsel regarding the renting of the property to the Old Colony Boy Scouts and Jeanne Peckham Gym & Dance. This item will be discussed at the next Selectmen meeting.
BANNER REQUEST
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the Community Kollel of Sharon from February 27 to March 5, 2008 (2nd position)
BANNER REQUEST
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the First Congregational Church of Sharon from November 28 to December 6, 2008 (1st position)
PRESENTATION/CONCERNS FROM WALPOLE RESIDENTS REGARDING PROPOSED POWER PLANT
This item to be rescheduled at a later date.
SACRED HEART REUSE COMMITTEE
The following members of the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee: Stephen Carter, John Davis, Ed Keenan, Irene McCarthy, Rita Fontes and Alan Wachman (Larry Gaffin was unable to attend) appeared before the Board of Selectmen to obtain a better understanding of what is expected of them as a Committee to go forward in evaluating how this five-acre property can be used to benefit the Town.
The Board's advice to the Committee was to keep the following in mind as they prepare their report to the Board of Selectmen:
· think outside the box;
· balance imaginative ideas with the needs of the neighborhood and community;
· take time and do all the work with diligence;
· look at the history of the site;
· the old school building will have to be torn down without using capital funds;
· solicit all the input you can i.e., Town Engineering department as a source of valuable information;
· have open-hearing meetings
· check with various Town departments for their ideas;
· Town Clerk to give rules and regulations of a committee and meeting to be posted with the Clerk's office 48 hours prior to a meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the Library Trustees, Bob Levin said "We really feel that this property is the last property in Town that can be used for the future of the library." Mr. Levin the Library Board of Trustees is putting together a proposed article for the Fall Town Meeting that would set aside one to one and a half acres of the land for a new library.
The Board recessed at 8:25 p.m.
The Board reconvened in at 8:40 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING - INCREASE IN AMBULANCE RATES
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to open the Ambulance Rate Hearing.
Chief Dennis Mann was present to recommend increases in ambulance rated. It is the recommendation of the Fire Chief that the Town of Sharon increase the rates as of March 1, 2008 to correspond with the new Medicare Rates that took effect January 1, 2008.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to keep Public Hearing - Increase in Ambulance Rates open.
ASSISTANT RECREATION DIRECTOR INTERIM COMPENSATION
The Board discussed the memo from Benjamin E. Puritz, Town Administrator, dated February 20, 2008 re Assistant Recreation Director compensation adjustment. Mr. Puritz reported that the Recreation Director Marshall Bradstreet will be resigning his position effective March 7, 2008 and is, therefore, recommending consistent with well established past practice, that Assistant Recreation Director Melissa Lothrop's compensation be increased, effective March 10, 2008, to the $1,077.13/week mid-point of the Recreation Director's and Assistant Recreation Director weekly salaries (e.g., 1,225.00 + 929.25 = 2,154.25 divided by 2 = 1,077.13). This compensation increase is in recognition of the expanded responsibilities of the Assistant Director, on an interim basis, during the period the Recreation Director position is vacant.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to increase Assistant Recreation Director's, Melissa Lothrop, compensation to 1,077.13 effective March 10, 2008, subject to the approval of the Personnel Board.
PERIODIC MILEAGE RATE REIMBURSEMENT ADJUSTMENT
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to increase the mileage reimbursement rate to $.48/mile for the calendar year 2007 and to $.50.5/mile for the calendar year 2008, both consistent with Federal government rates
REQUEST PERMISSION TO "FUND RAISE" ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 - SHARON HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS
The Selectmen discussed the request correspondence from the Sharon High School Cheerleaders asking permission to have a "Fund Raiser" on September 20, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. where the team would stand around Town at various locations and ask for donations. It was asked that this information be forwarded to the Police Chief Joe Bernstein.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Sharon High School Cheerleaders request to have a "Fund Raiser" on September 20, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., subject to review/final approval of Police Chief.
PART-TIME CUSTODIAL SERVICES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER
The Board discussed the memo from Eric R. Hooper, P.E., Superintendent of Public Works, dated February 21, 2008 re part-time custodial services at the Community Center. The DPW is recommending that the Town proceed with filling a 19-hour per week custodial position to be funded through the Recreation Department Revolving Fund revenues. The following hours for the part-time custodian would be Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize approval of a part-time custodian for the Community Center to be funded through revolving fund revenues.
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
VOTE TO APPROVE WATER BILL INSERT INFORMATION
The Board discussed an email from Paul Lauenstein, a member on the Water Management Advisory Board, re placing an insert re Water Sense in the next water bill.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Water Sense insert in the next water bill mailing.
SURPLUS - NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
Correspondence from Norma Fitzgerald, Council on Aging Director, informed the Board that there is surplus furniture, computer tables, corner units, etc. from the COA office which are no longer needed.
RESERVING OF COMMUNITY CENTER TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE
This item to be revisited at the next Board of Selectmen's Meeting, March 4, 2008
ABATEMENT OF PROPERTY NOW OWNED BY TOWN
The Board discussed a memo from Mark J. Mazur, Administrative Assessor, re abatement of property now owned by the Town. The memo states that the Board of Assessors has the right to abate the unpaid taxes of property obtained by the Town. The Board of Assessors is asking the Board of Selectmen write them a letter requesting that they grant abatements for the following two properties that were obtained by the Town on September 19, 2007: Parcel 112-117, 16 Hunters Ridge Road and Parcel 112-118, 1 Hunters Ridge Road.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize the Board of Selectmen to write a letter to the Board of Assessors seeking abatements for the following two properties that were obtained by the Town on September 19, 2007: Parcel 112-117, 16 Hunters Ridge Road and Parcel 112-118, 1 Hunters Ridge Road.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted 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 9:20 p.m.
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye
Heitin: Aye