MINUTES

     BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

    Tuesday September 9, 2008

      7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 pm in the Sharon Town Offices with Chairman Richard Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin and Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach and Town Administrator Ben Puritz

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Chairman Powell introduced new Town employees: Elizabeth Hurley who is the new Business Manager of the Department of Public Works replacing Marie Cuneo who is retiring and Amanda Deni who is the new Assistant Recreation Director.

 

HEARING FOR STOP SIGNS ON CHESSMAN DRIVE AND BISHOP ROAD AND CHESSMAN DRIVE AND WILLIAMS DRIVE

 

Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper and Police Chief Joseph Bernstein were in attendance.

 

Chairman Powell opened the hearing for placing stop signs on the corners of Chessman Drive and Bishop Road and Chessman Drive and Williams Drive. 

 

There was discussion regarding this issue for approximately one hour and 45 minutes.  The neighbors expressed the following viewpoints:

 

A resident of Aspen Road and Bishop Drive requested speed bumps  Jim Freedman of 31 Eisenhower Drive doesn’t want stop signs.  He said he sent a letter to Eric Hooper stating that speed control is not a reason to place stop signs at intersections.  Mr. Freedman also said that he had spoken to Mass Highway and that the stop signs do not comply with state regulations.  He also said that the stop signs and embankments are going to be troublesome when it snows.  Another resident said he doesn’t believe that the stop signs should be permanent once Bay Road is fixed.  Several residents followed that statement saying that they believe the stop signs should remain after Bay Road is fixed.  They said people speed down Chessman Drive and Bishop Road and it is unsafe for the children who live on these streets.  Henry Bobek of 73 Bishop Road said he obtained an estimate from a contractor and he believes Bay Road can be fixed for $30,000.00.   Many residents complained about the removal of the Detour Signs.  Selectman Roach explained that the detour signs were removed at the request of the neighborhood. 

 

Chairman Powell asked Town Administrator Puritz to update the attendees about the situation.  He said that the section of Bay Road that includes the sink hole is in the jurisdiction of Stoughton. He said that the Transportation Bond Bill that had been signed by Governor Patrick included funding for repairing Bay Road.  He said that Sharon has requested a meeting with Stoughton to discuss the issue.  The next step is for the Governor to authorize the release of the money that was included in the Transportation Bond Bill.  Attendees asked that a template be placed online that the citizens could use to send to Governor Patrick. 

 

James Freedman said he didn’t have a problem with the signs if they were temporary but felt they should be removed once the Bay Road situation is resolved. David Fogel of 19 Chessman Drive and many others in attendance said that they would like the signs to be permanent. Ken Weiner of Bay Road said that he believes the neighborhood has become a freeway and would like the Selectmen to close Castle Drive temporarily.  He believes that currently Stoughton has no incentive to cooperate with Sharon and that this would force Stoughton to the table.

DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper spoke and said that the criteria for stop signs are: high speed, high volume and crash history.  He said according to those criteria both Bishop Road and Chessman Drive are safe - particularly because they are wide roads and sidewalks are located on both sides of the street.

 

Fire Chief Mann said he sees this situation as a quality of life issue not a public safety issue.  He said that closing the road is not an option because the Fire Department has to serve the Bay Road residents and he added that the Stoughton Fire Trucks that people see could be responding to Sharon residents. Police Chief Bernstein said that he doesn’t believe this is a public safety issue as there are wide streets and sidewalks. 

There were also comments about the fact that the Stop Signs were in the middle of the road.  Superintendent Hooper said that if the Selectmen approve the signs they will be placed in the appropriate place.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Heitin) Voted unanimously to permit the temporary stop signs and to reassess the situation once the Bay Road construction is completed

 

The Selectmen said they have to close the hearing before they vote.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to close the hearing.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Heitin) Voted unanimously to permit the temporary stop signs and to reassess the situation once the Bay Road construction is completed.

 

The Selectmen took a 5 minute recess

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Minutes of September 2, 2008 and the Executive Session Minutes of September 2, 2008.

 

ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE FOR FRIENDS OF THE SHARON COUNCIL ON AGING

 

Gordon Gladstone came before the Board representing the Friends of the Council on Aging.  Mr. Gladstone explained that the organization was requesting a one-day liquor license for the opening of the Art Gallery on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 from  7:00pm to 9:00pm.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to grant the one-day liquor license to the Friends of the Sharon Council on Aging for the Art Gallery opening as requested by the Friends of the Sharon Council on Aging

 

DRAFT REVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL POLICY

 

Town Administrator Puritz asked for a deferral for no more than two weeks for the review of the Community Center Rental Policy for either the September 16h or September 23rd Selectmen’s Meeting.

 

 

NOVEMBER 17, 2008 TOWN MEETING DRAFT ARTICLES AND SCHEDULE

 

Town Administrator Puritz reported that the Selectmen had received a communication from a land owner requesting that the Town amend the zoning for a portion of land to light commercial.  He said the Board doesn’t have to make a decision tonight and can decide at a later date whether or not to sponsor an article to do so.  The Board will make the assessment next week on whether or not to include or not include in the Warrant.

 

AMENDMENT TO WILBER SCHOOL GROUND LEASE

 

The Board will take this matter up after meeting with Town Counsel in Executive Session

 

APPROVAL OF JEANNE PECKHAM LEASE FOR HORIZONS FOR YOUTH PROPERTY

 

Selectman Roach recused himself from this discussion and vote.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted to approve the lease of Jeanne Peckham for the Horizons for Youth Property from September 1, 2008 – November 30, 2008 for rent in the amount of $1,000.00 per month.

 

APPROVAL OF COMPOSITION OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE AND DESIGNATION OF THE STANDING BUILDING COMMITTEE AS THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT

 

Standing Building Committee Chair Gordon Gladstone explained the under 963CMR of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) it is stated that the Town must form a School Building Committee.  The MSBA has agreed that members of the Sharon Standing Building Committee may be designated as members of the School Building Committee.  Mr. Gladstone said that the MSBA also required that a designated applicant be determined by the Town.  He is asking that the Standing Building Committee be recognized as the designated applicant. 

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to endorse the composition of the School Building Committee as per the MSBA form and to endorse the Standing Building Committee as the eligible applicant.

 

WILBER SCHOOL TRAFFIC PLAN

 

Chairman Powell reviewed Town Engineer Peter O’Cain’s memo regarding the traffic plan.  Town Administrator Puritz explained that as this is part of the comprehensive permit conditions and that there is no need to hold a hearing on this issue.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to accept the Traffic Mitigation Plan for the Wilber School as reviewed and presented by the Town Engineer

 

OTHER

 

Chairman Roach spoke about moving the Annual Halloween parade back to the downtown area.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into  Executive Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining, bargaining with non-represented personnel, real property, a personnel matter and at the end of Executive Session to reconvene in open session to discuss the Wilber School Ground Lease and then to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 9:00 P.M.

 

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye

Roach: Aye

 

The Board reconvened in Open Session at 10:40 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO WILBER SCHOOL GROUND LEASE

 

Chairman Powell explained that the developer of the Wilber School property has asked that the agreement be amended since thus far they weren’t granted all of the Historic Tax Credits they applied for.  Therefore, they would like to pay the Town $703,500 now and pay the remaining $653,500 as they receive their credits with the Town receiving 50% of all tax credit monies that they receive.  All monies must be received within 17 years though the developer expects to receive the remainder of the tax credits in the next two cycles.  The Town will receive interest on the monies owed at the rate of the Federal Funds Rate + 1% with a cap of 8% and a rate no less than 3%.  The interest is payable monthly.  The Selectmen discussed putting the funds in the Stabilization Fund.  In addition, once the developer receives financing they will no longer have the right to terminate the agreement.  If they default any amount due the Town is still payable.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to sign the 2nd Amendment to the Wilber School Agreement

 

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

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 10:45 P.M.

 

Powell: Aye

Heitin: Aye

Roach: Aye