MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

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 A. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin, Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m.

 

CANDIDATE FOR THE WATER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

April Singleton said she moved to Sharon from New Mexico three years ago.  She has attended three or four meetings of the Water Management Advisory Committee.  She said she is interested in learning more about the policies of the Committee and becoming an active member of the Committee.

 

INTERFAITH ACTION: UPDATE AND PEACE POLE APPROVAL

 

Janet Penn of Interfaith Action spoke about the various activities of the Interfaith Action group. She highlighted the multi-cultural festival that is scheduled for May 3, 2009 whose theme is “Peace”.  A Peace Pole will be dedicated at Beech Tree Park following the Festival.  The word “Peace” is inscribed on the pole in eight languages.  Ms. Penn said she has recruited a volunteer who is willing to donate the labor for the installation of the Peace Pole.  She said that the Recreation Advisory Committee has voted to support the installation of the Peace Pole.   Selectman Roach recommended that she contact Town Engineer Peter O’Cain.  Ms. Penn asked that the Selectmen open up the lake parking area on the day of the festival and the Peace Pole installation as a Dance Recital is taking place at Sharon High School.  She said there are sixty students involved in the Youth Program.

 

Ms. Penn said that Interfaith Action will be:

·        hosting Iraqi Emerging Leaders

·        students will be presenting at a conference in Melbourne, Australia

·        piloting their training at a site in Boston and a site in New York

·        Sharon Pluralism Network will be hosting the  “One Town Many Cultures” Film Festival

·        “One Town Many Traditions” will be exhibited at the Community Center

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve Regular Session Minutes of February 19, 2009, March 10, 2009, and March 17, 2009 and Executive Session Minutes of February 10, 2009, March 10, 2009 and March 17, 2009.

AWARD OF PRINTING CONTRACT AND DELIVERY FOR 2008 TOWN REPORT

 

Roni Thaler recommended that the contract for the printing of the 2008 Town Report be awarded to Commonwealth Printing, Newburyport, Massachusetts.  Commonwealth was the printer for last year’s Town Report.  The bid was sent to five printers with only two responding. The closest bidder was approximately 20% higher depending on the amount of pages.

 

Commonwealth’s bid: 

190 pages - $7,887.50

200 pages-  $8,092.50

210 pages-  $8,297.50

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to award the printing bid for the 2008 Annual Town Report to Commonwealth Printing as described.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to award the bid for the delivery of the 2008 Annual Town Report to Boy Scout Troop #95 for $1,200.00

 

SIGNING OF WARRANT FOR 2008 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

Chairman Powell said that the Conservation Restriction for Camp Gannett would not be included in the Warrant and that there is an article to transfer money from the Reserve Fund because of the high cost of snow removal this winter

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to sign the Annual Town Meeting Warrant dated May 4, 2009

 

APPROVAL OF CHANGES IN LOCAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

Town Administrator Puritz recommended that the Board approve the changes to the regulations.  The Board had discussed the revisions at a prior meeting and Chairman Powell said he had received positive comments from Sharon residents regarding the changes.  The revised regulations would allow restaurants that have more than 50 seats and a liquor license to have a bar where patrons could sit.  Any restaurant with less than 80 seats would be permitted to have 8 seats at the bar and restaurants with greater than 80 seats would be permitted to have 11% of their seats at the bar. 

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to adopt the revised rules and regulations as discussed.

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

 

Selectman Heitin read the letter to the Selectmen from the 4th of July Committee.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by the Friends of the Fourth Committee from June 21st - July 3rd with the banner fee waived (1st position)

 

SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Ed Ruvich, Steven Rabinovitz and Michael Saija to the Cable Oversight Committee

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Chairman Powell said that because of the cash reconciliation process than Town has recognized an additional $2.4 million in cash.  He said that the Priorities Committee had voted to utilize 50% of the funds to offset any property tax increase.  He further explained that the remaining $1.2 million will flow to free cash for use in subsequent years. Selectman Heitin said that the Town of Sharon is very lucky compared to other communities.  He said that three projects: Avalon Bay, Wilber School, and the rezoning of a parcel had all contributed to the Town’s fiscal health. He further explained that the Town was not using the levy capacity for years 2 & 3 of the override that was passed in May 2007.  Selectman Heitin further stated that the $2.4 million can be attributed to a double payment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the East Elementary and Cottage Street Elementary renovation projects.  He said at the time of the receipt of the funds the Town had very limited financial staff. Selectman Roach said he thanks the Committees and Boards and staff for all their efforts.  He feels in these very difficult economic times the Town is very fortunate.  

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the Board not increase property taxes in FY 2010

 

FLAMINGO FUNDRAISER

 

The Board has received a request from the Sharon High School junior class regarding approval of a Flamingo Fundraiser.  Chairman Powell said the Board has some questions about the fundraiser and asked that representatives of the junior class be placed on the agenda for the next Selectmen’s meeting.

 

REQUEST TO EXTEND HOURS FOR EVENT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

 

The Board had received a letter from resident Shani Winton who is holding an event at the Community Center on September 12th.  As she is an observant Jew she asked that since sundown is fairly late that the Board allow her to extend her party to midnight from 11:30pm.  The consensus of the Board was that this was a reasonable request

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize a one-time extension for Shani Winton for an event at the Community Center on September 12th from 11:30pm – midnight

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and bargaining with non-represented personnel and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:50 P.M.

 

Powell:Aye

Heitin: Aye

Roach: Aye