MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Tuesday, June 16, 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 William A. Heitin, Selectman Richard A. Powell, Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of Collective Bargaining, Pending Litigation, Real Property and at the completion of Executive Session to adjourn to Regular Session and at the completion of Regular Session to re adjourn in Executive Session.
The Board reconvened in Regular Session at 7:28 p.m.
JAMES MCMANUS – PROPOSAL FOR EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Mr. McManus, of Troop #95, explained that as his Eagle Scout Project would like to build a bocce court at the Sharon Community Center. He said he had spoken to Norma Fitzgerald Director of the Council on Aging, DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper and Recreation Director Brett MacGowan. He said that all these individuals are supportive of the project. He said he learned that there was a need for a bocce court. He plans on raising the necessary funds by sending out mailers to the Men’s Club and applying for funds from Eastern Bank. He hopes to begin construction by the beginning of August. He said long-term maintenance would be performed as part of Troop 95’s community service project.
Town Administrator Puritz said Mr. McManus’ project was discussed at the Recreation Advisory Committee and received support.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to give James McManus permission to construct his Eagle Scout Project at the Sharon Community Center as discussed
DISCUSSION OF CASTLE DRIVE AS IT RELATES TO BAY ROAD
It was asked if Chairman Heitin would be recusing himself from the discussion. He said he would not as no action will be taken. Chairman Heitin reported that a meeting had been held yesterday with Representative Kafka and Representative Galvin as well representatives of Sharon, Stoughton and the Massachusetts Highway Department. Chairman Heitin also announced that Stoughton had been informed that if within 14 days there is no planned resolution regarding Bay Road than certain legal action will be taken by Sharon. Chairman Heitin also said that Castle Drive will not be closed. He said that the Selectmen were considering other options including speed bumps and additional police patrols.
Castle Drive resident Clifford Caplan asked why the Selectmen won’t close Castle Drive. Associate Town Counsel Cindy Amara who was in attendance said that there is no regulation that would allow or authorize Sharon to close Castle Drive as there is no defect in the road and no history of safety issues. Mr. Caplan said once the road construction on Castle Drive was completed it would become a speedway. He said there have been many near misses and one day there is going to be a tragedy. He asked about putting a sliding gate across Castle at Bay Road that would allow emergency vehicles and school bus access only. A resident of Prince Way said that she too is experiencing a lot of additional traffic as well because people think that her street is a shortcut to Bay Road. Bruce Hoffman who lives at the corner of Bishop Road and Chessman Drive said that people are not stopping at stop signs and people are throwing trash out of their car windows. He says the real issue is why Stoughton is not fixing Bay Road. Mark Stankiewicz, the Stoughton Town Manager was in attendance and said the 2x2 fix was not good enough and that Stoughton would like to move ahead with the 9x5 fix. This would cost $600,000.00. He said the Town budget is very tight as they have had lay-offs and the Town Meeting in May voted no on the article that would have provided the funding to fix the Bay Road culvert. A resident of Leonard Road asked why Stoughton doesn’t detour people through West Street. Mr. Stankiewicz said that the Castle Drive detour is just shorter. Several residents of Castle Drive reiterated the safety issue. Cheryl Weinstein of Coach Lane said she understood that the majority of people receiving tickets were residents of the neighborhood. She also said she wanted to point out that Castle Drive is 27 feet wide while Bay Road is only 22 feet wide. Gerald Evans who lives at the corner of Bishop Road and Chessman Drive said that he is going to file an abatement because his house has lost value because of the increased traffic.
The discussion then turned to the placement of temporary speed bumps removable in the winter when they would have to be removed because of plowing. A resident asked what would happen if Sharon tried to repair the road. Chairman Heitin said that Sharon has offered $100,000 to split the cost of the 2x2 repair. However, he said as this is not Sharon’s road we do not have the authority to repair the road. Mr. Stankiewicz said he doesn’t want a temporary fix for the road and sees the 2x2 fix as temporary and would like to go with the 5x9 repair which is more expensive.
John Anzivino the Vice-Chair of the Stoughton Board of Selectmen who said he was in attendance as an individual stated that both the Stoughton Town Manager and the Chair of the Stoughton Board of Selectmen made impassioned speeches at the Stoughton Town Meeting in support of the funding to fix the road. He invited the Sharon Board of Selectmen to the next Stoughton Board of Selectmen Meeting scheduled for Tuesday June 23, 2009. Selectman Powell said that both the Massachusetts Highway Department and the Sharon Town Engineer agree that the 2x2 plan would be fine. Anzivino said they won’t move ahead without a stamp of the plan. Selectman Roach says that if the 2x2 fix would stand up for ten years that would be suitable. Stankiewicz said that the debris that caused the culvert to fail was from a Sharon resident. Judy Lipsky of Bishop Road asked that the Selectmen consider weight limits so large trunks cannot drive through the neighborhood. Richard Mandell of Mountain Street asked if the Board of Selectmen would do the same for Mountain Street and Bay Road. Chairman Heitin said he would consider each road individually. Cliff Caplan expressed concern about the noise that would be produced if large trucks went over speed bumps. Chairman Heitin said that within another month the Selectman would hold a forum on this issue at the Sharon Community Center. Selectman Powell asked for a sense of the attendees regarding the placement of speed bumps. Selectman Roach read a letter from Superintendent of School Barbara Dunham regarding the additional transportation costs of $60,000 if Castle Drive was closed.
Chairman Heitin announced a five minute recess
The Board reconvened at 9:30pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of June 9, 2009
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FALL TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the 2009 Fall Town Meeting Schedule
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FY 2010 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR COMPENSATION
Selectman Powell asked that the item be held.
SHARON HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS REQUEST FOR CANNING ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND SEPTEMBER 12
The Selectmen have received a request from the Sharon High School cheerleaders to be granted permission for canning on September 11, 2009 and September 12, 2009 at various locations through Sharon. The Selectmen said they cannot grant permission for locations outside of Post Office Square. They recommended that the cheerleaders contact the owners of the other locations.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Sharon High School Cheerleaders request in Post Office Square for canning on September 1,, 2009 and September 12, 2009.only
CONSIDER APPROVING contract with Weston & Sampson for FY ‘09 Landfill Groundwater Reports, Gas Sampling and Cap Inspections at a cost of $10,000.00
Chairman Heitin explained that this is an Annual Contract with Weston & Sampson to provide landfill groundwater reports, gas sampling and cap inspections.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the contract with Weston & Sampson for FY09 Landfill Groundwater Reports, Gas Samplings and Cap Inspections at a cost of $10,000 and authorize Superintendent Hooper to sign the contract
approval of SEMASS memorandum of understanding
superintendent Hooper explained that the document before the Selectmen is the Memorandum of Understanding to enter into a contract extension with SEMASS. He said a small subcommittee has been looking into the contract extension to determine if it is the Town’s best interest and is recommending that the Selectmen sign the document. Town Counsel said that signing the document doesn’t bind the Town to the contract extension but leaves the door open.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with SEMASS as discussed
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS
Town Administrator Puritz explained that the agreements are still in the process of being assembled.
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
Chairman Heitin said that the first item which included Correspondence from Castle Drive residents had been discussed earlier in the evening.
AWARD BID FOR NORWOOD STREET WATER MAIN INSTALLATION
Superintendent Hooper explained that this would complete the water main work on Norwood Street that was started last year. Funding had been received for FY ’10. The lowest bidder was Tom Gioioso Construction, Inc. of Rockland, Massachusetts for $209,445.60.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to award the bid to Tom Gioioso Construction, Inc. of Rockland Massachusetts for $209,445.60 for Norwood Street Water Main Installation.
APPROVE RESERVE FUND TRANSFER
Town Administrator Puritz explained that each year the Veteran’s Agent finds a variation in his expenditures due to the cases that require aid. Due to this factor Veterans’ Agent Bergeron is requesting a Reserve Fund transfer in the amount of $3,679.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to forward the Reserve Fund Transfer request from the Veteran’s Agent to the Finance Committee
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to re-enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining, real property and pending litigation and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
Heitin: Aye
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye