MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
7:00 p.m.
The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 pm in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman William Heitin, Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach, Selectman Richard A. Powell, and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Chairman Heitin explained that members of Pack 95 Den 7 of the Boy Scouts were in attendance and would
pull the winning tickets for the Friends of the Sharon Council on Aging Annual raffle. The Boy Scouts
also had the opportunity to ask the Selectmen a variety of questions about Sharon government.
MELISSA MILLS: CANDIDATE FOR REAPPOINTEMNT TO THE SHARON HOUSING TRUST
Selectman Powell explained that the Trust was established to use funds for affordable housing. Thus far there have been no funds; however, as the 9 Glenview Road home will be up for sale shortly Housing Trust will have access to funds from the proceeds of the sale from said property. Ms. Mills explained her interest and commitment to affordable housing.
SUSAN MYERSON: CANDIDATE FOR REAPPOINTEMNT TO THE COMMISSION ON
DISABILITIES
Ms. Myerson said that the Commission utilizes funds it receives from parking ticket revenue when
non-handicapped drivers parking in handicapped parking spots. The Disabilities Commission has been able
to purchase items to assist the handicapped. She also complimented Sid Rosenthal who serves as the
Disabilities Commission Chair. Selectman Roach added that he had interviewed Mr. Rosenthal for a
position as the Alternate to the Council on Aging. He explained that Mr. Rosenthal normally attends these
meetings in order to update them on the activities of the Disabilities Commission.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper: Continuation of DISCUSSION REGARDING trash collection
Superintendent Hooper said that he hopes to clear up misinformation that has been circulating around Town. He said that there are two separate contracts. The first is for trash collection – currently we have a three year contract with Allied Waste for refuse and recycling which expires on June 30, 2010. He said the second contract is for disposal which expires on December 31, 2014. The initial tipping fee was $21.65/ton only subject to change due to environmental laws. The current tipping fee is $34.52/ton and it will triple in 2014 when the current contract expires. Superintendent Hooper said that currently he is working on the bid for the next contract. He said homeowners currently pay $53.25 per quarter for trash and recycling.
Mr. Hooper then laid out the various potential options for the refuse/recycling bid. He said that single stream recycling is available only through automated pick-up. He said that should the Town decide to move forward with automated pick-up that the amount of trash disposed up will decrease which means the tipping fee will be lower. He added that the Town will bear the expense of the purchase of the barrels associated with automated pick-up.
Mr. Hooper further explained that the Town can choose manual refuse removal and automated single stream recycling. He also said that the Town could have one vendor for recycling pick-up and another vendor for trash pick-up. He added that he wasn’t planning on pursuing pay as you throw because he thought automated pick-up would maximize recycling. Chairman Heitin said he would like to see rates on a system similar to Foxboro’s pay as you throw system. Kathy Mirza, a Sharon resident and a state official involved in recycling said that the pay as you throw method will minimize the amount of refuse pick-up and maximize the amount of recycling. She said that North Attleboro is the only Town with pay as you throw for trash and single stream recycling.
DPW SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ERIC HOOPER: CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION REGARDING WATER RATES
Superintendent of Public Works Eric Hooper said he had reviewed the proposed rates and particularly looked at the base rate. He said he is recommending an annual base rate of $60.00 for households who use under 7,500 gallons/quarter. He is also exploring a potential exemption as it relates to the 41C regulations which would allow an individual with financial constraints to be able to receive relief. He said that the Water Management Advisory Committee is split on their support of his revised recommendation because some believe the base rate should be higher. However, the majority is in favor of these proposed rates.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to accept the water rates as presented on the December 1st rate sheet below.
The following rate schedule for residential water use will take effect January 1, 2010:
|
Base Fee <7500 gallons |
Existing Rate |
Jan. 1, 2010 Rate |
|
Existing Rate |
Jan.1, 2010 Rate |
|
|
$15 |
$15 |
|
$15 |
$15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fall/Winter |
|
Spring/ Summer |
||
|
Use > 7500 gallons |
Existing Rate $/1000 gallons |
Jan. 1, 2010 Rate $/1000 gallons |
|
Existing Rate $/1000 gallons |
Jan. 1, 2010 Rate $/1000 gallons |
|
(gallons) |
|
|
(gallons) |
|
|
|
0-7500 |
3 |
3 |
0-7500 |
3 |
3 |
|
7500-15000 |
3.5 |
4 |
7500-15000 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
|
15000-22500 |
4.5 |
6 |
15000-22500 |
4.5 |
6.5 |
|
>22500 |
10 |
10 |
>22500 |
10 |
12 |
The average annual household water use in Town is approximately 63,000 gallons. This use equates to an annual cost of approximately $215. The proposed rate increase will result in an approximate $30 increase in the average annual cost (the present annual cost of $215 will increase to $245.) The lowest 10% of users, those who use less than 32,000 gallons per year, will see an annual average $5 increase from $87 to $92. The highest 10% of users, those who use over 126,000 gallons, will see a $130 increase from $690 to $820.
Continuation of dog hearing
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to reopen the dog hearing for Scott Blau of 10 Suffolk Road
Chairman Heitin asked those in the audience who was planning on testifying. He then swore in those individuals.
Animal Control Officer Diane Malcolmson said that there have been no complaints and no further incidents since the prior hearing. She feels that Mr. Blau, the owner of “McLovin”, should have taken action before his back was against the wall. Scott Blau said that he has been training the dog and that the dog is improving every day. Billy Blau, Scott’s son, said that everyone in the family is now on the same page because they are afraid they were going to lose the dog.
Selectman Roach said that the neighborhood is afraid of the dog. Selectman Powell asked what the Selectmen can do to restrict the dog but still leave him with the family. Animal Control Office Malcolmson said that they can order Mr. Scott Blau to place a caged muzzle on the dog each time it leaves the property. She said that a caged muzzle is much less restrictive than a regular muzzle. Billy Blau says because of the electric collar McLovin will now listen.
Selectman Roach said he would like to see the dog muzzled whenever he leaves the property. He said he is trying to allow the Blaus to keep their dog but he also wants to give the neighborhood peace of mind. Selectmen Roach and Powell said that though the collar is good there is a possibility that it would stop working.
Chairman Heitin said he would agree to the dog being muzzled for a period of time and then potentially to reassess the situation. Animal Control Officer Malcolmson said that after six months she feels she could reassess the situation.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to close the dog hearing for Scott Blau of 10 Suffolk Road
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to order Scott Blau muzzle McLovin each time he leaves the property and at the end of six months Mr. Blau may request that the Animal Control Officer reevaluate this order and then she will report to the Board of Selectmen. As per the recommendation of the Animal Control Officer a cage muzzle may be used.
Finance Director Bill Fowler: FY 11 Budget for Medicare, FICA, Debt and Interest
Finance Director Fowler said that the Medicare budget only applies to hires after March 1986 and it is increasing as older employees retire. He said eventually it will apply to 100% of retirees. He said that the FICA budget is decreasing because new employees are not on Social Security. However, unfortunately the Medicare budget is increasing at a higher rate than the FICA budget is decreasing. He said eventually the FICA line item will be 0 while the Medicare will cover 100% of retirees. The FICA and Medicare combined budget is $591,231.
Finance Director Fowler reviewed the debt and interest schedule which included a break-down of non-exempt (paid through annual operating expenses) and exempt debt (included debt which is derived from override votes).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VOTED: (Roach/Heitin) Voted to approval the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of November 17, 2009
Heitin: Aye
Roach: Aye
Powell: Present
APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUESTS
VOTED: (Roach/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request of Sharon Youth Lacrosse from December 14th – December 21st (2nd position)
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request of the One Book, One Town: Sharon Reads Together from March 29th – April 5th (1st position)
ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the one-day liquor license request of the Friends of the Sharon Council on Aging at the Sharon Community Center on December 15, 2009 from 7pm – 9pm and to waive the fee
proposed change to the Town of Sharon Traffic Rules and Orders
Town Engineer O’Cain sent a memo to the Selectmen recommending that “School Zone Safety Signs” be placed on Chase Drive leading to the Islamic Center School.
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to change the traffic rules and regulations for Chase Drive as proposed in the memo of November 24, 2009 from Town Engineer Peter O’Cain
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and at the completion thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned at 8:43 P.M.
Heitin: Aye
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye