MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:05 pm in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman Walter “Joe” Roach, Selectman, Selectman Richard A. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz

 

approval of request by METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COUNCIL TO SIGN LETTER OF COMMITMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT

 

Steven Winter of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) explained that the agency represents 101 Towns within the Highway 495 boundary.  Sharon is in the Three Rivers Interlocal Council region of the MAPC.  He said that the Obama administration is changing the manner by which grant monies are allocated by providing larger grants to a lesser number of agencies.   He said $100 million has recently been allocated to the combined government agencies of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency for distribution to administering agencies.  The administering agencies would create a regional plan that would cover 30 municipalities. The maximum award will be $5 million per region.  He said though the MAPC hopes to be the administering body a Governing Board will manage the project.  The grant requires that prior to submission Towns included in the grant express support. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to sign the letter of commitment in support of MAPC’s application for the Sustainable Communities Grant

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of July 20, 2010 and August 3, 2010

 

Consider approval of language for signs at Memorial Beach and Community Center Beach

 

The Board had a discussion about the language of the regulation which limits dogs at the Community Center Beach and Memorial Park Beach.  The Board decided not to allow any dogs at the Community Center Beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Chairman Roach pointed out that the bacterial counts for that beach had been particularly high all summer.

 

Recommended Sign Language

 

Memorial Park Beach Dog Policy

Memorial Day - Labor Day: No dogs allowed on beach or path when beach is staffed.

At all other times leashed dogs only allowed on path.

 

Community Center Beach Dog Policy

Memorial Day - Labor Day: No dogs allowed on beach.  At all other times leashed dogs allowed on beach.

 

Memorial Park Beach And Community Center Beach Dog Policy Regulation

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously the Board of Selectmen, pursuant to our authority as Park Commissioners and under our general authority to regulate municipal land, hereby adopts the following order:

 

1.      No dogs shall be allowed on Memorial Park Beach (1) from Memorial Day through Labor Day during the hours when the beach is staffed with a gate attendant and/or lifeguard, or (2) at any additional time when Memorial Park Beach is being used for a public event.  At all other times dogs shall be allowed only on the path and shall be held firmly on a leash.

 

      2.   No dogs shall be allowed on the Community Center Beach (1) from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

            At all other times dogs shall be allowed on the beach only if held firmly on a leash.

 

The Board hereby authorizes the Town Administrator to post this regulation at Town Hall, on the Town Website, at Memorial Park Beach and the Community Center Beach and at any additional locations he deems appropriate.

    

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing

collective bargaining, pending litigation and real property and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Selectman Heitin asked that the announcement from the Massachusetts Municipal Association regarding an essay contest for 6th graders be forwarded to the School Department.

 

There was also discussion about the ongoing water ban in the Town.  The Board was hoping that the ban would be lifted as soon as possible. The Board requested that DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper be on the August 31st Agenda to discuss the status of the ban as well as the impact of the ban on the revenue in the Water Account.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing

collective bargaining, pending litigation and real property and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7:35 p.m.

 

Roach:    Aye

Powell:  Aye

Heitin: Aye