MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
7:00 p.m.
The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 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
Police Chief Joe Bernstein: Discuss promotions for: Deputy Police Chief, Lieutenant and Sergeant
Chief Bernstein thanked the Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator Puritz and the Townspeople for their continued support of the Police Department.
Chief Bernstein explained that responsibilities of the new Deputy Chief position will include but not be limited to: Oversight of the uniform division and liaison to state and federal agencies and homeland security
Chief Bernstein announced his recommendations for the following positions:
Deputy Chief: Lieutenant John McGrath
Lieutenant: Sergeant John Ford
Sergeant: Office Donald Brewer
Chief Bernstein asked that all appointments take effect September 26th. He all said that all three men are Sharon residents.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Lieutenant John McGrath as Police Lieutenant beginning September 26, 2010 contingent upon passage of the special legislation at the State House
Selectman Powell said he expected passage of the legislation within the week.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint John Ford as Police Lieutenant beginning September 26, 2010
Chief Bernstein said a panel of three Lieutenants from form other communities interviewed the candidate and though they spoke highly of all the candidate Officer Brewer was their unanimous recommendation.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Officer Donald Brewer as Police Sergeant beginning September 26, 2010
SILAS FYLER OF THE ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING SOLAR VOLTAIC PANELS ON THE SHARON LANDFILL
Silas Fyler explained that Weston & Sampson had divided their proposal into three sections.
1.Analysis – what needs to be done
2.Preparation of RFP
3.Interconnector to NSTAR option analysis
Regarding section 3 – Mr. Fyler said that the Energy Advisory Committee felt that interconnection at the Middle School was not feasible because of the crossing of Mountain Street. He said a second option of placing a meter at the landfill would result in the placement of a large transformer.
Hank Ouimet of Weston & Sampson said that he had prepared the proposal and would like to meet with the Energy Advisory Committee to discuss said proposal. He also said that Weston & Sampson’s turnaround time is approximately 60 – 90 days. Chairman Roach said that two articles are being added to the Fall Town Meeting related to this project.
Mr. Fyler said that he thought that the connection might be possible at the Middle School but there would have to be discussions with NSTAR to make accommodations.
Chairman Roach asked if there were other municipalities that had received a DEP permit for SVPs on their landill. It was stated that Greenfield has received the permit but it wasn’t known if the project had actually begun.
There was discussion about eligibility for grants and/or tax credits as 5% of the project must be in the ground by December 31, 2010. He said the benefit of the Town receiving the grant and/or tax credits really is to the developer but in turn this benefits the Town because the Town has stronger negotiating power.
Town Administrator stated that since the Selectmen are meeting on September 15th it would be beneficial to obtain a recommendation from the Energy Advisory Committee.
Silas Fyler asked if Weston & Sampson could edit the proposal and make Task 3 a responsibility of the developer.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the proposal with a maximum cost of $13,500 in total, contingent upon approval of the Energy Advisory Committee
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of August 24, 2010
ARTICLES FOR 2010 FALL TOWN MEETING
Town Administrator Puritz said there was no change since the meeting of August 31, 2010
amendment to the Police Chief Employment Agreement pertaining to salary July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011
Chairman Roach said that Chief Bernstein would be receiving a 1% increase for FY ’11. He said that was consistent with the other Department Heads. He also said that if the other Department Heads agreed to bi-weekly pay Chief Bernstein agreed that he would be included.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the employment agreement for Police Chief Bernstein from July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011
DEPUTY CHIEF CONTRACT
Chairman Roach said that the starting salary for the Deputy Chief would be $150,614.14.
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve and sign the Deputy Police Chief Employment Agreement through June 30, 2013
SELECTMEN REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CAPITAL OUTLAY COMMITTEE
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted to appoint Chairman Roach as the Selectmen Representative to the Capital Outlay Committee
VOTED: (Powell/Roach) Voted to appoint Selectman Heitin as the Selectmen Representative to the Capital Outlay Committee
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to appoint Selectman Powell as the Alternate to the Capital Outlay Committee
SELECTMEN REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PRIORITIES COMMITTEE
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted to appoint Chairman Roach as the Selectmen Representative to the Priorities Committee
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to appoint Selectman Powell as the Selectmen Representative to the Priorities Committee
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to appoint Selectman Heitin as the Alternate to the Priorities Committee
APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted to approve the banner request by Temple Sinai from November 15, 2010 – November 22, 2010 (1st position)
VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing
collective bargaining and collective bargaining with non-represented personnel, pending litigation and real
property.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 8:12 p.m.
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye
Heitin: Aye