MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:01 p.m. in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman Walter “Joe” Roach, Selectman, Selectman Richard A. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz

 

Annual Town Meeting Article Positions

·         Marilyn Stewart, Chairman Board of Council On Aging explained that the Article would increase the number of individuals on the Council On Aging from 7 to 11 members and two alternates.  She said 5 members must be over the age of 60.  She said that the increase in members would ensure that there would always be a quorum and increase diversity

·         Chief Joseph Bernstein explained that the article he is sponsoring will allow the Police Department to conduct checks on individuals who are going door to door.  In the past the Police conducted a background check (fingerprint check and CORI check) for these individuals but learned that it was not permitted. Chief Bernstein said that the checks are at the discretion of the Police.  Therefore, groups such as the Girl Scouts and High School sports teams would not be included.  Chief Bernstein said in the past when they checked some of the people who come from out of state to sell things door-to-door there are warrants for their arrest and other problems.  Chief Bernstein said that the police would be able to fingerprint these individuals and conduct CORI checks.  This must be done six months in advance.  Chief Bernstein said this policy has been reviewed by Town Counsel and is a policy that was created by Jack Collins the Counsel for the Police Chief Association

·         Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper said that he is requesting a change in regulations to allow the Police Chief, DPW Superintendent or Selectmen to declare a snow emergency that would prohibit parking on any street. Currently there is no parking at night.  He said this became an issue this winter when people would leave there car on the street and plowing was impossible. This would allow the Police to ticket cars left on the street during snow emergencies.  There was discussion about extending this ban to other types of emergencies. There was discussion about how the information would get out to the public.  Superintendent Hooper said in the past this has been the responsibility of the DPW.  

·         Finance Director William Fowler discussed two articles that related to the Board of Assessors.  The revaluation is incorporated into the Board of Assessors budget; however, the Town can only expense an item for one year so this special account is created as this is a three-year expense commitment. 

·         Cory Snow the Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee reviewed the pending appropriations for FY 2012.  These include $25,000 for the Conservation Commission Conservation Fund, $15,000 for a Conservation Restriction for the Glenview/Billings Land, Horizons for Youth Debt Payment and the  FY12 Community Preservation Committee Administrative Budget.  Selectman Powell said that he has an issue with the $15,000 for a Conservation Restriction for the Glenview/Billings Land.  He said that the third party just files a paper at the Registry of Deeds.  He said it seems senseless to spend money to protect land that we have already purchased.  Cory Snow said that they monitor the property in perpetuity and that the going rate is about $10,000 with a few thousand for legal fees.  Mr. Snow then reviewed the Administrative Expenditure – he said that any money not used can be returned to the Community Preservation Committee Account.

 

 

APPROVAL OF SHARON HIGH SCHOOL PTSO AFTER-GRADAUTION PARTY COMMUNITY CENTER WAIVER

 

Lois Miller, representing the Sharon High School PTSO, said she is asking the Board for permission to waive rental and custodial fees for the After Graduation Party scheduled for June 5 – 6 2011.  Chairman Roach said there had been discussion about moving game tables to the back room (with the rubber floor) because of the scuff marks left on the floor from the tables last year.  Ms. Miller said there is a meeting scheduled with the Community Center staff and this issue will be addressed.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the Sharon High School PTSO to hold an after-Graduation party in the Sharon Community Center June 5 – 6 and to waive the rental fee except for the custodial fee.

 

BUSINESS MANAGER MICHAEL MORRIS – SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTGRICT ANNUAL BUDGET PRESENTATION

 

Mr. Morris reviewed the Southeastern Regional School District’s Operating Budget of $20,016,640.  He also reviewed transportation costs and capital expenditures. Next year 17 students from Sharon will attend Southeastern. He said Sharon’s FY Assessment is $200,091 which is an increase of $11,700. He said that increasing Health Insurance rates has been a burden on the budget. Employees contribute 30% towards their insurance and retirees contribute 50%. 

 

OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE 2011 ATM WARRANT

 

Chairman Roach said that two petition articles have been submitted.  The first relates to School Bus fees and the second changes the use of the Sacred Heart parcel.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to open the 2011 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to place a Petition Article on School Bus Fees and a Petition Article that would change the use of the Sacred Heart property on the 2011 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

 

Town Administrator Puritz explained that the Board had spoken to the Finance Committee Chair about providing the Finance Committee with Selectmen positions on March 22nd.  As the Board is not meeting until March 29th positions on some of the Articles could be adopted tonight.  See below for list of Articles voted upon.  

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to close the 2011 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

 

SPECIAL WITHIN THE Annual Town Meeting

 

1 –Request that funds from Fiscal year 2010 be set aside for use on the FY 2014 Revaluation. (Board of Assessors)

Yes – Unan

 

 

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

1.   Finance Committee Members

Yes – Unan

2.   Act Upon Reports

Yes – Unan

3.   Addition to Stabilization Fund

Yes – Unan

4.   Personnel Bylaw

Yes – Unan

5.   Budgets/Compensation of Elected Officers

Yes – Unan

6.   Norfolk County Retirement

Yes – Unan

7.   Unemployment

Yes – Unan

8.   Sharon Friends School Fund records and appointments

Yes – Unan

9.   Annual Audit

Yes – Unan

10.  To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Assessor’s Appropriation Budget (0001141) a sum of money to fund a Town wide revaluation project for Fiscal Year 2014 (Board of Assessors)

Yes – Unan

11.  Change of use to allow for Cell Facility on Wolomolopoag/East Foxboro St.

Yes – Unan

12 - Home Rule Petition to charge all riders of the bus regardless of distance from the school since the state does not reimburse for busing any longer. (Citizen’s Petition…..Laura Salamons et al…)

 

13.  Capital Outlay Articles (including High School Roof)

 

14.  Article to rescind capital borrowing Though the funds were authorized at Town Meeting the monies were never borrowed. (Finance Department)see list

 

15.  Change to parking regulations to include snow emergencies and specific hours for overnight parking

 

16.  Permit Police Department to fingerprint and CORI Check those that go door to door in the community (hawkers and peddlers)

 

17.  Veterans’ Exemption  

Yes – Unan

18.  Community Preservation Committee Annual Funding –                                     

     Administrative Expenses

Yes – Unan

19. Transfer of funds in order to make the bond payments from the Horizons for Youth land. Explanation from Cory Snow Starting this year, I believe we will need a 3rd Article to explicitly transfer funds to make the bond payments on the HFY land, which was first done last Fall, but is probably better done in the Spring going forward. The Treasurer determined that this is the proper way to manage these debt payments.

 

20.  Community Preservation Committee Projects Funding Requests

 

21. Increase the number of members of the Council On Aging Council. “The Council shall consist of from seven to eleven members and two alternates appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a term of three (3) years, unless the appointment is to fill the unexpired term of a retiring member.  At least five members shall be over the age of sixty (60) at the time of their appointment.” (Council On Aging)

Yes – Unan

22. Edit General By-law language regarding the Selectmen’s choice to call a Fall Town Meeting due to contradiction in current article. Section 1 states The Town Meeting “shall” meet twice in each calendar year.  Section 5 was amended to change “shall” to “may”, but Section 1 was not amended.(Selectmen)

Yes – Unan

23.  Revolving Funds Reauthorizations

Yes – Unan

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of March 1, 2011

 

AWARDING OF BID FOR DELIVERY OF 2010 TOWN REPORT

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to award the bid for the delivery of the Town Report to Boy Scout Troop #95 for $1200.00.

 

AWARD OF PRINTING BID FOR 2010 TOWN REPORT

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to award the bid for the printing of the Town Report to Overnite Printing as referenced in the memo by Roni Thaler

 

APPOINTMENTS TO THE SACRED HEART REUSE COMMITTEE

 

Selectman Powell said he thought that the Selectman should increase the number of members on the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee to nine members as there was such a strong group of candidates.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Larry Segelin, Karen Friedman, Carl Gladstone, David Strauss and Michael Ginsberg to the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

 

The Board asked that Recreation Director Brett MacGowan be invited to the meetings as he would be an excellent resource.

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the Sharon Adult Center to place a banner for April 11 - 18, 2011 (2nd position) in the center of Town.

 

CLOSING OF MOOSE HILL STREET FOR ANNUAL SALAMANDER MIGRATION

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the request of the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary from Moose Hill Parkway to Route 27, up to 3 times for salamander migration

 

AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN METRO BOSTON CONSORTIUM FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT

 

Town Administrator Puritz said this was a very competitive grant received by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Roach to sign the Metro Boston Consortium for Sustainable Communities Consortium Agreement

 

CONSIDER ACCEPTING DOCUMENTS FROM THE CABLE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REGARDING THE CABLE RE-LICENSINGOF ACCESS HEARING

 

Town Administrator Puritz said that residents had contacted the Cable Advisory Committee regarding an extension of the public comment period.  Therefore, at the meeting of March 1, 2010 the Board had voted to extend the comment period to March 15th. In addition, the Cable Oversight Committee has submitted a report to be placed in the record that details Committee Member’s experiences calling the Comcast Call Center.  There is also an email from Al Mollitor to be placed in the record regarding the importance of competition. 

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter Cable Oversight Committee Ascertainment Hearing Supplemental Comments into the record.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to enter email received from Al Mollitor into the record.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to that the Board move into Executive Session for updates on collective bargaining for the Firefighter and AFSME and a real property lease for the Administration Building at Horizons for Youth.  Chairman Roach declared that all of these issues if discussed in public would have a detrimental impact on the Town. .At the conclusion of Executive Session the Board will adjourn for the evening.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

Roach:   Aye

Powell:  Aye

Heitin:   Aye