MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

7:00 p.m.

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:07 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

Eight Cub Scouts from Pack #95 were in attendance. -  Max, Nathan, Danny, Easwer, Jason, Joseph, Connor and Eddie. The members of the Pack are working on a Citizenship Badge. Questions by Pack members included: Authority of each Selectmen over entire Town or individual areas, most important role of Selectmen, ability of Selectmen to make laws in the Town, the length of a Selectmen term, the manner by which Selectmen make decisions, the number of departments in the Town, how long has Sharon been run by the Selectmen, the role of the Selectmen, the length of time between election and taking office, the number of lakes in Sharon, the reason one would want to become a Selectmen.

Installation of signs on Mountain Street and Aztec Way

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to open the hearing

Kevin O’Rourke, Principal of Sharon Middle School spoke about the Middle School expansion project.  He said that because of this there is a change of traffic flow and a significant traffic jam both at arrival time and dismissal time.  For that reason they are looking for a traffic restriction during the peak times.  The restriction would prohibit left turns from Mountain Street and not allow a left turn out of the parking lot during the peak both arrival and dismissal times. 

DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper and Town Engineer Peter O’Cain were in attendance as well.  Superintendent Hooper said one of the drawbacks of this plan is that in order to facilitate a quick turnaround cars may pull into Spring Lane. He said that the Police detail that is currently on duty should remain. The School Department is paying for the detail.  There was extensive discussion about the additional distance cars will have to drive to accommodate the no left turn rules. Town Engineer Peter O’Cain said that it might be a good idea for the Selectmen to authorize this plan through the end of the school year to test it and then evaluate its effectiveness.  Principal O’Rourke said that he believes that the frustration of sitting in a long line will exceed the additional travel time to accommodate the new rules.  Selectman Powell, who drops off every morning at the school, said that he notices a significant improvement since the police detail began. Jim Castleman from Tall Tree Road said that the issues that were raised by Selectmen are similar to the issues that he is concerned about.  He spoke about egress out of Spring Lane because of the large number of people who park on Spring Lane.  He said that there needs to be enforcement on Spring Lane and Arboro Drive so people do not use those streets as turnarounds. The Board was in consensus to try this approach through the end of the year. There was discussion about the appropriate signage.  Town Engineer O’Cain said that if the Town needs to put No Parking signs on every street maybe the Board should think about this. He also said he would videotape the area and distribute it to the Selectmen. The Selectmen said they would vote on this item at their next meeting.

VOTED: (Roach/Heitin Voted unanimously to close the hearing

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to open the road hearing for Aztec Way

Town Engineer O’Cain said people have been parking on both sides of Aztec to Furnace Street.  His recommendation is that the restriction include one side of the street from the first driveway to Furnace Street.  He said this is important because the road is narrow and there is a bus stop on the corner.  People would then be able to park on the opposite side of Aztec.  A resident who was in attendance said that the problem relates more to a home that has private lessons.  She asked that someone speak to the home that has the private lessons and ask them to be aware of the situation.  The Selectmen said to be sure to notify them about the changes in parking on the street.

Selectman Heitin recused himself.

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to authorize one side street parking on Aztec Way on the south side from the first driveway on Aztec Way to Furnace Street.

RECONSIDER SELECTMEN VOTE REGARDING ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ARTICLE 21

Conservation Committee Chair Peg Arguimbau and Conservation Agent Greg Meister came before the Board to discuss the Board’s negative vote on Article 21   Ms. Arguimbau said that the Conservation Commission does not hold the Conservation Restriction on land that it owns.  Selectman Powell said that we are now paying $15,000 to have a third party hold the Conservation Restriction and he sees this as a brand new policy.  She said this is because the Billings land was purchased with funds from the Community Preservation Act.  He asked who has made the decision that the Conservation Commission cannot now hold a Conservation Restriction on Town land. Ms. Arguimbau said that is why the Town needs to go to an outside party.  Selectman Powell said he has called Environmental Affairs to see who decided that the same party can’t hold a conservation restriction. He said that the theory of merger is that the Town and the Conservation Commission are the same entity.  Selectman Powell said that another option would be to create another entity to hold the Conservation Restriction.  He said by not supporting this Article at this Town Meeting to give this option the opportunity to come to fruition and save $15,000.  Chairman Powell said that the two parcels that are impacted by this issue are the Billings Land and the Horizons for Youth land. The Town is already paying Audubon $15,000 to hold the Conservation Restriction at Horizons for Youth.  Ms. Arguimbau said that the reason that these two parcels are different is because the funds to purchase the land came from Community Preservation Committee funds. Selectman Powell said that he will keep investigating the situation up to Town Meeting and will then decide how to vote.

Five Minute Recess

MICHAEL LARACY – FINALIST CANDIDATE FOR SHARON FIRE CHIEF

Mr. Laracy said that he is currently the Deputy Fire Chief in Walpole and lives in Foxboro.  He said he has been a fireman for over 28 years.  He said he was in Foxboro for 19 years and then moved to Walpole in 2000 to serve as Deputy Chief.  He has a Masters in Emergency Management degree from Mass. Maritime and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College along with several certificates.

Chairman Roach said the call Fire Department is down to three men and asked Mr. Laracy how he would increase the numbers again. Mr. Lararcy three is very common as Walpole has six.  He said he started as a Junior Fire Fighter in High School and then became a Call Fire Fighter.  He said it is very expensive to clothe and buy gear for Call Fire Fighters. He said that FEMA has a training program that would provide free training for call Fire Fighters.

Mr. Laracy said that he is interested in the position because he would like to move up to Chief in a comparable size department. He said he worked with Sharon though mutual aid and he has gotten to know some of the personnel.  He discussed some of the programs that he implemented in Walpole and some of his responsibilities in Walpole.  He stated he sees the three most important responsibilities are: 1 – Budget 2 – Discipline  3 – Overall responsibility. 

He said his management style is open door, credibility and trust. He said that in 2006 he wrote a grant for $194,000 and more recently $35,000.  He said since 2003 the Town of Walpole has obtained approximately $500,000 in grants. He said he is experienced in Grant Management as well.  He also is experienced in collective bargaining.  In response to a question by Selectman Heitin regarding when he sees happening in Fire Safety in the next five years Mr. Laracy said that he expects that there will increase in consolidation of Fire Departments but believes there will be no Regionalization for at least ten years.  He also believes  you will begin to see All Hazards Departments.  He said has a lot of experience with Norfolk County Dispatch.  He said he originally had concerns but has found that it is working very well for Sharon and believes that other Towns will join.  He pointed out that for Sharon’s $90,000 four people are on the road.

Mr. Laracy said that if he were to get the position he would look at the responses – is Sharon sending out too much apparatus – not enough.  Evaluating job responsibilities is another task he would do.  He said that the three most important characteristics of a Fire Department are:   1 – Professionalism 2 – Training 3 – Trust.

In response to a question about equipment he said that he had evaluated the apparatus and said there are three pieces primarily brush pieces and this would need to be addressed.  He said that the Town is on a five year rotation for ambulances. He also said that he would continue the fire fighter/paramedic rotation because the Town is getting double bang for your buck.  He also discussed the best command structure for a fire from arrival to end of fire.   He said only one person can be in charge and that is the Incident Commander.

Chairman Roach asked Mr. Laracy as he knows many of the people on the Sharon Fire Department how he feels that impact his ability to discipline the personnel.  Mr. Laracy said absolutely he believes people are accountable for their actions.  He said he has learned that documentation is very important.  He said that he lives 1.4 miles from Sharon and will not move for this job though he would be involved in the community.  He said he likes to camp and likes to read James Patterson books. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

VOTED: (powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of March 29, 2011

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPOINTMENTS

VOTED: (Powell//Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Barry Barth as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a period of one year

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Larry Okstein as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a period of one year

ALTERNATE TO THE COUNCIL ON AGING APPOINTMENT

VOTED: (powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Richard Gorden as an alternate to the Council on Aging Board

SIGN CONTRACT WITH DENNIS MANN AS INTERIM FIRE CHIEF

Selectman Heitin said that the contract with Former Chief Mann is for two months with an extension up to six months.

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign a contract with Dennis Mann as Interim Fire Chief  in accordance with the provisions set forth in the contract.

REGISTRAR OF VOTER APPOINTMENTS

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to appoint Marlene Chused and Jane Desberg as Registrar(s) of Voters

JAMES BRAKEBILL – FINALIST CANDIDATE FOR SHARON FIRE CHIEF

Mr. Brakebill said that he has been driving around Sharon and meeting people and has been very impressed by the Town.  Hew said he would like to move from California as his wife has recently retired from the military and that they wanted to settle in the Northeast.  He said that he would like to live in Sharon.

Mr. Brakebill that he believes the Sharon Fire Department is a good solid department. He said he originally was a Fire Chief for a small department and then obtained a position with Pinkerton Fire Services which provides fire services to Department of Defense contractors for companies such as Grumann and Boeing.  He is Vice-President of Pinkerton in charge of 17 stations.  He said these services are located at military installations and contractors’ facilities.  He is a Master Fire Instructor and teaches at a Community College.  He said his private sector business training has been a positive in regards to budgets.

Mr. Brakebill said that he has taken part in collective bargaining negotiations. He teaches grant writing in the Fire Academy and has gotten FEMA Grants and Block Grants as well as grants from private entities.  He said he routinely makes presentations to City Councils in various jurisdictions.  When asked about his current experience regarding response he explained that he was on a Hazardous Materials call about 3 ½ weeks ago. He said in the past year he has served as Incident Commander 9 times and weekly during training exercises.

Mr. Brakebill said he is a firm believer in succession planning and the only way people can get better is through mentorship. He said part of being a leader is to train people so that they can move up.  He also said he would like train members of the Sharon community on CPR and other life saving techniques.   He said the members of the community are the customers of the Fire Department.

Chairman Roach explained that the Town only has three call firefighters while the Town used to have thirty call fire fighters.  Mr. Brakebill said the difficult problem is having call fire fighters maintain their skills.  He said that he entered into an agreement with the local Community College for training.  He said he helped people get jobs and paired them up with full-time personnel.  He created a program which gave awards such as the Volunteer Fire Fighter of the year/quarter featured them in articles and arranged for them to be interviewed on the local radio. He said to increase the numbers of call fighters, his target audience would be people who had been trained but who didn’t have jobs.  In exchange he provided them with experience. to assist them in obtaining  permanent positions.

He said that he believes in cross training.

Mr. Brakebill in response to questions about the challenges would be to learn the area and the mores and beliefs. He said he would need to learn the traditions of the Fire Service in this area. He said that he is a big proponent in progressive discipline.  He says that training is very important and he needs to make sure that people are trained.  He puts people on a work performance plan with goals, guidelines and makes sure that they have the tools to succeed.  He also lays out in writing the consequences of not meeting the goals. .

Mr. Brakebill says he is right for this position because he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the pubic sector as well as the contacts he has in the private sector.   He said he like to think outside of the box when it comes to funding.  He also believes his people skills as well as his training experience can bring resources to the Town and bring the staff to the next level.  Though they are at a high level already.

Mr. Brakebill said that working in Sharon will be a pleasure because he is always thinking outside of the box, He said that for fun he flies a plane, he fishes and he bikes and enjoys ski walking poles and likes to visit around the community. 

Chairman Roach said he wanted to thank the Screening Committee for their hard work and represented a cross-section of the community. 

5 minute recess. 

AWARD TELECOMMUNICATIONS BID FOR 411 EAST FOXBORO STREET

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to award the bid for the telecommunications facility at 411 East Foxboro Street to for $30,000 + 3% annual escalator for 10 year term pending Annual Town Meeting approval of site.

Town Administrator Puritz said he wanted to clarify the location of the monopole which is not on the corner of Wolomolopoag and East Foxboro Street but substantially off the corner and more centrally located on the parcel.

SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA

Town Administrator Puritz said that the Town had received notice from the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) that the Town had been awarded two grants. They are for technical assistance for the hiring of an Energy Service Coordinator and as well as an Energy Manager.  He further explained that much of the imitative for the grants was through the Energy Advisory Committee.

VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen move into Executive Session for updates on collective bargaining with the firefighters, SMEAS and AFSME and a real property lease amendment for the Administration Building at Horizons for Youth. (Roach to recuse himself)  Also to be included is interpretation of the FSLA matter and potential conveyance of Town Property. . 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 10:10 p.m.

Roach:   Aye

Powell:  Aye

Heitin:   Aye