MINUTES

       BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:10 pm in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman Richard A. Powell, Selectman William Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz

 

 

TONY CALICA: HOCKAMOCK YMCA – DARKNESS TO LIGHT PROJECT

 

Mr. Calica spoke about the problem of child sexual abuse.  He said that the Darkness to Light program 2.5 hours training that strives to prevent child sexual abuse.  He said 20% of all children are victims of sexual abuse by the time they are 18 years old.  He said the goal of the program is to have 5% of the adult community participate in the training that will include members of organizations that serve children and parents.  He has met with members of the School Department and Police Deputy Chief J.J. McGrath.  He said the facilitators who run the training are authorized by Darkness to Light. 

 

The Selectmen were in unanimous support of the program as they see prevention as an important component in fighting childhood sexual abuse.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to support the Darkness to Light program in Sharon

 

Engineer Intern Rebecca Tran: Proposal for 1 acre lot abutting Wilber School

 

Rebecca Tran who is working as a summer intern in the Engineering Department said she noticed the empty parcel next to the Wilber School which is bordered by Station Street and South Main Street.  She also noticed that many New England towns have a green space in the Town Center that allows people to congregate and sit.  She believes Sharon is in need of a public space that will keep people in the center of Town.  She reviewed the topography of the parcel as well as the creation of an independent Memorial Tree Fund which would have its own separate account.  She spoke about the type of trees that would be planted on the site. She said that the hemlocks on the site are diseased.  She also said she would be soliciting bench donations and reported that she had already received donations from Beacon Communities as well as from the Conservation Commission. She said this would be a green space in the beautiful Town Center.  She said she would utilize the entire one acre parcel.  Ms. Tran said most of the labor would be provided by the Department of Public Works.  The overall budget for the project would be less than $10,000 which does not include the donations she has received. She said that she does not plan on having a gazebo.  She said they are trying to get connected to Beacon’s irrigation system.  Ms. Tran said that Beacon Communities and the Girl Scouts are supportive of the project.  The Selectmen recommended that she speak to the Housing Authority as they are in charge of the Pleasant Street School.  During the winter work could be done if there was little snow.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to establish the Memorial Tree Account. 

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to support project as presented this evening pending final plans.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of July 26, 2011 and .Executive Session Minutes of July 19, 2011 and July 26, 2011

 

APPROVAL OF SMEA CONTRACT

 

Town Administrator Puritz said this is a one year agreement starting in FY ’12 with a 2% increase in compensation reversion to prior language for calculation of part-time and an increase of $25 for the fitness benefit.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to approve the SMEA Contract for FY ’12 as discussed

 

DECLARE SURPLUS VEHICLES

 

Finance Director William Fowler presented a list of items that are surplus including but not limited to the Police Lieutenant’s car as well as the Council on Aging Van and Bus and the Fire Department Ambulance.  Selectman Roach said that he would like to separate the ambulance because of its value – he believers the ambulance is worth more than the $8,000 estimate that Chief Mann received in particular because the mileage is not that high. Selectman Heitin said it could be declared as surplus but not take any action to dispose of it.  Mr. Fowler said that once the vehicles are declared surplus research will be conducted to ascertain the appropriate resale value.   There was extensive discussion about a generous grant program that enabled the Town to purchase a second Council On Aging bus.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to declare surplus the 1997 Crown Victoria and the 2003 Dodge Ram Van.

As noted in Chief Mann’s memo

 

NOVEMBER 2011 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

 

Chairman Powell said that there are some potential items that the Planning Board is thinking of placing on the Warrant and the Selectmen will hold this item until the next meeting.

 

BANNER APPROVALS

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request from HUGS Sharon for Domestic Violence Awareness Month from October 17 – October 24th 2011 (1st position)

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request from Cub Scout Pack 95 for Registration – August 25-September 1, 2011 (2nd position)

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request from Sharon Basketball Association from - 1, 2011 (1st position)

 

DISBANDING THE HORIZONS FOR YOUTH LEASE AMENDMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

 

Selectman Roach recused himself.

 

Chairman Powell thanked Gary Bluestein, Mike Bossin and Jay Brownstein for their work on this committee.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted to disband the Horizons for Youth Lease Amendment Subcommittee

 

APPROVAL TO TIE RIBBONS IN CENTER OF TOWN IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARNESS MONTH

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to grant permission to tie ribbons in center of Town in recognition of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

 

AUTHORIZE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR PURITZ TO SIGN APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE FOR HORITZONS FOR YOUTH BUILDING

 

 

Selectman Roach recused himself.

 

Chairman Powell said the leaseholder is seeking a 16 foot x 16 foot addition to the building.  The addition will not be in compliance with setback requirements   The leaseholder will therefore apply to the Zoning Board for a variance.  Chairman Powell said that he has looked at the architectural schematic and believes it will fit in nicely with the parcel and the neighborhood.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted to authorize Town Administrator Puritz to sign an application for a variance for the Horizons for Youth Building

 

VOTED: (Powell/Heitin) Voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss HFY Administration Building lease amendment, Town Administrator FY ’12 Compensation Employment Agreement Amendment Also discussion of Fire Chief appointment in terms of candidate backgrounds and mental/physical fitness and in preparation of negotiation and contract issues and at the end of the Executive Session to reconvene in Regular Session.

 

Moved into Executive Session at 8:15pm.

 

FIRE CHIEF APPOINTMENT

 

Chairman Powell reviewed the Fire Chief search process which resulted in three finalists who were all interviewed by the Board in public session.  He said all three candidates were very strong and that this is not an easy decision.  The finalists were: Chief Lynch from Portsmouth RI, Chief Benjamino from Middleborough and Chief Wright from Athol.  Selectman Heitin agreed that all three candidates were very strong.  He said the Citizen Committee was unanimous in their choice.  He said that the preference of the Board was a residency requirement.  Chief Lynch and Chief Wright agreed to the residency requirement while Chief Benjamino said he would not move to Sharon.  He said the Search Committee supported Chief Wright for the position and he was going to support that decision.  Selectman Roach said the Screening Committee was a cross-section of the community who did their due diligence.  He said he was looking for someone who would move into Sharon and become part of the community as well as be a strong Fire Chief.  He also spoke to the Screening Committee who supported Chief Wright and he said he would go along with that choice as well.  Chairman Powell said he was very impressed by all three finalists and all put forth strong interviews. He said he was going to support Chief Wright as well.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to offer employment to Fire Chief Wright pending signing of a contract which should include a formal residency requirement. 

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to adjourn for the evening.

 

The Board adjourned at 8:45pm

 

Powell:  Aye

Roach:   Aye

Heitin:   Aye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ES-

 

Horizons for Youth Administration Lease

 

Town Administrator Puritz said he spoke to the Town Administrator’s in Middleborough, Portsmouth, RI and Athol and asked if Chiefs Benjamino, Lynch and Wright and inquired as to the mental and physical capabilities of all three candidates to carry on the duties and responsibilities of the Fire Chief as laid out by the Board of Selectmen.

 

Town Administrator Puritz distributed to the BOS a document that showed a $21,000 swing between the Town Administrator and the Police Chief since 2006. He said his compensation is $10,000 less than the Police Chief.  Town Administrator Puritz said he hoped the Board would consider his length and quality of service. Chairman Powell said he would speak with the two other Selectmen prior to the August 23rd meeting.

 

Executive Session

 

Uyttebrok case has been resolved and setltled.

 

Glassman  - puritz said that the attorney has recommended a settlement that would maximize the Town’s exposure with the following:

 

Roach recusesw himself.  Puritz said lien against her for $5,600.

 

Brickstone – what do you want?

 

 FLSA  - case is settled and money has been appropriated.

 

AFSME – Puritz removed the results of today’s negotiations.  The union struck many of their proposals and what is left is 3%  and the town is in agreement with Department of Transportation physical co-pay and a reopener for FY 13 and FY 14  Next meeting Aug. 4th at 1:30pm

 

SMEA – 2% increase $25 for fitness –

 

Fire  - 2%, evergreen and not meeting until new chief