MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
7:00 p.m.
The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:05 p.m. in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman Richard A. Powell, Selectman William A. Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz.
consider approval of 2013 selectmen budgets
Town Administrator Puritz reported that the Selectmen are in the 6th month of a 9 month budget process that concludes in May at Town Meeting. He said after the Selectmen review this consolidated Selectmen budget it will be moved onto the Finance Committee. The FY 2013 provides the Selectmen sector with a 2.10% operating budget increase with a dollar value of $12,044,010. He said this increase compares favorably with the increases of the past five years. He said the budget provides for a preservation of the services that are in-place currently with no increase in staffing with a minor exception for a $2,500 stipend. The stipend would fund an Assistant Animal Control Officer. He provided the Selectmen with a report from the Department of Revenue as well as the Schedule A. The Schedule A is a uniform reporting structure for various activities and components of government. Every government in the Commonwealth completes a Schedule A. He said comparing Sharon to comparable communities in the General Government category Sharon spends approximately $1.9 million while the comparable communities spend approximately $2.4 million. He said this situation exists in most categories with the exception of two categories. The expenditures are above the mean in the debt category and Education. He said the debt category is elevated because Sharon has been investing in its infrastructure including renovation of all of the Schools and the Community Center. The other category in which the expenditures is above the mean is Education which reflects the Town’s values. He said the Revenue forecast assumes that Sharon Commons will open in the fall of 2013. He said that due to revenue enhancers and health insurance savings he expects that the amount of increase will be less than the 25% amount allowable under law. Chairman Powell said the Selectmen have been working diligently to keep taxes as low as possible while maintaining services.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the Board accept and approve the FY 2013 Selectmen sector budget as provided
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of February 7, 2012 as written.
APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request from Sharon Pop Warner for March 19 – 26, 2012 (2nd position)
DISCUSSION REGARDING ON-SITE LIQUOR REGULATIONS
Town Administrator Puritz said that Town Counsel has provided a chronological history of actions taken in regard to liquor regulations. The Selectmen are looking to take two actions
1 – All alcohol off-premises license at Shaws Plaza, Sharon Commons and Route 1
2 – Lowering the number of seats from 50 seats to 18 seats for on-premises drinking
He said the Town could ask their legislators to file a home rule petition on behalf of the Town and might include a ballot question as a further confirmatory step. It was agreed to get in touch with the Town’s legislators regarding the home rule petition. Selectman Roach said he would like to see these items as a ballot vote because many more people vote at the ballot than go to Town Meeting.
AWARD PRINTING BID FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to award the printing contract for the 2011 Annual Town Report to Select Print Solutions of North Brookfield, MA as discussed.
DISCUSSION REGARDING KEEPING THE GATES OPEN AT MEMORIAL PARK BEACH
Town Administrator Puritz said the opening of the gates is relatively easy but closing the gates is another matter. Selectman Roach said the dilemma is if there is a car remaining in the lot once the gates are supposed to be closed. Selectman Heitin said this has not been a typical winter as there has been no snow. He said his biggest concern the fact that the level of vandalism which has decreased since the gates have been locked. Chairman Powell said he doesn’t believe this is a problem as there is access to the beach. The Board decided to take no action.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining - Fire Department negotiations, Police and Police Dispatcher negotiations, Health Insurance negotiation strategy. Property negotiations re South Main Street eminent domain. Bargaining with non-re
presented personnel. Discussion of these items in Open Session would be detrimental to the Town. At the end of Executive Session the Board will adjourn for the evening.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Powell: Aye
Roach: Aye
Heitin: Aye