MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

6:30 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 6:35 p.m. in the Sharon Community Center with Selectman William A. Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to move into Executive Session to discuss bargaining with non-represented personnel.

 

Town Engineer Peter O’Cain spoke to the Board regarding his performance review.

 

Reconvened in Open Session at 6:50pm

 

CHUCK LEVINE: CHAIRMAN OF THE CABLE ADVIOSRY COMMITTEE CHAIR

 

Mr. Levine discussed the preliminary denial of the telecommunications license renewal.  He said that this is a normal part of the negotiating process with Comcast.  He said the denial will not impact the public’s viewing – it is just part of the negotiations and will preserve the Town’s right to continue with formal negotiations which are scheduled to conclude at the end of April.  He said the denial will allow the Town to have more time for negotiations.  The end of the license period is April 8, 2012.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted that the Board of Selectmen, in its role as statutory Issuing Authority for the Town of Sharon, is hereby issuing a preliminary assessment of denial of Comcast of Massachusetts/New Hampshire, LLC’ s cable television renewal proposal to the Town of Sharon, dated November 11, 2011.  The Board of Selectmen is also issuing a written statement of reasons, in accordance with 207CMR 3.06(3), detailing the reasons for its preliminary assessment of denial.

 

ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE FOR TEMPLE YOUNG ISRAEL  

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted approval of one-day liquor license for Temple Young Israel at Camp Everwood contingent upon review of Certificate of Insurance.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of February 14, 2012 as written

 

OPEN ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to open the Warrant for the 2012 Annual Town Meeting

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to include the article regarding second-hand businesses in the 2012 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to close the 2012 Annual Town Meeting Warrant

WARRANT ARTICLES FOR 2012 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING RELATED TO ALCOHOL REGULATIONS

 

Selectman Heitin said that there are two articles related to alcohol regulations.  He said that the first article relates to lowering the number of seats in all alcohol on-premises license from 50 seats to 18 seats.  He explained that the second article relates to all-alcohol off premises license.  He said currently there are four areas in Town where off-premises licenses are allowed.  They are: Post Office Square, Sharon Heights, Route 1 and Sharon Commons.  (is this true?).  He said this Warrant Article would allow all-alcohol off-premise license on Route 1, Shaw’s Plaza and Sharon Commons.  Jonathan Hall the owner of the Sharon Market in the Square currently has a beer and wine off-premises license.  He said that he is looking for a level playing field in terms of competition and feels that the omission of Post Office Square will negatively impact his business. He says his customers always ask if he could have a full-liquor inventory.  He said he has spent a considerable amount of money getting his business going and he is really looking for this opportunity to be able to compete with other stores.  Selectman Heitin said the Town can issue four of these licenses.

 

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

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request of Hope Church for March 26, 2012 – Monday April 2, 2012 (1st position)

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to approve the banner request of the Veteran’s Agent for May 22 – 31 (1st position) and June 8 – 15 (1st position)

 

HEARING REGARDING RAILROAD PARKING

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted to open the hearing regarding quarterly railroad parking passes

 

Chairman Powell joined the meeting during this discussion.

 

Department of Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper said he is proposing a change in the cost of quarterly a railroad pass from $50 to $100 per quarter.  The problem with the $50 charge is that people who utilize the Commuter Rail only 13 times per quarter are buying quarterly passes because of the economic benefit.  He said the Town is looking into using the lower level of Eastern Bank and a bus program from several locations in Town to alleviate the shortage of passes.  He said the last fee increase was in 1993.  He reviewed the process for purchase of passes for the second quarter of 2012.  He plans on implementing online sales for third quarter of 2012.  There was discussion about the timing of pass distribution this quarter.  Some felt it should be at night and others felt it should be earlier in the morning. There was also discussion about verification of cars in terms of Sharon residency.  He said there would be greater police presence in the future.  The police will be conducting sweeps at the train station to make sure the purchasers of the passes are registered in Sharon.  There was discussion about long-term solutions to address the lack of parking spaces at the train station. A gentleman from Osprey Road felt that there should be linkage for those who purchase monthly Commuter Rail passes and those who purchase quarterly passes.  .Another gentleman suggested that the passes be annual.  He also thinks the increase should be tiered.  He also questioned how an on-line system will assist in alleviating the shortage of quarterly passes.  He also said that not all have access to the internet.  He believes that this needs to be thought out.  Selectman Heitin said that internet kiosks will be available at the library and at the DPW to allow everyone to purchase a pass on-line.  Len Segal said he believes that the Selectmen should postpone the increase for another quarter.  He pointed out that tonight’s meeting was not being broadcast live on Cable TV. Selectman Heitin said that the Board has been talking about this for over a year.  There was discussion about the methodology for paying for the daily passes.  Questions were asked about recycling bins at the station and handicapped accessibility at the station.   Several in the audience felt that $75 should be the new price.  Chairman Powell said that at this late date in the quarterly pass process as they are going on sale on Thursday people will be showing up with checks of $50.  He believes that the Board should take a vote tonight but make the increase effective for the next quarter. Selectman Heitin explained that the Board had come out publicly against the MBTA fare increase. Selectman Roach said the increased revenue generated by the quarterly passes will help pay for some improvements.  He believes that the price should be raised to $75 and perhaps next year another $25 to $100.  Chairman Powell said he believes the rate should be increased to $85 per quarter.

 

VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted to increase the quarterly pass to $85 effective for the July 1, 2012 passes to go on sale on June 1, 2012

 

Heitin: Aye

Powell: Aye

Roach: No

 

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

 

 

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-represented personnel, Comcast negotiations and any discussion of these items in open session will be detrimental to the Town’s position and at the end of Executive Session to adjourn for the evening. . 

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

Powell:  Aye

Roach:   Aye

Heitin:   Aye