MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

October 9, 2012

7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman William A. Heitin, Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach and Selectman Richard A. Powell.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of September 19, 2012

 

SELECTMEN APPOINTMENTS TO THE CAPITAL OUTLAY COMMITTEE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to Selectman Powell to the Priorities Committee and as an Alternate to the Capital Outlay Committee

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Selectman Powell to the Priorities Committee and as an Alternate to the Capital Outlay Committee

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Chairman Heitin to the Priorities Committee and the Capital Outlay Committee.

 

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

 

Chairman Heitin said there were three good candidates.  He would like to find opportunities for the two non-appointed candidates.

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Abe Bramachari to the Zoning Board of Appeals

 

APPROVAL OF ONE-DAY LIQUOR LICENSE AT THE SHARON COMMUNITY CENTER

 

Ms. McLean said she is going to speak to Chief Bernstein approval regarding a detail.

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve a one-day liquor license for Taal McLean on                       at the Sharon Community Center on October 27, 2012 pending Chief Bernstein’s approval.

 

ASSOCIATE TOWN COUNSEL LISA WHELAN: DISCUSSION OF WARRANT ARTICLES INCLUDING BYLAW CHANGES

 

Selectman Roach asked that the article regarding changes in the general by-law be explained. Associate Town Counsel Lisa Whelan said that the main goal of the article is to improve consistency and comprehension. She explained that she reorganized the penalty section of the by-law to make it more consistent and organized.  She said there were no changes to the penalties but essentially renumbering and cross referencing the existing fines.   She said she removed the Ethics section because Ethics is governed by the Commonwealth.  She also mentioned that she added among other items an abutter provision for earth removal. Attorney Whelan said she had prepared a one page document explaining the changes. Ms. Whelan then reviewed the remainder of the Articles with the Board.  There was extensive discussion about the abandonment of Johnson Road.  Selectman Roach in particular raised reservations; however, Attorney Whelan explained that if the Selectmen did not move forward this evening with the abandonment process that it would not be possible because the Planning Board needed to have their hearing 45 days prior to Town Meeting.  The Selectmen then decided to vote on the issue to keep all the options open.

 

VOTE TO DISCONTINUE JOHNSON DRIVE OLD AND APPROVE NEW LAYOUT

AND REFER THE MATTER TO THE PLANNING BOARD

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to notify the Planning Board of our intention to

discontinue and layout of the following town ways or portions hereof:  High Plain Street and

Johnson Drive, as shown on the plans entitled “, “Layout Plan of Johnson Drive in Sharon, MA,

Norfolk County,” dated July 14, 2008, prepared by Merrikin Engineering, LLP and “Town of

Sharon Abandonment Plan of Land in Walpole & Sharon, MA” dated May 12, 2008, prepared by

Merrikin Engineering, LLP received by the Town of Sharon Highway Department and that said

plan be referred to the Planning Board for its recommendation and that the Planning Board be

requested to report back on or before the forty-fifth day after the date of this vote.

 

Chairman Heitin said once the Selectmen took the vote this still gives them time to conduct more

research on the issue on the other two issues related to billboards.

 

The Selectmen then reviewed the status of the remainder of the Warrant Articles. 

 

VOTED TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE WARRANT

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the Warrant

 

Chairman Heitin said that the Board was in discussion regarding the acquisition of Rattlesnake Hill.  He

said if the article didn’t appear on this Town Meeting Warrant it would be included in the May 2013 Town Meeting Warrant.

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to place a placeholder on the Warrant for the acquisition

of Rattle Snake Hill

 

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

 

DATE TO FINALIZE WARRANT FOR DECEMBER 3, 2012 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to move the date to finalize the Warrant to November 23, 2012

 

SIGN PURCHASE & SALE FOR ACQUISTION OF LAND OFF RICHARDS AVENUE

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign the Purchase and Sale for the land off Richards Avenue as approved at the May 2012 Annual Town Meeting

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to move to accept the Conservation Restriction associated with the Richards Avenue property as discussed

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by the Striar Hebrew Academy of Sharon for the Book Fair November 12 - November 19, 2012 (1st position) for the Craft Fair

SIGNING OF WARRANT FOR NOVEMBER 6, 2012 ELECTION

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to sign the Warrant for the November 6, 2012 Election

 

APPROVAL OF FIRE FIGHTER CONTRACT

 

Selectman Powell said the settlement includes a 2% retroactive raise as well as a 2% increase this year and next year. The agreement also included an education incentive increase particularly for higher degrees and some other minor language that the Chief wanted included in the agreement. .

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Fire Fighter Union contract from July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2014

 

APPROVAL OF SOLAR SALT AND ROCK SALT FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL

 

Chairman Heitin said that the Town participates in the Medfield consortium in terms of these bids.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to award the bid for Solar Salt to Eastern Minerals, Inc. at a price of $48.20 per ton.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to award the bid for Rock Salt to American Rock Salt Co, LLC at a price of $48.80 per ton.     

 

APPROVAL OF BANNER REQUEST

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by Cottage Street Elementary School PTO  for the Fun Fair from March 18 – March 25, 2013 (1st position)

 

AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE MBTA’S LETTER TO THE ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS BOARD

 

Chairman Heitin said the building at the Sharon Train Station is being put under review for accessibility issues because modifications need to occur.  The Board is supporting an extension so that the building doesn’t close and that a formalized approach can be developed to keep the building open particularly during the winter months. Selectman Powell said he wanted to clarify that this relates only to the building not to the train station as had been the rumor.

 

VOTED:  (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Heitin to sign the support letter to the MBTA as discussed.

 

Chairman Heitin announced the Veteran’s Day Celebration Schedule. 

 

 VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to discuss Collective Bargaining –SMEA Negotiations and Comcast Franchise Renewal and consideration of execution of Comcast license renewal and real property acquisition associated with Mountain Street. Discussion of these items in public session would be detrimental to the Town and at the end of Executive Session will adjourn for the evening. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

 

Heitin:  Aye

Roach:  Aye

Powell: Aye