MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
December 11, 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 Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard Powell and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz.
Chairman Heitin acknowledged the presence of the Boy Scouts in the audience.
CLASSIFICATION HEARING
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the 2013 Classification Hearing
Chairman Heitin explained that the classification hearing is part of the annual process whereby the classification rates are determined by the Selectmen. He said that the Town’s tax revenues are 92% residential and 8% commercial. He added that the tax rate recommended by the Board of Assessors for FY ’13 is $20.45.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the 2013 Classification Hearing.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that that the Board of Selectmen accept the Board of Assessor’s recommendation that there be a residential factor of “one” for fiscal year 2013.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen accept the Board of Assessor’s recommendation and not adopt a residential exemption for fiscal year 2013.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen accept the Board of Assessor’s recommendation and not adopt a small commercial exemption for fiscal year 2013.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to close the 2013 Classification Hearing.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSESSOR MARK MAZUR: FY’14 BUDGET
Mr. Mazur said his budget has increased 1.6% of which $188,000 is salaries.
COUNCIL ON AGING RAFFLE
Ralph Generazzo of the Friends of the Council on Aging ran the raffle.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VOTED: (Powell)/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session and Executive Session Minutes of December 3, 2012
BANNER REQUESTS
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by the Veteran’s Agent for May 20 – May 28, 2013 (2nd position) and June 10 – June 1, 2013 (1st position)
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by Sharon Youth Lacrosse from December 17 – 24, 2012 (1st position)
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request by Temple Israel from March 11 – 18, 2013 (1st position)
APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION SUPPORT TRUST – ASSIGNMENT AND GRNAT OF CONSERVAITON RESTRICTIONS TO TOWN
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to accept the Conservation Restrictions as detailed in the memo from Town Counsel Lisa Whelan dated December 11, 2012
APPROVAL OF DATE FOR 2013 FALL TOWN MEETING
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the date of November 4, 2012 for the Fall Town Meeting should it be necessary
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR BEN PURITZ: FY’14 BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND INSURANCE BUDGETS
Town Administrator Puritz explained that the Selectmen budget includes a 2%. increase. He said the supplies line item budget was decreased by $1,000. The Selectmen’s budget is $299,872. Town Administrator Puritz said that the Insurance Budget would not be presented this evening as he is waiting for additional information.
HEARING REGARDING FOUR WAY STOP AT DUNBAR ST. AND BRADFORD AVENUE
Chairman Heitin said that this is not a formal hearing but an opportunity to hear from people in addition to, Kathleen Petze, who brought forward the issue. He also said that the Board has solicited input from both Chief Bernstein and the Department of Public Works. Ms. Petze said that there was an accident on October 28, 2012 where air bags were deployed. She said as there is a lot of foot traffic and no sidewalks and that this is a significant safety issue. She presented the Board with a petition from neighbors who were not in attendance. She showed the Selectmen a four minute video. Ms. Petze said there have been five accidents over a period of 12 year with three in the past three years. Ms. Petze said she knows that the Chief and DPW will say that the intersection does not meet the criteria for a stop sign. She said that the same requirements state that if there is not visibility at each corner then a stop sign is necessary. She also said that there are four way stops at other intersections that clearly don’t meet the requirement of Mass Department Of Transportation. Fran Prina-Stewart representing the Board of Directors of Temple Kol Tikva said that they are in support of the stop signs as they have children every day of the week for both Hebrew School and services and serve as the pick-up point for children going to an out of town school. Other neighbors spoke in support of the four-way stop. One woman who didn’t stop at the stop sign explained why she missed it. David Wluka said his daughter-in-law was in the June accident. He said he is willing to listen if there is another solution other than a stop sign – but he cannot think of another solution. Another resident said she has witnessed several near accidents in the last several years. Gary Kamp said when he was eight years old he was hit by a car. He said Selectmen should do the right thing as he doesn’t want anyone to do what he went through.
Chairman Heitin said that he has heard the concerns of the neighborhood. He said both the Town Engineer and Police Department have provided the Selectmen with the information. He said the Selectmen are the Road Commissioners and therefore make the final decision. He said the Selectmen could hold a formal sign hearing which is part of the formal process of installing the signs. He said the Selectmen will review the information provided by staff as well as the information provided by the meeting attendees. Chairman Heitin expects that a decision will be made after the first of the year. Selectman Roach asked that it be determined how many stop signs there are that don’t meet the actual requirements for a stop sign.
INFO TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR DONALD HILLEGAS: FY’14 BUDGET
Information Technology Director Don Hillegas said that the proposed budget is $248,000. He said he expects to save $7,000 in phone expenses. He said the 5% increase in the software line item is due to the annual MUNIS increase.
TOWN ACCOUNTANT CINDY DOHERTY: FY’14 BUDGET
Chairman Heitin said the budget increase is 3.2% due to staffing related items. Town Accountant Doherty said $235,000 of the $242,000 relates to staffing.
FINANCE DIRECTOR WILLIAM FOWLER: FY’14 TREASURER/COLLECGTOR, DEBT SERVICE AND HEALTH INSURANCE BUDGETS
Chairman Heitin said that the Treasurer/Collector budget is $405,000 budget with a 2% increase related to contractual staffing items.
Finance Director Fowler said that the debt service is decreasing this year due to a spike last year because of the Middle School renovation. The total debt service for this year is $7,886,983. Chairman Heitin explained the difference between exempt and non-exempt debt which is that non-exempt debt relates to those items paid for by the override process as opposed to those that were part of the annual budget process.
Finance Director Fowler then discussed the FICA and Medicare budgets. He said the FICA number will eventually disappear while the Medicare number will continue to increase. Eventually all hires will be covered by Medicare. He said the Medicare budget is $661,761 while the FICA budget $9,610. He said he is trying to get a handle on the health insurance expenditures in relation to the plan design changes instituted last summer to the employee’s plan design. He said he will have a full report at the next meeting.
COUNCIL ON AGING DIRECTOR NORMA SIMONS FITZGERALD: FY ’14 BUDGET
Ms. Simons Fitzgerald said there is a 2% increase in the budget with $245,000 of the $267,000 related to personnel expenses. She spoke about the state’s contribution through the Formula Grant. She said that the Friend of the Council on Aging have committed to funding a 19 hour position and will be going to the Personnel Board tomorrow tonight to discuss the new position.
RECREATION DIRECTOR AMANDA DENI LEVASSEUR: FY ’14 BUDGET
Chairman Heitin said that of the total $196,491 budget $168,506 are related to staffing. She said there is a small decrease in the budget due to the staffing changes. She spoke about the opening for Assistant Recreation Director and the efforts to advertise the position. There was discussion about the Assistant Recreation Director’s hiring process. Selectman Roach said that he had asked that a member of the Board of Selectmen be included on the Committee to appoint the Assistant Recreation Director.
APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL HEARING OFFICER
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to appoint Roni Thaler as the Municipal Hearing Officer
APPROVAL OF DRAFT 2013 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE
VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the draft schedule for the 2013 Annual Town Meeting.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the Warrant for 2013 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
APPROVAL OF CONSENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT BETWEEN SHARON TAXI AND THE TOWN OF SHARON
Chairman Heitin said
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the consent to the assignment of license contingent upon review by Town Counsel
APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS
Chairman Heitin said that he would like to hold the appointments to Board of Health, Lake Management Advisory Committee, Water Management Advisory Committee, and the Special Police.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the appointments as read below.
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Year |
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Board/Committee: |
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Board/Committee: |
Term to |
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Members |
Exp'g |
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Members |
Exp'g |
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Cable TV Oversight |
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WMAC |
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Stephen Rabinovitz |
2015 |
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Michael Saija |
2015 |
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Capital Outlay Comm. |
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Paul Linehan, Chair Sel.Appt. |
2013 |
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Zoning Board of Appeals |
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Commission on Disabilities: |
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Barry Barth (ALT) |
2015 |
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Susan Myerson |
2015 |
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Conservation Commission |
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Special Police |
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Christine Turnbull |
2015 |
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Stephen Cremer |
2015 |
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Elizabeth Mcgrath |
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Council on Aging |
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Marilyn J. Stewart |
2015 |
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Millie Berman |
2015 |
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Robert B. Maidman |
2015 |
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Board of Health |
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Crossing Guards |
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Beverly Blackler - Crossing Guard & Parking Clerk |
2013 |
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Historic Comm: |
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Marcia Bloom - Crossing Guard |
2013 |
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Bruce Rosenbaum ALT |
2015 |
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Simone Rudinsky - Crossing Guard |
2013 |
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Eli Anderson-Crossing Guard |
2013 |
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Housing Partnership |
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Leah Stella - Crossing Guard & Parking Clerk |
2013 |
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Alan D. Lury |
2015 |
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Andrea Sullivan - Crossing Guard fill-in |
2013 |
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Susan Saunders |
2015 |
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Irene Hixon - Crossing Guard fill-in |
2013 |
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Carol Griffin-McCourt - Substitute Crossing Guard |
2013 |
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Lake Mgt, Study: |
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One-Year Appointments |
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Richard Gelerman - Town Counsel |
2013 |
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Michael Polimer - Director of Civil Defense |
2013 |
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Recreation Advisory Committee |
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Diane Malcolmson - Dog Officer |
2013 |
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Stephen Lesco |
2015 |
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Edward Welch - Fence Viewer |
2013 |
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Rick Schantz |
2015 |
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Charles Healy - Sealer of Weights & Measures |
2013 |
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Edwin S. Little - Norfolk County Advisory Board Rep. |
2013 |
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Registrars, Board of |
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Edwin S. Little - Animal Inspector |
2013 |
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Ronald Rogers |
2015 |
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Paul Bergeron - Veteran’s Agent |
2013 |
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William Fowler - Finance Director |
2013 |
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VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted to discuss Collective Bargaining –SMEA Negotiations. 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.
Voted unanimously to adjourn for the evening.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Heitin: Aye
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye